IVCA Feature: Top Quotes from Past IVCA Award Honorees

It’s Awards Season, and the IVCA is about to announce their 2024 recipients for the Stanley C. Golder Award, the Richard J. Daley Award and the newly designated Stephen S. Beitler Award (formerly the Fellows Medal)  … at the Annual IVCA Awards Dinner on Monday, December 9th.

With that anticipatory information about to be announced, the IVCA reached back into their archives for the top quotes from past Award honorees.

“I always start with how lucky I was to have my father as a role model, who raised my two sisters and me with the three core family values of work ethic, stewardship and social responsibility. I try to bring these values to everything I do, and believe there is no greater joy than helping others succeed.  

Chicago has been wonderful to me and my family and I believe that we must do all that we can to make sure that all of our citizens have access to the same educational and other opportunities that we had. Whether it’s my work with our foundation in North Lawndale and North Chicago, Navy Pier, Rush or the Commercial Club, trying to help reduce the wealth gap is at the forefront of my thinking and how I spend my time.”

~ Jennifer Steans President and CEO of Financial Investments Corporation (FIC) and Recipient of the 2023 IVCA Richard J. Daley Award

“Hiring people is hard and it takes time. When employers are already pressed for time, it is easy to reach out to an existing network or review resumes that indicate a well-known career path. But, what if we look beyond the resume to the unique experiences, skills and perspectives a person can bring to an organization. There are new entrepreneurs pioneering this approach … and hopefully the VC and PE industries will have the foresight to adopt these new methodologies.

This award is a result of all the people in the IVCA and the larger Chicago community that have worked together over the years to launch and nurture entrepreneurs and elevate the Chicago entrepreneurial ecosystem. I feel honored to be part of this group that has catalyzed innovation.”

~ Linda Darragh, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University Emerita and Recipient of the 2021 Richard J. Daley Award

The Pandemic: “I hope it will encourage two behaviors: first, understanding how fast change can happen when it has to happen and when it’s important, which can also be called leadership; and second, understanding that we are all one community in health and we need to take care of each other and provide minimum levels of care to every person in America. That will keep us all safer and is also the right thing to do.”

~ Glen Tullman of 7WireVentures, Recipient of the 2020 IVCA Stanley C. Golder Award

“It is clear to me that the grizzled veterans of the industry, of which Stanley was one, pioneered the practices and advocated the regulatory structures that contributed to the tremendous industry success across the country.

When I was starting out as an underling in the profession I took all that foundational structure as an article of faith. I have since learned how constant vigilance and education is required to ensure that the industry can continue to fuel innovation and economic growth. The IVCA plays a critical role actively educating and advocating for the VC and PE industries in Illinois, in essence continuing the work of Stanley Golder and others.”

~ Keith L. Crandell, Recipient of the 2019 IVCA Stanley C. Golder Award

“Most of my business philosophies and approaches are derived from my grandfather… Paul Galvin founder of Motorola Inc., and also my father Bob Galvin, who was the second-generation CEO. I am attracted to ideas that most people disregard as not in favor of, or as too risky…  I seek out ideas that find themselves or are positioned as ‘minority opinions.’ Or we create something that when we first describe it, most people respond ‘that will never work.’”

~ Christopher B. Galvin, Recipient of the 2018 IVCA Richard J. Daley Award

“I think that the Chicago investment community – which I am extremely excited and optimistic about – has really come into its own in the last decade. If there is one distinguishing feature that is descriptive of the community, and also uniquely a part of the character of our great city as well, it is the amazing extent to which we see various investor groups working together and collaboratively here, rather than purely as adversaries and competitors.

I’ve seen more instances of cooperation where three or four firms will all participate in a given deal. I think that is a healthy way to make more resources and connections, far beyond mere cash available, to both startups and growth businesses, and to also grow the pool of investment and funding opportunities for everyone here.”

~ Howard Tullman, CEO Start-Up Incubator ‘1871’, Recipient of the 2017 IVCA Richard J. Daley Award

“The growth of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem is making it easier for women to access more resources. Programs like WiSTEM [Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics] at Chicago’s ‘1871’ Tech and Entrepreneur Center; the New Venture Challenge; incubators like Techstars, Healthbox and Impact Engine; and co-location facilities like 1871, MATTER [Healthcare incubator] and the Polsky Exchange increase the access to resources for women entrepreneurs.

Also encouraging is the growth of women in STEM and MBA programs…This, coupled with more female role models in entrepreneurship and business leadership, should encourage more women to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities.”

~ Ellen Rudnick, Senior Advisor & Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at Chicago Booth, Recipient of the IVCA Richard J. Daley Award for 2016

“I think Chicago has come a long way in developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem. – the ecosystem and the support infrastructure it implies are critical to sustainability.  What is going on at ‘1871’ – the new biotech incubator – and now ‘The Garage at Northwestern,’ are all examples of building an entrepreneurial community. There have been so many success stories coming out of Chicago in recent years that there remains no doubt that it is for real. Many, but not all, of the success stories are based on business model innovation rather than technology innovation.”

~ Peter Barris, Managing General Partner of New Enterprise Associates, the 2015 recipient of the Stanley C. Golder Award

“My contributions to our community don’t compare to the magnitude of Mayor Richard J. Daley. However, I invest time and financial resources to build companies in Chicago, as well as non-profits focused on education and the arts. So, there are some interesting parallels that make me feel very connected to the leaders that came before us.

I was very blessed to be able to grow up learning my family business. The deep respect I have for entrepreneurs was nurtured by my experiences at Quill Corporation. From the time I was very young, I’ve had appreciation and admiration for everything that entrepreneurs accomplish. My father and uncles set the standard by which I judge myself, and the founders with whom I have the privilege to collaborate.”

~ Steven Miller, Partner and Co-Founder of Origin Ventures, 2014 Recipient of The Richard J. Daley Award

“There’s a concept in Judaism known as tikkun olam, which literally means ‘repairing the world.’ The concept is that the perfection of the world has been shattered, and each of us has a responsibility to repair it by engaging in the fight for social justice. The New Testament also says something I firmly believe – ‘To whom much is given, much is expected.’

Is it too cliché to say that my parents were my role models? Well, they were. Even though they both passed away when I was young, I remember that they led by example. Both my parents were responsible for making Hyatt the fastest growing hotel chain, but as busy as they were, they made themselves even busier by leading charitable and political causes like museums, hospitals and civil rights organizations. They felt that to be responsible citizens, we all need to engage with the world and especially with helping those who most need it. So my work with young children in poverty and the Holocaust Museum is really just an extension of my parents’ commitment.”

~ Governor J.B. Pritzker, State of Illinois, the 2009 Recipient of The Richard J. Daley Award

For all information regarding the 2024 IVCA Annual Awards Dinner, taking place December 9th at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago … click here.