Steve Finder

Steve Finder serves as Managing Director of the Deep Tech/Space Tech Practice at Focus Search Partners and is a key member of the Enterprise Software practice. Steve leads engagements for portfolio companies in space tech, autonomous vehicles, eVTOL and urban air mobility, robotics and exoskeletons, quantum computing, additive manufacturing, AI, ML enterprise software, and more. He is the Executive Chairman of Protego Global, a risk management and security company comprised of leaders formerly from The US Secret Service, Homeland Security, US NAVY and more. Additionally, Steve is a senior adviser to a start-up deep tech investment firm.

During Steve’s career, he has successfully led more than 400 C-suite engagements. Steve has led cross-functional teams, overseen large merger and acquisitions, and was a member of an Executive Leadership Board for a public Fortune 500 company overseeing all operating functions. Steve has held in-house leadership roles with Apple, at their headquarters in Cupertino, California, and SpaceX where he was head of talent acquisition.

Earlier in Steve’s career, he co-founded an executive search firm focused on technology start-ups, located in the Bay Area and Boston, in partnership with a venture capital firm. Steve served as Associate Director for Heidrick & Struggles, in Silicon Valley, where he led a team of 30 associates.

Steve provides career counseling to military veterans to assist in their transition from military service to the private sector and has contributed to dog rescue programs within his community for more than 10 years.

Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication, with a special focus on organizational communication, from Ohio University.