Tom Tom Festival 2025

Heidi Nel is a strategist and operator whose experience spans entertainment, government affairs, and finance. She serves as Chief Operating Officer at New Theory Ventures, a family office and venture catalyst that invests in women and diverse entrepreneurs, enabling early-stage founders to scale game-changing ideas through strategic funding. She manages the execution and administration of the venture portfolio, alternative assets, and the principal’s philanthropy, and is accountable for balancing fiduciary interests with non-financial social impact goals.

Prior to joining the team, Heidi was a Principal at The Raben Group, where she led the Impact Entertainment division and advised media companies including Sony Pictures Television and YouTube on how to utilize storytelling as a tool for social change. She also served as Executive Director of Represent Justice, the public engagement campaign of Warner Bros.’ acclaimed film Just Mercy.

Previously, Heidi was a Partner at Picture Motion and also served as an adjunct instructor at Duke University in the Sanford School of Public Policy. She has been featured in CNN International, Fast Company, Forbes, HuffPost, and Variety. She was recognized by The Case Foundation as a “Millennial Leader to Follow” and received the Media Impact Award from the PVBLIC Foundation and the United Nations Office for Partnerships. Originally from South Africa, Heidi grew up in Colorado and resides in Richmond, Virginia where she serves on the board of directors of Startup Virginia, an entrepreneurial hub strengthening the regional economy.