Sam Brooks, Co-Founder and Partner at Motivant, oversees operations across the company’s diverse portfolio. A seasoned leader, he has consistently risen to top positions, earning recognition for his ability to build strong organizations and develop high-performing teams. With over two decades of experience in business growth and optimization, he is committed to strong leadership and operational excellence.

Before co-founding Motivant, Sam served as COO of a laboratory services company, scaling it into a thriving enterprise with over $150 million in revenue. He also led operations at a top telecommunications provider, driving annual revenue growth to $275 million. His expertise spans healthcare, aviation, hospitality, telecommunications, and real estate, with a strong focus on efficiency, precision, and innovation.

Beyond his leadership role, Sam has a passion for data analysis and automation, continuously exploring new ways to optimize operations and enhance scalability. His approach is rooted in statistics-driven methodologies, ensuring that every initiative is executed with strategic foresight and impact.

Sanjiv Lal, Co-Founder and Partner at Motivant, oversees business development and sales, driving revenue growth and fostering a high-performing sales team. With 24 years of experience in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and molecular genetics, he has successfully founded and scaled multiple laboratories, selling two along the way. Sanjiv’s expertise in anticipating market trends and adapting to the evolving healthcare landscape positions him as a strategic industry leader.

Having held leadership roles at Fortune 500 biotechnology firms, Sanjiv has also been instrumental in growing independent labs like Marquis Labs. His recent efforts include overseeing strategic planning, sales execution, and operational processes for ventures like Rio Grande Valley Labs, contributing to over a million results to date. A firm believer in relationships, integrity, and transparency, Sanjiv emphasizes collaboration and continuous innovation within Motivant and across the biotech sector.

Holding both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences from The Ohio State University, Sanjiv is passionate about leveraging advancements to bring transformative products to market, ensuring Motivant remains a leader in innovation.

Sarah Brooks Gabriel is a Partner at Motivant, where she serves as the CEO for Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center and strategic advisor across the firm’s portfolio. With over 20 years of legal and business leadership experience, she brings a unique blend of expertise as a former partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, and a C-suite executive at both a private equity firm and a publicly traded company.

Sarah has advised founder-led and private equity-backed businesses through every stage of growth—from startup formation to growth capital, to strategic partnerships and exits. She excels in building legal and operational frameworks, conducting complex due diligence, structuring deals, and driving execution. Her deep experience across industries and transactions makes her a trusted advisor in navigating growth and change.

Sarah holds a B.S. in Finance and an MBA from Southern Illinois University, and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School, where she serves on the Board of Advisors and the Chancellor’s Circle Committee for Women in STEM and Innovation.

“ Everyday we have the opportunity to create how we engage with the world. We choose to meet opportunity with action.”  

Sal Afridi, Chief Financial Officer at Motivant, brings over two decades of experience in healthcare and startup environments, offering strategic financial leadership and operational oversight across the company’s diverse portfolio. Known for his expertise in driving both organic and acquisitive growth, Sal skillfully develops scalable, high-performing business models. At Motivant, he leads the real estate, food service and hospitality verticals, using his analytical and operational insight to drive efficiency and expansion.

With firsthand experience in launching and scaling businesses, including the development of a startup hospital, Sal approaches new ventures, acquisitions, and strategic initiatives with pragmatism and discipline. His leadership philosophy is rooted in transparency, mentorship, and collaboration, fostering accountability and a commitment to long-term growth. Sal holds a Bachelor’s in Accounting from Southern Arkansas University and an MBA from The University of Texas in Arlington, embodying a leadership style centered on integrity, precision, and decisiveness.

Sal’s belief in exploration and growth drives Motivant’s pursuit of promising opportunities, ensuring readiness to act decisively on ventures that align with their vision.

Jeff Muoio's interdisciplinary background encompasses humanities, social sciences, law, and executive leadership, supported by degrees in Religious Studies, Divinity, and Law from Western Michigan University. His career spans nonprofit and corporate sectors, including serving as COO of MasTec North America, a Fortune 500 company specializing in infrastructure, and as founding Executive Director of HomeAid America, addressing housing solutions for homeless families. Jeff has also led his own consulting firm, providing executive-level operations and business analysis to organizations such as AT&T, Zayo, and Synergies3 Tec Services.

Currently, Jeff is a member at Motivant, applying his expertise to harm reduction (Harm Shield), regenerative science (Asciere), laboratory operations (Cellestiq), and holistic wellness (Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center). He teaches graduate-level Business and Communications courses at the University of Denver and serves on the board of Break the Box, a firm focused on expanding homeownership and generational wealth in minority communities. Throughout his career, Jeff has distinguished himself as a strategic leader, effective communicator, and dedicated lifelong learner who thrives at the intersection of purpose and performance.