Stephen Vivian

Energizer
DISC Type : I

Principal & Founder at Kestrel Capital Group

Greater Chicago Area, United States

Overview

Stephen Vivian is the Principal and Founder of Kestrel Capital Group, with over 25 years of experience advising growth-oriented businesses. He specializes in strategy and exit planning for companies transitioning from founder ownership. He holds a BS and an MBA from the University of Illinois and is an Adjunct Lecturer at Northwesterns Kellogg School of Management.

Stephen is driven by a passion for life-long learning and supporting the development of individuals and teams. He believes that a team-oriented, growth mindset is the key to achievement. This philosophy extends from his investment work to his role as an educator, shaping the next generation of business leaders.

Unique fact: He is a past Chairman of the Small Business Investors Alliance (SBIA) and has testified before the U. S. Congress to advocate for small business investment programs.

Personality Overview

Informal

Imaginative

Big Picture Person

Unlike C or D types, they are vocal with their opinions but not so much with their questions.  They are always positive and upbeat, so take their promises with a pinch of salt. They are not always early adopters but can be pursuaded by leveraging strong relationships.

Topics They Care About

Founder Transitions
His firm specializes in investing in and consulting with businesses that are transitioning from family or founder ownership, focusing on growth and exit strategies.
Growth Mindset
He explicitly states that "teams with a growth mindset almost always achieve more, " indicating this is a core part of his personal and professional philosophy.
Domestic Manufacturing
Through his active role in General Assembly & Manufacturing Corp. , he champions domestic manufacturing and supports resources like IMEC Illinois to help businesses grow.

Media Appearances

Stephen has no verified media appearances

Work History

6-2011
Principal & Founder at Kestrel Capital Group
5-2023
Managing Director & Secretary at General Assembly & Manufacturing Corp.
9-2024
Adjunct Lecturer in Strategy at Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management
9-2018
Board Member at KW Custom Controls LLC
8-1999 - 3-2025
Partner at Prism Capital

Education

1987 - 1991
BS from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
1995 - 1997
MBA from Gies College of Business - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 26 Location : Greater Chicago Area, United States Job Level : Leadership Designation : Principal & Founder at Kestrel Capital Group
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Insights For Selling To Stephen

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Talk anecdotally about the customer experience that your product offers
  • Speak enthusiastically with energy, maintain a clear and confident tone
  • Use adjectives like ‘amazing’, ‘coolest’, ‘unbelievable’ etc.

DONT's

  • Avoid ifs and buts, don’t talk too much about the risks etc.
  • Don’t push them to make a decision too fast, let them get comfortable first
  • Avoid overloading them with too much detail

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Stephen is

  • Relationship and rapport can play an important role, sometimes more than the other factors.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Stephen

  • They will probably never say no directly, you have to make that decision yourself.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Stephen move?

  • They are not the quickest decision makers, their friendly attitude could be misleading.
  • Can Stephen take some risk or not?

  • They may take certain risks that they deem unlikely of personal repercussions.

You And Stephen

Personality Compatibility


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