Sumeet is the Founder of HighPoint Associates and directs company strategy. He is dedicated to creating transformational change for HighPoint client partners. His focus on growth has resulted in measurable, positive outcomes, and high rates of client retention. Sumeet’s breadth of experience and keen sense of intuition allow him to partner with clients to identify the roots of their challenges and how best to tackle them.

Prior to founding HighPoint in 2001, Sumeet was the head of Strategy & Business Development at an early stage venture firm that operated at the intersection of technology, media and entertainment. Before that, he served dozens of clients across industry and functional sectors from McKinsey & Company’s New York and Los Angeles offices.

Sumeet holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS from the Wharton School of Business.

Sumeet is based in Los Angeles, where he runs (and runs and runs) almost every morning. After a half-dozen attempts, he gave up on breaking a four-hour marathon and instead now focuses his attention on coaching his son’s sports teams, while cheering on his daughter in skating competitions – and avoiding cursing in front of either of them when his Philadelphia teams let him down…again (save for little blips of happiness in 2018 and 2009).

Richard is a Partner with HighPoint Associates and runs the firm’s East Coast office. He joined HighPoint in 2008 and has since been working with consultants across industries to solve problems, elevate conversations, and deliver breakthrough results.

Prior to joining HighPoint, Richard spent nearly 20 years in a variety of consulting, operating, and start-up leadership positions. Prior to joining HighPoint, he was a principal at Katzenbach Partners, a boutique management consulting firm, where he led client engagements and developed new business in the consumer, healthcare, telecommunications, and financial services sectors. Prior to that, Richard led acquisition and consumer marketing for the largest customer segment within AT&T Wireless. Earlier in his career, he was part of the leadership team at two venture-backed start-ups. He started his career serving in brand management and finance roles at Procter & Gamble.

Richard holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BS from Washington University in St. Louis. He and his wife have two children with whom they enjoy exploring the world.

Justin is Chief Operating Officer and Partner at HighPoint Associates. He devotes much of his time to running internal operations, including HPA partner business development and client delivery support, HR, Finance, contracting, and IT, as well as serves several clients as lead partner.

Prior to joining HighPoint, Justin spent over 20 years in general management, finance, strategy, and marketing leadership roles, first as a senior consultant with Bain & Company, and then in progressive CPG-retail responsibilities at Mattel, Inc.  Most recently, he served as Group CFO and Senior Vice President for Mattel’s Global FP&A, Investor Relations, Commercial Finance, Brand Finance, and Investment Finance organizations.  Previously, Justin helped build out Mattel’s global e-retail and Amazon operations as General Manager of its North America Online business, and headed Mattel’s Corporate Strategy and Development capability.

Justin holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, where he was an Austin Scholar, and a BA in Math-Economics from Pomona College.

Justin is based in Los Angeles with his wife and three children. He attempts to maintain a respectable athletic career in all high school / middle-school competitions, and enjoys making music with his family.  When he is not chasing his children’s extracurriculars, you’ll find him cheering on his beloved UConn Huskies basketball teams…or returning to his liberal arts roots with philosophy and theology reading.

Stephen is a Senior Project Leader leading project teams delivering impact for clients. He has 20 years of strategy and operations experience driving large scale programs in transformation, post-merger integration, M&A, and change management across industry sectors.

He is a former McKinsey Associate Principal and leader in the firm’s Operations practice where he led strategy, Lean transformation, post-merger integration, and operations excellence efforts. Stephen then moved to United Technologies where he led strategy and M&A and managed a multibillion-dollar post-merger integration initiative. After United Technologies, Stephen joined Capital One leading a Process Excellence rollout. His more recent roles include VP of Program Management at CSC Service Works, a private equity owned consumer service business, and Chief Transformation Officer at Club Corp, a private equity-owned private clubs and lifestyle business, before taking on a number of transformational HPA leadership opportunities.

Stephen holds a PhD in Physics from University of California, Berkeley, and a BA and MA in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University.

Stephen is based in Dallas, where he enjoys sailing and serving with the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Chris is an Operations and Finance Associate at Highpoint Associates. In this role, Chris works closely with our Operations Director across a variety of functions to support business operations, including procurement, marketing, office administration, and business development. In addition, he also supports our Controller with financial and accounting matters.

Prior to joining HPA in April 2023, Chris served as a Client Partner Associate for a Los Angeles based agency delivering AR/VR solutions for Fortune 500 companies. Chris also managed day-to-day operations and sales for a premium swing set company in Massachusetts. Chris graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 2020 and holds a BA in Finance and Management.

Chris grew up in a small town in Massachusetts and currently resides in Santa Monica, CA. Outside of work Chris enjoys exploring the city for new restaurants, going thrifting at flea markets, staying active, and listening to true crime podcasts.

Lia Bathauer is an Executive Assistant for Sumeet Goel at High Point Associates. In this role, Lia works closely with leadership to ensure they have the time and freedom to focus on innovation and growth. With over 15 years of experience in executive support, she brings an unwavering commitment to the fast-growing company’s vision and a passion for facilitating her leaders’ success.

Lia was formerly an Executive Assistant at BCG Digital Ventures where she supported multiple Managing Directors & Partners simultaneously. She has a track record of optimizing executive workflows and enhancing organizational efficiency. She is proficient in calendar management, travel coordination, and project execution. She is committed to driving productivity and fostering seamless collaboration between executives and their teams. Prior to working at BCG, she worked as an Executive Assistant and Office Manager for a Healthcare Cost Containment Company for over 11 years. Having held positions in Real Estate, Medical, Healthcare and Business fields, Lia is able to tailor her skills to meet the needs of various clients here at HPA.

Lia was born and raised in Los Angeles, where she enjoys spending time with her daughter, son and husband. Outside the office, you’ll often find her exploring the riding trails with her horses, indulging in culinary adventures, volunteering at her children’s schools and, most recently, acting as coach or referee for her kids’ various sports teams.

Mikaela Celeste is a Talent Associate at HighPoint Associates. As a member of the Talent team, she collaborates with HPA Partners, consultants, and members of both the Talent and Business Development teams to staff all HighPoint projects. She also contributes to network development initiatives to recruit top-tier independent consultants to the HighPoint network.

Prior to joining HighPoint Associates in February 2024, Mikaela graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Psychology in June 2023. In college, Mikaela was on the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Soccer Team that participated in the Big West Conference. While playing on the team for four years, she earned various academic awards including Big West Commissioner’s Honor Roll, participated in the Triton Athletes’ Council, and received CCAA Freshman of the Year for her rookie season in 2019. Mikaela brings work experience, prior to HPA, in marketing and research & development.

Mikaela is a Southern California native, currently residing in Pasadena. She has an older brother who lives in Charleston, South Carolina. Half of her family, on her mother’s side, resides in Spain and the other half in the United States. Mikaela enjoys traveling, cooking, baking, painting, exercising, and spending time with friends and family.

Mackenzie Gruver is a Business Development Associate at HighPoint Associates. As a member of the Business Development (BD) team, she collaborates closely with her colleagues and HPA partners to foster robust client relationships. Mackenzie dedicates her efforts to nurturing client connections and plays a pivotal role in the firm’s growth through lead generation and cultivation initiatives. Additionally, she aids consultant teams in delivering strategic solutions and accelerating execution for clients.

Prior to her tenure at HighPoint Associates, Mackenzie earned her BA in Government and Psychology from Claremont McKenna College in July 2023. Her profound interest in Law and Public Policy steered her Senior Thesis, “Reforming Police in The Post-George Floyd Era: The Role of Public Opinion and Bureaucratic Police Community in Reform Outcomes,” which delves into diagnoses for the stagnated state of the Chicago Consent Decree. Beyond academics, she also served as the Director of Marketing for Claremont Marketing Group and a member of the D3 NCAA CMS Women’s Lacrosse team.

Mackenzie brings strong prior work experience to HPA, having worked in multiple roles across client services, Health Benefit consulting, project sales, product marketing, and academic research. In her free time, Mackenzie enjoys surfing, pickleball, discovering new running trails, and testing out new restaurants around LA.

Earl is a Senior Director who works closely with HPA Partners and consultants to lead staffing for all HighPoint projects. He also drives network development initiatives to recruit top-tier independent consultants into the HighPoint Network.

In addition to his work within the HPA talent function, Earl continues to contribute across areas including contracting, proposals, business development / marketing, and operations. Earl has worked with HighPoint for over 6 years, initially joining the firm as a Business Development Associate before transitioning to the network development and staffing side of the firm.

Earl holds a BA in International Relations from the University of Southern California. Earl is based in Los Angeles and is originally from North Carolina, where he grew up a fan of and participant in all things sports, with an emphasis on baseball. Today, he is an avid cyclist, golfer, and surfer who also enjoys cooking (especially pizza), and playing music.

Tess is a Business Development Associate at HighPoint Associates. As a member of the BD team, she works closely among her team and with HPA partners to develop client relationships. She supports efforts to implement the firm’s lead generation strategy to foster topline growth and assists the consulting teams in providing solutions to clients.

Prior to joining HPA in July 2022, Tess was part of the Hospital Operations Project Management Office at NYU Langone Health in Manhattan, New York. She worked alongside hospital leadership to support and manage quality improvement projects in various departments, with a focus on General Medicine, Patient Experience, Infection Control, and Pharmacy. Additionally, she provided administrative oversight for three inpatient General Internal Medicine units, where she worked to advance and manage initiatives that translate high reliability organization (HRO) principles into practice.

Tess graduated from the University of Michigan in May 2021, with a BS in International Studies, and a focus on Global Health and the Environment. While at University of Michigan, Tess explored her interests in Public Health, and her research, “Barriers and Facilitators to Community Health Outreach and Engagement in Detroit, Michigan: A Qualitative Study,” was published in the Journal of Health Promotion Practice.

Tess is originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, and following her time in New York is now based in Los Angeles. In her free time, Tess enjoys exploring new hiking and running trails, discovering new restaurants, and spending time with her family on Douglas Lake in Northern Michigan during the summers.

Daniel is a Talent and Business Development Associate at HighPoint Associates. In this hybrid role, he collaborates with the Business Development and Talent teams to assist the HPA partners in company growth, building out HPA’s consulting network and staffing client projects with top tier independent consultants, and contributing to the delivery of solutions and services to our clients.

Prior to joining HighPoint Associates in July 2022, Daniel graduated from Claremont McKenna College with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Psychology. In college, Daniel was on the varsity Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Swim Team, led as Vice President of Student Activities in student government, participated as Head of Events in Class ‘22 Cabinet, and worked as a Senior Interviewer in CMC’s Admission Office. Daniel brings strong prior work experience to HPA, having worked in multiple prior roles across project sales, information services, event planning, marketing, project management, and research.

Daniel is a Los Angeles County native where he lives in an all former-varsity sport household. He is the second of four children raised in a first-generation Israeli-American household. Daniel enjoys traveling, cooking, concerts, fashion, drag culture, and holds a huge interest in Middle Eastern Diplomacy. On the weekends, you can find Daniel exploring new restaurants in LA, going to concerts and music festivals, bodysurfing at the beach, or watching a drag show in LA.

Erica Jackey is the Vice President of Business Development at HighPoint Associates. In this role, she leads the Business Development team to collaborate with HPA Partners on go-to-market strategy, lead generation, cultivation of client relationships, and winning project opportunities.

Prior to joining HighPoint, Erica worked in strategy consulting at L.E.K. Consulting and was part of the Tech, Media, Telecom (TMT) practice in LA. She previously held roles in account management and content development at GLG in their New York office. Erica also spent several years as a writing and debate teacher in Hong Kong with Capstone Educational Group.

Erica holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson and a BA from Washington University in St. Louis, where she was a Danforth Scholar and a 6-time All-American in Cross Country and Track & Field.

Erica is based in Los Angeles where she enjoys playing beach volleyball, skiing, and traveling (40+ countries visited). She is one trip away from reaching her goal of visiting all 50 U.S. states (Alaska).

Ria Jain is a Business Development Associate with the HighPoint Associates team, working closely with fellow associates and HPA leadership to cultivate strong client relationships and drive growth. She contributes efforts towards several development initiatives and supports consulting teams in efficiently executing client solutions.

Ria is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and Society and minor in Entrepreneurship. At UCLA, Ria was an executive board member of Bruin Medical Entrepreneurs through which she organized workshops and speaker events revolving around healthcare and business. She was also the editor of the Society and Genetics Research Journal through which she wrote about ethical topics in healthcare such as male birth control and the rising prices of insulin. Additionally, she was an executive board member of The Bruin Experiment through which she worked with Title I middle schools in Los Angeles to foster scientific learning within youth.

Professionally, Ria has had multiple experiences in business development and consulting. Ria worked as a business development intern at Xenon Health, where she drove client acquisition through organizing and optimizing online content across 20+ websites. She also researched and presented content strategies to increase customer interaction. Ria worked as a healthcare consulting intern the summer afterwards at West Monroe where she developed digital strategy and analyzed consumer usage data to support a client in achieving legal compliance with transparency legislature. She contributed to increasing efficiency and reaching several execution milestones as well as supporting team social events.

Ria is originally from the Bay Area and has lived in Los Angeles for the past 5 years. In her free time, she enjoys reading and writing about new technologies and trends in healthcare. She also loves exploring new restaurants, coffee shops, and dessert shops and spending time with her friends at the beach and movie theater.

Aamir is a Director of Business Development and Operations at HighPoint Associates. In this role, Aamir is responsible for overseeing business operations including managing vendor relationships, office administration, marketing, and resource management for consultants. He is also responsible for onboarding and supporting consultant teams on projects, ensuring they have the resources and tools necessary to deliver on client engagements throughout their time staffed on projects with HPA.

Prior to joining HPA in November 2019, Aamir was a Business Risk Services Associate in Grant Thornton’s London office, where he worked on the Securities team to support audits at leading financial institutions. Aamir graduated from Occidental College in 2018 with a degree in Economics. While at Occidental, Aamir was President of the South Asian Students Association and President of his fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi. He also was a member of The Occidental Newspaper and the Occidental College Men’s Rugby Football Club.

Outside of HPA, Aamir enjoys hiking, trying out new recipes, and supporting Arsenal FC.

Tom joined HighPoint Associates as a Business Development (BD) Associate in June 2024. As a member of the BD team, he collaborates with fellow associates and HPA partners to propel the firm’s growth through tactical initiatives and strong client relationships. Tom also supports consultant teams to deliver strategic solutions and accelerate client success.

Tom earned his BA from Claremont McKenna College, where he dual majored in Biology and Economics. His interest in these sectors led to a senior thesis project where he worked as a student consultant for Alexion Pharmaceuticals, focusing on minimizing waste and optimizing their clinical supply chain. Outside of academics, Tom was a member of the NCAA Division 3 Football Team for CMS and a Claremont McKenna College Senator.

Before joining HPA, Tom held a variety of roles across academia and business. These experiences include working as a research intern at the UCSF Institute of Regeneration Medicine, where he focused on developing more effective treatments for musculoskeletal diseases. He also served as a business strategy and development fellow at Share Ventures, where he was essential in driving strategy and development for their health and wellness eCommerce startup.

Tom grew up in a military family and has lived in many states on the East Coast. Before moving to California for college, he and his family resided in New Hampshire. Outside of work, Tom spends his time weightlifting and playing sports with friends. You will find him mostly on the basketball and pickleball courts, but he also loves to golf, hike, and explore new places.

Carter is an Associate within the Business Development Team at HighPoint Associates (HPA), where he collaborates closely with fellow associates and HPA partners to foster the firm’s growth through initiatives that cultivate enduring client relationships. Carter also supports consultant teams to deliver strategic solutions and accelerate execution for clients.

A graduate of the University of Southern California, Carter holds a B.A. in International Relations (Global Finance). At USC, he was the president of the university’s Interfraternity Council (IFC) and was a member of Trojan Investing Society and Global Investment Society.

Carter’s professional journey reflects diverse experiences spanning investment banking and corporate finance. Before joining HPA, he served as an Investment Banking Intern at Takenaka Partners and M&A Advisory Intern at Triangle Healthcare Advisors, where he provided analytical support and financial modeling for several sell-side deals.

Originally from the Chicago suburbs, Carter currently resides in Los Angeles. Outside of work, he enjoys keeping up to date with the financial markets and building his own financial portfolio, exploring Los Angeles’ diverse food scene, golfing with his friends, and keeping in shape by competitive weightlifting.

Denise is a Senior Director of Operations and Finance at HighPoint Associates.  She oversees the day-to-day internal operations with a focus on client contracting, insurance, forecasting, and partnering with the Controller on invoicing and consultant payroll processes. She also manages special projects and technology enablement, and leads PMO efforts.

Prior to joining HighPoint, Denise enjoyed a 25-year career with Mattel that spanned various functions such as corporate FP&A, financial reporting, treasury, brand finance, European finance, indirect procurement, and licensing finance.  Most recently, she was a consultant at American Honda Finance Corporation leading an indirect procurement purchase-to-pay system implementation.

Denise holds an MBA from the University of Southern California Business School and a BA in Finance from California State University, Fullerton.

Denise is based in Los Angeles with her husband and three kids.  She is the biggest cheerleader and videographer of her kids when they’re climbing hills on the dusty cross country trails, driving the basket on the basketball court and running 3,200 meters on the track.  She enjoys her annual trips to Maui and Napa Valley.

Nikesh is an Associate within the Business Development Team at HighPoint Associates (HPA), where he collaborates closely with fellow associates and HPA partners to foster the firm’s growth through initiatives that cultivate enduring client relationships. Nikesh also supports consultant teams to deliver strategic solutions and accelerate execution for clients.

A graduate of the University of California, Irvine, Nikesh holds a B.S. in Business Information Management. At UCI, he held leadership roles and made significant contributions to the Undergraduate Finance Association and 180 Degrees Consulting, a premier university-based consultancy for nonprofits and social enterprises.

Nikesh’s professional journey reflects diverse experiences spanning consulting, financial services, technology, startups, and law. Before joining HPA, he served as an M&A Consulting Intern at West Monroe, performing buy-side diligence work for prominent private equity firms, refining his skills and deepening his industry understanding.

Originally from Nepal and raised in the Bay Area, Nikesh currently resides in Los Angeles. Outside of work, he enjoys staying informed about the startup and venture capital ecosystem, exploring the diverse offerings of Los Angeles, enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking and tennis, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Susan Shah is Senior Director of People and Human Resource Operations. In her People role, Susan is responsible for employee well-being and cultivating the HPA culture. In her role in Human Resource Operations, she is responsible for recruiting, training, and development. Susan also supports the consultant recruiting team.

Prior to joining HighPoint Associates, she had management, leadership, finance training and retention roles across Fortune 500, start-ups, and non-profit organizations.

Susan lives in Manhattan Beach, CA with her husband and two daughters. She is a certified health coach and yoga instructor. When she is not teaching her daughters how to do a handstand, she enjoys cooking healthy meals and outdoor adventures with the family.

Dan joined HighPoint Associates as a Business Development (BD) Associate in July 2023. He works alongside the BD team and HPA partners to nurture client relationships and drive growth in the firm’s topline. Dan furthers efforts in developing lead generation strategies to achieve broader and more effective outreach.

Dan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Pomona College in Claremont, California, where he completed a double major in Physics and Sociology. During his time in college, Dan was the lead student researcher in a Physics laboratory developing custom low-cost fabrication techniques for cutting-edge solar technology; conducted sociology research in organizational teamwork and modern constructions of masculinity; and transformed two manufacturing firms through applying lean principles and concepts in engineering management. He was the engineering team lead for a mechanical design engagement with a local F&B equipment manufacturer, which led to the filing of a provisional patent for the team’s work in early 2023.

Born and raised on the sunny island of Singapore, Dan completed two years of military service prior to starting college and left the army a full lieutenant in 2019. He served a full year as a platoon commander in the 40^th Battalion, Singapore Armored Regiment, where he fondly remembers working with the 31 soldiers under his command, travelling from Brunei to Northern Australia for peacetime training.

Outside of work, Dan was an avid baritone in the Pomona College Choir and enjoys a good jam session on the guitar and drums. When he’s not in the office, you can find him in the gym working on his powerbuilding routine; rock climbing on natural and indoor walls; or rallying on a badminton court. He loves all things mountaineering, hiking and camping, and having solo conquered the three tallest peaks in Southern California – Mount San Antonio (Baldy), San Jacinto and San Gorgonio – Dan’s now turning his attention to bigger and bolder climbs. Stay tuned for his next adventure!

Tom is the Controller at Highpoint Associates. He oversees the Accounting/Finance operations and manages the firm’s financial statements, payroll, budget, and tax compliance process.

Prior to joining HighPoint, Tom spent over 13 years in Public Accounting and industry accounting with internal audit consulting roles at Protiviti and RSM focusing on internal audit and SOX compliance consulting, and an external audit role focusing on Banking/Asset Management audit at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Tom most recently served as the Audit/Accounting Manager at MGM Resorts International, where he managed a team of eight accountants performing month-end closing and auditing work for MGM’s ten subsidiaries.

Tom holds an MS in Finance from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a BS in Accounting from USC Leventhal School of Accounting, and a BS in Business Administration from USC Marshall School of Business.

Tom is based in Los Angeles with his wife and two children. Tom enjoys exploring nature with his kids on the weekend and having Chinese hotpot with his family at least twice a month, and KBBQ at least once a month.