Heather Gates has more than 25 years of experience working with emerging growth companies, including 15 years at Deloitte. Heather is a master at cultivating and maintaining strong relationships throughout the startup and venture capital communities in Silicon Valley. She was appointed as the national Emerging Growth Company (EGC) practice leader in June 2017 after having served as the West region leader for four years. In her role as the national leader, she brings the power of the firm to practitioners in key EGC markets throughout the US.
With her vast personal network and knowledge of the industry, Heather has unique insight into the people, institutions, and technologies that shape Silicon Valley. She regularly meets with entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, and has significantly grown Deloitte’s stature, presence, influence, and service to leading companies based in the Bay Area and nationally. At Deloitte, Heather was responsible for introducing the organization to LinkedIn in its early startup phase as a client in our EGC practice.
Heather’s professional experience is drawn from years of nurturing her career in all aspects of the EGC market. Prior to Deloitte, Heather was the chief financial officer for a telecommunications company where she wrote the business plan and led financing discussions and operations. Previously, she worked as an investment banker at Hambrecht & Quist, focusing on the software and internet industry and executing IPOs, M&A, and private equity opportunities. Heather launched her career with another Big Four firm where she spent nine years serving the technology sector and helped take several companies public – including early internet companies such as Yahoo.
Heather earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of Colorado and is an active CPA in both California and Colorado. She serves as a board member and treasurer for the Churchill Club, a leading Silicon Valley business and technology forum.
Outside of work Heather is dedicated to her two children, ages 15 and 14. She enjoys hiking and cycling and has traveled to New Zealand and France in search of the best pinot noir.