Leonne (Leona) Philippen, PhD

Partner at Arsenal Enterprise Capital

About Me

Leonne Philippen is a Partner at Arsenal Enterprise Capital, responsible for driving value creation across the firm’s aerospace, defense, and critical-infrastructure portfolio. She leads end-to-end operational transformation strategies, partnering with founders, C-suite executives, and operators to accelerate growth, strengthen execution, and build the organizational foundations required for long-term resilience. Her work shapes Arsenal’s approach to thesis development, operational diligence, and post-close value creation strategy, ensuring portfolio companies scale with discipline, clarity, and mission alignment.

Prior to joining Arsenal, Leonne was an Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company. She led large-scale performance transformations for Fortune 500 companies and investor-backed companies in the energy, industrials, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices sectors. She specialized in solving complex operational, cultural, and regulatory challenges and leading global programs that created sustainable value through best-in-class operational improvements, modernized processes, and embedded new ways of working across multi-asset, international portfolios.

Leonne started her career as a molecular biologist. She earned her PhD in Molecular Biology from Maastricht University and conducted CRISPR-based cardiac genetics research at Baylor College of Medicine. This scientific foundation sharpened her analytical discipline and attention to detail in high-stakes, regulated environments.

She also serves on the Advisory Board and acts as a mentor at the Special Operators Transition Foundation. There, she helps elite veterans as they navigate pivotal career changes. A Dutch-American based in Virginia Beach, Leonne is passionate about national security, human performance, and building organizations where people and missions can thrive.