Chris

 

Speier

SPEIER@VMGPARTNERS.COM

From my childhood as a LEGO pro to today, I've had a passion for building things from the ground up.

 

From consumer to salesman to manufacturer to investor, wearing multiple hats every day appeals to the curious explorer in Chris.

 

CREATIVE THINKING

As teachers and engineers my family put a lot of emphasis on learning and development. They passed down an ethos of questioning the status quo and valued creative problem-solving.

NEVER SETTLE

The brands and founders we work with are also always in-motion, running over hurdles and through walls, and I love that they don’t stagnate or settle.

VMG FAMILY

I had heard about the culture of the VMG “family” before I even met them. After just a couple of conversations I knew I wanted to be a part of this team.

 

Let’s talk about you as a kid? Describe yourself at, say, age 10.

I was a quiet kid, but also super curious. I know I got on my family’s nerves with my never-ending questions. (and I’m already curious about where this interview is going.)

Other than being annoyed by your questions what was your family like?

As teachers and engineers my family put a lot of emphasis on learning and development. They passed down an ethos of questioning the status quo and valued creative problem-solving.

Ok, so jump to today. What books are on your nightstand right now?

It probably would not surprise you that I recently re-read “Freakonomics”.

Natch. Ok, so now you’re using that curiosity to help your founder partners create great brands. What were some of your first brand loves from your childhood?

Absolutely LEGO... the collection we had at our house growing up was massive.

Ah, so building from the ground up is in your DNA…

I don’t know about in DNA but it is a passion. It’s part of why I think brand building is so interesting too as great brands build from an idea to eventually connecting to the every-day lives of consumers. The decisions founders, operators and investors make in building a brand can have a big impact on how consumers live (ideally for the better) across the world.

What most appeals to you about your actual job day to day?

We get to wear multiple hats every day: from consumer, to salesman, to manufacturer to investor. This creates such a unique environment and appeals to the curious explorer in me. The brands and founders we work with are also always in-motion, running over hurdles and through walls, and I love that they don’t stagnate or settle.

What was it about the VMG culture that attracted you in the first place?

I had heard about the culture of the VMG “family” before I even met them. After just a couple of conversations I knew I wanted to be a part of this team. I personally love that it’s a place where people bounce ideas off of each other, ask for opinions and create an environment where people can thrive.

So they don’t get annoyed by your constant questions?

No. Why do you ask?

Just curious.

VMG is a place where people bounce ideas off of each other, ask for opinions and create an environment where people can thrive.

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