LAURA JOHNSON, is a Managing Director at Neuberger Berman’s Specialty Finance team where she focuses on growth lending. She brings extensive experience structuring debt, equity, and hybrid investments in growth-stage businesses. Before joining Neuberger Berman, Laura was a Managing Director at Blackstone Credit and Insurance (BXCI), where she was responsible for originating and executing investment opportunities with late-stage technology companies across software, cybersecurity and fintech verticals. Prior to Blackstone, she was a senior member of the investment team at ORIX Growth Capital, where she led both the origination and underwriting of venture loans to mid-stage technology businesses. Earlier in her career, Laura led FP&A and Strategy at RichRelevance, a San Francisco-based software company, where she oversaw capital markets, financial planning, and corporate strategy. She began her career at Prudential Capital Group, underwriting investment grade and high yield private credit opportunities across a range of industries. Laura holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BS in Finance from the University of San Francisco.