From JP Morgan to Business Mogul: Vic Keller's Entrepreneurial Odyssey Spans 14 Companies Across Diverse Industries, Cementing Legacy in Business Transformation and Mentorship
Interviewed By Maryan Aiken
“I started reading business books, got my first introduction to Warren Buffett through reading”
Vic Keller. Founder. CEO. KLV Capital & Experience Ventures
Vic Keller
Founder and CEO
KLV Capital & Experience Ventures
Website Address Home - Vic Keller
Social Media Handles: LinkedIn - Vic Keller | LinkedIn YouTube - Vick Eller - YouTube Instagram - Vic Keller (@vickeller) • Instagram photos and videos Facebook - Facebook
Twitter - Vic Keller (@vickeller) / X (twitter.com) TikTok - TikTok
ABOUT VIC KELLER
Vic Keller's entrepreneurial spirit has led him to found over 14 companies across multiple industries including manufacturing, tech, and the outdoor industry. His journey from JP Morgan to the successful founding of ZAK companies, later acquired by Berkshire Hathaway, exemplifies his ability to scale and transform businesses. Today, as the founder and CEO of KLV Capital and Experience Ventures, Vic continues to inspire with his leadership and mentorship prowess. An avid adventurer and dedicated family man, Vic lives by the belief that an extraordinary life is attainable through developing others every step of the way.
ADVERTISEMENT
SAUVAGE
Sauvage is an act of creation inspired by wide-open spaces. A composition marked by a raw freshness, powerful and noble all at once. Powerful and noble compositions: choose from the raw and spirited Eau de Toilette, the sensual and mysterious Eau de Parfum, the Parfum with smooth animal charm, and the sophisticated and heady Elixir.
ABOUT KLV CAPITAL & EXPERIENCE VENTURES
Founded by business leader and entrepreneur, Vic Keller, KLV partners with founders and management teams to build and grow high-potential companies across the globe. From startup to Fortune 500, Vic understands the value of building a company and the vision it takes to lead teams towards success. His unique background has provided him with insight to the real-world challenges and opportunities that growth companies face in taking their businesses to the next level. At KLV, Vic has built a team that equally appreciates these principles and together they work to realize a growing company’s full potential. Building a great company takes more than capital. It takes creativity, teamwork, and passion. This experience and perspective have helped each of our portfolio companies achieve extraordinary results and position themselves for sustainable success.
Q: What was your first job ever? McDonald’s Crew Member
Q: What was the takeaway from that first job? Be intentional in how you show up, who you learn from, and your mindset.
Q: Can you share a bit about your early experiences working from the age of 14 and how they influenced your journey into entrepreneurship? So, I started working at the age of fourteen at McDonald’s. I was exposed to good leadership and gained an appreciation for the business models around me. I started reading business books, got my first introduction to Warren Buffett through reading. I worked all through college and after graduating, I started working in commercial banking for JP Morgan Chase. It was a great job and company, but I ultimately realized that there was no way I was going to be a career banker. Bankers are awesome people, I’ve got a lot of friends who are bankers, but there are a lot of rules in banking. Ultimately, I realized I was on the wrong side of the table; I wanted to be the guy taking the risks, not measuring the risks. I saw the art of the possible, so at twenty-four years old I started my first company and there was nothing sexy about it. I filed for the LLC, hired a core team, and had a ton of fun building an enterprise in the automotive industry.
Q: With an impressive track record of 14 successful ventures, what do you consider to be the key factors behind your entrepreneurial success?
During the early stages of my career, my primary focus was on managing cash flow efficiently. However, I learned that if you intend to run multiple businesses simultaneously, the keys to sustainable achievement rest on more than just navigating financial management. Build a mission with a viable enterprise value. You’ve got to have a clear purpose that resonates with your target consumer and fully addresses their problem.
The second step lies in assembling a team of exceptional talent who share a passion for our mission and possess the skills and creativity to drive innovation and success. Company visions change from business to business, but the values people hold to guide them toward that vision stay the same. Successful outcomes start with a community of high-value people.
advertisement
DIOR
NEW FOREVER GLOW STAR FILTER & GLOW MAX
A liquid highlighter that brightens and enhances the complexion with an instant and long-lasting glow. Infused with ultra-fine luminous pearly pigments, Dior Forever Glow Maximizer creates a healthy glow effect that lasts all day long. Its fine and fresh texture blends seamlessly with the skin to reflect light with a no-makeup effect. The 92%* natural-origin ingredients formula is infused with iris extract hydrates the skin for 24h.**
CAPTURE RADIANCE AND LIGHT
Infused with luminous pearly pigments, the Dior Forever liquid highlighter brightens the complexion and creates a healthy glow effect that lasts all day long.
Q: Can you share some insights into your approach to identifying lucrative business opportunities across different sectors?
My approach to identifying lucrative business opportunities stems from a blend of industry expertise and being passionate about the work. In 2001, I read a book called “The Experience Economy.” It was a really exceptional book, quite profound at that time, and it basically discussed what opportunities existed to drive a business and that the economy of many businesses was based on experiences. In 2015, after my companies were successfully acquired by Berkshire Hathaway, I was thinking about what’s next, and I wanted to get more involved with businesses, people, environments, and cultures that were experiential. When you think about the biggest and most successful companies in the world, they are focused on enterprise value. Another way of looking at this is shareholder value within the company. I choose businesses on their ability to scale and leverage enterprise value long-term, so it creates a legacy with strength.
advertisement
JIMMY CHOO
UNVEILS THE FLOWER SERIES - CREATED IN COLLABORATION WITH LES ATELIERS VERMONT
Combining Jimmy Choo’s design mastery with the couture craftsmanship of Les Ateliers Vermont embroidery house, The Flower Series is a celebration of the eternal beauty of flowers. Juxtaposing the splendour of the natural world with urban landscapes, The Flower Series' bespoke embroideries are inspired by the spirit of ten global cities, expressed in the form of opulent flowers.
The Flower Series is available exclusively through Jimmy Choo’s private client team, please reach out for further details.
Q: Please elaborate on your time at Wynn's Automotive and the transition from a VP role there to venturing into entrepreneurship?
I feel like my role as Vice President during my time at Wynn’s Automotive prepped me with invaluable experience in business operations and leadership. I was really able to contribute to the company’s success through my strengths in team management and strategic decision-making. However, as my career progressed, I felt a growing desire to create something of my own. The move to start my own company was a natural evolution fueled by a desire for autonomy, the rebellious spirit of the entrepreneur, and the chance to build out the model I had been creating over the course of years with the incredible experiences I had had. It began an exciting new chapter in my career where I could use my skills and knowledge to create a truly transformative product that is now the blueprint for KLV Capital and Experience Ventures.
ADVERTISEMENT
Get your skin gorgeous ready! Sisley-Paris is a French luxury brand that creates, produces and distributes high-performance, plant-based skincare, makeup, fragrance and hair care products exclusively for men and women!
Q: ZAK Automotive, the enterprise you founded, was successfully acquired by Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., with Mr. Buffett becoming your business partner. What lessons did you learn from this experience, and how did it shape your future ventures?
My connection with Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway gifted me a unique opportunity to gain experience from one of the world's most successful investors. I had a front-row seat to see how Buffet’s thirst for knowledge shaped his unparalleled visions. His ability to craft business strategies boiled down from his voracious reading habit, curious intellect, and dedication to understanding industries on a deeper level. My biggest takeaway as an entrepreneur is that passion is an amazing energy, but it's the knowledge that makes a business successful.
This method of thinking shifted my approach to managing teams. I replaced lecturing and giving directives with selling people on what to do through the vehicle of offering professional development and training. This approach empowered teams with encouraged input and feedback, allowing me to make better-informed decisions as a leader.
ADVERTISEMENT
With over 200 years of combined experience, the management team at Veritex Community Bank is uniquely qualified to help you with your banking needs. From the top down, our people are the best in the business. Our bankers have the discretion and flexibility to make on-the-spot decisions based on their experience and knowledge of your needs.
For questions about your Veritex account, debit card, or Online Banking please contact your local branch or call our customer support at 833-VERITEX (833-837-4839).
8214 Westchester Drive, Suite 800, Dallas, TX 75225
972-349-6200
Company Established 2010
Number of employees 770
veritexbank.com
Social Media Handles @VeritexBank (Instagram) @VeritexBank (Facebook) @VeritexCommunityBank (LinkedIN)
Q: With such a diverse portfolio of businesses, how do you maintain focus and ensure each venture receives the attention it needs to succeed?
Hire great talent. I am a strong proponent of investing in exceptional individuals with creativity, high intellect, and an entrepreneurial mindset. One of the things I was intentional about early on in my career as an entrepreneur was drawing together a core team of incredible people who focus on specific nuances of development. Undeniably, the genesis of this strategy stemmed from my passion for studying Warren Buffet’s approach at Berkshire Hathaway. He has a small, core team of about twenty-four individuals that oversee his three-hundred-plus businesses and hundreds of millions of dollars of undermanagement.
Throughout my career, my goal has been to hire a core team that could recognize and develop raw talent from within a company and who could also support that existing talent through additional recruiting if needed. I have seen some people focus on building a team of unicorns they can parachute into a business, but I want the talent already existing in that business, whether undiscovered or in different roles. My goal when taking on any new venture is to build massive enterprise value, and that doesn’t look like all the good people vanishing when leadership changes. It looks like structuring a community within that company to cultivate the outcome-driven mindset. You might have an applicant with a Harvard doctorate and twenty years of experience, but if they aren't a fit for the community, you're not going to see success.
I mean ultimately, profitability serves as the leading indicator of success. If you have teams filled with quality people who are mission-focused, (key word focused), and who can propel ventures into actionable phases as an aligned unit, you can deliver a quality product and skyrocket enterprise value.
DELTA AIRLINES
Delta was named No. 1 in the annual Business Travel News Airline Survey for the 13th year in a row, citing Delta's extraordinary customer service, distribution channels, expansive network, and quality of communications as the best in the business.
“Throughout my career, my goal has been to hire a core team that could recognize and develop raw talent from within a company and who could also support that existing talent through additional recruiting if needed.”
ADVERTISEMENT
There is opportunity hidden in your finances. The B10 Team is comprised of the most talented, credentialed, and diverse; legal, tax, finance, and business professionals in the industry. We are the right team to find, and build value, around your opportunity. It would be our pleasure to serve you and to share with you a true financial-hospitality experience. Send us a message and we will respond right away.
Q: In your opinion, what are some key qualities or skills that aspiring entrepreneurs should cultivate to thrive in today's business landscape?
My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to master the basics. Understand cash flow management, understand budget planning, understand economic forecasting. In any phase of an enterprise, you want to be able to make informed business decisions and effectively use resources.
My second piece of advice would be to cultivate a passion for learning. I have greatly benefited from the mentors I have had over the course of being a successful entrepreneur and some of those mentors have been books. I’ll admit, I did not always have it all figured out and learned a lot from my network. This plays right into mindset. Attitude plays a significant factor in influencing not only the room but yourself. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, as setbacks and failures are inevitable on the entrepreneurial journey.
advertisement
RYAN SERHANT
Ryan Serhant is a real estate broker, CEO, and founder of SERHANT., a vertically-integrated mega brokerage comprising an in-house film studio, education arm, marketing division, and technology platform. He's also a bestselling author, producer, and star of Bravo's Million Dollar Listing New York and Sell It Like Serhant.
advertisement
SQUARE
POWERING ALL THE WAYS YOU DO BUSINESS
Work smarter, automate for efficiency, and open up new revenue streams on the software and hardware platform millions of businesses trust.
Q: How do you approach risk-taking and decision-making when pursuing new business opportunities?
Man, that is a tough question. I look at a few things. First off, I look for problems in the marketplace. If you’re a business that I am interested in and you feature a marketplace that doesn’t have any or maybe a few challenges, you’re probably not the right place for me. And the reason I say that is I look for the ability to create value where we are truly able to solve the customer’s problem. I don’t just want to know what’s going on internally for that business, I want to know what that business’s customers are experiencing. Here’s the neat thing about this approach, if you can come up with a vision about where the friction is in the marketplace and you can study that with the customer, they will coach you on how to solve the problem and then pay you for that solution.
The second thing I look at when studying a new business is: can I get people fired up? I love enthusiasm and want to work with teams who are passionate about the value they are creating. There are some businesses I stay far away from because there is no excitement; I see businesses like that daily.
advertisement
ARENCON GLOBAL
Get Invited & Attend the Next ARENCON GLOBAL With The Introduction of The Milestone Series Featuring The Trailblazers. Get Exclusive Invite For the Upcoming Private Gatherings
Be Introduced to the AEC community in select cities and Meet the Architects, Engineers, & Construction Professionals + The Various Sectors in The AEC Industry
ADVERTISEMENT
AL BIERNAT’S NORTH
Serving the DFW Metroplex the highest quality steaks and seafood since 1998, Al Biernat’s continues to impress with its ambiance and old-world elegance. Warm smiles greet you from the moment you enter, and impeccable service is delivered with aplomb.
The award-winning wine list with hard-to-find selections both from new and old-world vineyards, and a bar selection that is world class, you are sure to find something to enhance your dining experience.Whether celebrating a special occasion or the closing of a business deal, guests can be assured that their experience will be one to remember.
Q: As someone who has achieved significant success in both the manufacturing and tech industries, how do you see the intersection of these sectors shaping the future of entrepreneurship?
I am truly excited for anyone interested in getting into the entrepreneurial game right now. We now have all these resources with technologies that allow people to set up and grow businesses faster and better than in the past. Speaking to the manufacturing side of things, access to markets has been democratized with the accessibility of online platforms, cloud computing, and e-commerce, enabling us to gain access to a global audience while at the same time competing in an equitable playing field.
And for those who are in the manufacturing industry looking to grow their brand, brand building has never been easier. Anyone can do it but building it can be like making a soufflé. It can be a lot of bravado and you tap it the wrong way and your brand just falls over. My advice to young entrepreneurs is to build a brand deeper than you want to build it wide and that is the same with building a company.
ADVERTISEMENT
KLV CAPITAL & EXPERIENCE VENTURES
We’re More Than Just Capital
At KLV, our investment goes beyond capital. We provide companies with an unmatched level of real-world operations experience and proven value-add resources that drive success.
Our team leverages its decades of hands-on experience building and leading businesses to help companies streamline operations, invest in human capital, instill a lasting culture, and accelerate growth. We are a partner you can trust to lead your company in the right direction.
Q: Looking back at your journey so far, what advice would you offer to your younger self or to other entrepreneurs just starting on their path to success?
Here’s what I tell anyone looking to get into the entrepreneur game: know the industry you are operating in, your competitors, how to attract customers, the best suppliers and distributors, and the impact of technology. Know the basics of business management. You might be able to start a business on the basis of a great idea, but to manage it, you need to understand the functional areas. Hire the right people. Have the right attitude. When you own a business, you are the business. If you’re going to devote the time and energy needed to transform an idea into a successful venture, you need to have a passion for your work.
THE TRAILBLAZERS BY CITYBOX MEDIA. ARENCON GLOBAL IN COLLABORATION WITH MERCEDES BENZ EXPERIENCE CENTER. DIOR & NATUZZI ITALIA
ARENCON GLOBAL is a private and exclusive gathering for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry designed to celebrate, champion and connect architects, engineers, and construction professionals + select industries outside the AEC realm who work together to plan and implement residential, commercial, and industrial construction projects plus the various sectors in this industry. This sector offers a variety of services that range from designing and planning to construction and project management and more!
Q: Could you share a memorable challenge or setback you've faced in your entrepreneurial journey and how you overcame it?
One of the biggest lessons I had to learn early in my career was how to build a culture of community in my team. I could hire someone with a laundry list of successful achievements, who is driven, and who is great at bringing in revenue. But if that individual doesn’t play ball when it comes to working with other team individuals, business suffers. No one wants to work in a toxic environment. A few years ago, I hired a friend who ultimately proved to be a poor fit for the team. Despite our personal relationship, it became apparent that his skills and work style did not align with the organization's needs. Alignment comes through training, through selling people on growth and investing in their professional journey, but here’s where I had to recognize not everyone wants to be a part of the team. If you want to win in the big leagues, your players have to be on the same page. One thing I am excited to share for 2024 is that my leadership team and I have created a training program around our cultural values and expectations to strengthen the margins of operational success. With this, I have seen the value of professionalism, transparency, and diligence increase across each of our company cultures.
advertisement
NATUZZI ITALIA
Natuzzi Italia is an Italian furniture company founded in 1959 by Pasquale Natuzzi, the group's Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Group Stylist. Handcrafted entirely in Italy, Natuzzi Italia designs, produces, and markets luxury furniture for all rooms of the home in collaboration with world-renowned designers.
5130 Monahans Ave. Fort Worth, TX 76109
(817) 758-1020
Q: What excites you most about the future of entrepreneurship, and where do you see the greatest opportunities for innovation and growth in the coming years?
This is such an exciting time to be an entrepreneur. So many people have their eyes off the target, they’re distracted. We are still recuperating from the pandemic in this unusual, post-Covid space. But there is a tremendous potential for innovation and growth, whether you’re looking at technology or the actual market. We have access to game-changing tools. You look at AI, you look at all the software that is emerging, and you realize how many resources are out there to start and build a business. Technology is the great equalizer. Look, I got a college degree when I was younger, but today, you do not need a college degree to succeed in commercialized business. With the age of automation and data collection, streamlining business processes has never been more efficient or effective.
ADVERTISEMENT
ABOUT FROM TREE TO TREE
To open up a whole new approach for you to use your Christian beliefs to engage with your friends, relatives and yes strangers, hence making your world growing, contented and full of joy. To teach an approach to communicate love, respect and honor to everyone in your circle and those on the edges of our community and to the world. Why not! I started with the idea of just communicating love, respect and honor to everyone. I have traveled extensively globally during my thirty-year career. One day after retiring, it occurred to me that I never talk about God or religion to anyone-anywhere. I can talk to people at my place of worship with no problems, but I rarely speak of my faith elsewhere. I wondered why. The purpose of this book is to engage quickly and spread the ideas of love and Jesus. If a new conversion experience happens, there is a path to maturity, growth, and a newfound faith in God. A complete and thorough approach of introducing someone to Jesus and a Christian lifestyle. Then mentoring them to a life long Christian journey.
From Tree to Tree is available on Amazon
GET YOUR COPIES TODAY
CITYBOX MEDIA
Luxury Branding & Digital Advertising for Entrepreneurs. Business Owners. Corporate Professionals. Be Our Next Interview on CityBox
Email us to be the NEXT Interview on CityBox Media cityboxdaily@gmail.com www.cityboxdaily.com
“My goal when taking on any new venture is to build massive enterprise value, and that doesn’t look like all the good people vanishing when leadership changes. It looks like structuring a community within that company to cultivate the outcome-driven mindset.”
advertisement
BIOGLASS MEDIA
Expand Your Business portfolio
Elevate Your Online Presence Today With your very own legacy website FOR JUST A LATTE A DAY
Your company's website is its digital identity. In today's online landscape, your voice should resonate loudly to dominate conversations about your business. Even with a strong word-of-mouth reputation, without an online presence, you risk missing out on potential customers beyond your referral circle. Designed for startups, entrepreneurs, business owners and industry leaders for just a latte a day!
Q: What exciting projects are you currently working on?
Currently, my focus is on stewardship of our current portfolio and ensuring that each business, whether one I own or invest in, is positioned for long-term success. This involves diving deep into our growth strategies, identifying areas for improvement, and fostering a mindset of innovation and excellence across our teams.
But I’m an entrepreneur at heart, so I’m constantly thinking about what we can start next. I have been part of the launch for a few new companies from the ground up this year that I have been thrilled to see take off in the way they have. I absolutely love the synergy of the start-up phase. I just launched a training company with two incredible entrepreneurs who were pursuing a specific industry. I have never seen a more opportunistic time to be in business.
I am also continuing to focus on one of my passion projects this year. It is a program called EPIC MBA (EPIC stands for Entrepreneurs, Professionals, Innovators, Creators) that really seeks to bring together a community of extraordinary people who are interested in developing themselves around the concept of building out enterprise value and who are really trying to develop a serious business. It’s been a great journey so far; I have loved getting to give back to the entrepreneurial community in a space that connects brilliant minds and creates sustainable business growth.
CITYBOX MEDIA PRESENTS THE MILESTONE SERIES FEATURING THE TRAILBLAZERS WORLDWIDE
The Milestone Series by CityBox Media is an informal tribute to entrepreneurs & business professionals who redefine success, ignite innovation, and push the boundaries of achievement.
Luxury Branding & Digital Advertising for Entrepreneurs. Business Owners. Corporate Professionals. Be Our Next Interview on CityBox
Email us to be the NEXT Interview on CityBox Media cityboxdaily@gmail.com www.cityboxdaily.com
CITYBOX MEDIA PRESENTS DIOR MAVENS 2022 & DIOR MEN 2022 AT MACY’S LENOX SQUARE, ATLANTA GEORGIA
Join Us For CityBox Media’s Upcoming Events in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas & Houston! Join CityBox Today cityboxdaily@gmail.com
Visit CityBox Events to See More Photos
WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO SACRIFICE TO BUILD YOUR BUSINESS?
Ryan Serhant is one of the most successful and well-known real estate brokers in the world. After a decade leading one of New York City’s top-ranked real estate teams, he founded SERHANT., the first brokerage designed for the marketplace of tomorrow. In addition, Ryan is an entrepreneur, producer, public speaker, bestselling author, and star of multiple TV shows. SERHANT. Studios is an in-house marketing arm and production company for Ryan's real estate and television endeavors. To date, content produced by SERHANT. Studios averages over 100 million impressions per month. The media arm has helped grow SERHANT. into the most-followed real estate brand in the world through Ryan's YouTube channel, the Facebook Watch show Unlocked, and the first-of-its-kind real estate media network, LISTED.
“Hire great talent. I am a strong proponent of investing in exceptional individuals with creativity, high intellect, and an entrepreneurial mindset.”
ADVERTISEMENT
CHASE BANK
FIND THE ACCOUNT THAT FITS YOUR BUSINESS
Chase offers, including credit cards, checking and savings accounts, mortgages, and investment products. Waive the Monthly Service Fee if you achieve $2,000 of minimum daily balance, deposits from Chase QuickAccept®, or Chase Ink Business Card purchases.
advertisement
Showcase Your Business Portfolio
BioGlass Media is here to support your journey, whether you're starting fresh, aiming for competitive edge, building a professional legacy, or seeking to expand with a standout website. Don't let budget limitations hold back your business ambitions. Our professional website package offers top-notch results for just a latte a day, tailored specifically for small businesses like yours.
hello@bioglassmedia.com