Elisa Spain



My business experience

Since the age of 16, I have been creating and transforming businesses. First I served as a general manager and today as a coach, management consultant and facilitator.

Prior to founding EKS LTD, I was Senior Vice President of the Northern Trust Company (Fortune 500, NASDAQ). Under my leadership as founder and head of Strategic Initiatives from 1989 – 1998, Northern became known as an innovator in technology-based investment products and services for institutional trust and investment clients worldwide.

I was one of the four founding leaders of Northern Trust's global custody business – today a $2.1 billion business with client assets of $3.8 trillion in 80 countries worldwide. Previously I served as Director of Employee Benefits at Evanston Hospital and VP/Director of HR at Washington Savings and Loan Association. As an adjunct professor for the MBA program at DePaul University in Chicago, I taught graduate-level new product marketing.

Founded in 1998 on the Five Truths of Profitable Growth?, EKS LTD. works with chief executives to achieve profitable growth in their businesses so they can achieve their personal vision and passionate purpose.

Products and services include:

  • Strategic Business Decisions. We take you through the EKS LTD process to identify strategic opportunities. The 100-Day Plan provides the roadmap for acting on these opportunities and achieving profitable growth.
  • Strategic Financial Decisions. Effective financial reporting and clearly defined financial management, roles and expectations, form the foundation of your strategy. Our process identifies gaps and the 100-Day Plan enables you to fill these gaps and position your business for achieving profitable growth.
  • Integrated Financial Dashboard. Available as a workshop, stand-alone or as part of our services.

My Vistage experience

I lead Vistage Chief Executive group 3361, launched in February 2007.

As stated by a fellow Vistage Chair Ozzie Gontang, who worked with me at Vistage International:

"The work Elisa does as a Vistage Chair continues the quality of work she accomplished in her other professional roles. In the role as a Vistage Chair one is continually challenged to become all they are able both personally and professionally. Elisa is an example of someone who has accepted that challenge and continues her lifelong learning." April 24, 2007

My Vistage groups

Our Vistage group is committed to collectively supporting and furthering our growth-oriented businesses. Uniquely geared to produce better leaders, better decisions and better results

  • Action oriented and accountable - 100% retention of members and their businesses during the recession
  • Focused on top and bottom line growth — 1/3 doubled in size within 2 years of joining
  • High participation - 90% member meeting attendance in the last 12 months

My Vistage philosophy

Vistage membership provides a safe place to try on change. How we show up in the rest of our lives is how we show up in our Vistage group—the difference is the risk is lower, feedback is always available and each member comes from a different place. In our group we can "try on" our goals and our leadership changes; test out our strategies; be vulnerable; be held accountable; and learn from others. Here is where we practice—ultimately becoming better leaders, better decision makers and better human beings who achieve better results.

Who is the "ideal" Vistage member?

Our ideal member is a business owner or professional manager who has "skin in the game," has a young view of the world—age is not the issue, state of mind is—embraces diversity; is focused on growth; has a passion for excellence and learning; and is sophisticated; and is there to gain value as well as add value with rich and instructive stories of results.

More about Elisa Spain

I hold an MBA in Finance and Marketing from Kellogg GSM at Northwestern University, a BS from Florida International University, and CFA Level I. My specialties include general management, financial management, business strategy, executive coaching and group facilitation.

I am a member of the Museum of Contemporary Art Executive Board and Women's Board. My past board affiliations include strategic advisor and board member of the Technology Innovation Center; Treasurer and Volunteer CFO for 1000 W Washington, a loft-conversion with a multimillion dollar special assessment; Family Rescue; River North Chicago Dance and Girl Scouts of America Honor Circle Committee.

When I'm not working or volunteering, I enjoy bike riding, cooking (eating too) and cross-country skiing (on those rare occasions when there is snow).