Built from Experience. Driven by Purpose.
How We Got Here
Business degrees, MBAs, and years in the corporate world taught us that the primary objective of business is to maximize profit for shareholders. We learned the financial discipline and strategic rigor to make that happen.
Then life took us somewhere different. Travel, volunteering, and working alongside non-profit organizations illuminated something we hadn't fully seen before — the extraordinary positive impact that business could have when it returned to its roots and focused on providing genuine value to society. At the same time, we witnessed the frustration of mission-driven organizations where dedicated teams labor tirelessly, yet their impact is limited by a lack of financial understanding or sound business management.
We also worked with dozens of purpose-driven entrepreneurs — people with the creative vision, technical skill, and passion to build incredible products and services — who lacked the business acumen to grow and lead their organizations to the next level. The profit they pursued and the impact they sought were both constrained by the same problem: they didn't have a financial partner in their corner.
The need was consistent. The leader didn't have the financial background required, nor the capital to hire a full-time business partner.
From that need, Business Stewardship Partners was born — a partner committed to helping you steward your organization toward the financial performance and impact you're capable of.
Our Philosophy
We believe:
· Business is a tool to create and distribute value to all the stakeholders
· Non-profit organizations still require sound business management
· Stewarding a business is a great responsibility and we take our role seriously
Why Us?
We come from the trenches, bearing the scars of entrepreneurship as well as the challenges of Corporate America. Whether you’re seeking a strategic alliance with the right partner or a special skillset or tool, call us today. Together we’ll create and refine your plan for success. We didn’t get here alone, and neither will you.
Meet the Team
Claire Sebesta — Strategic Finance Partner
John Sebesta — Co-Founder & Strategic Advisor
John Sebesta — Co-Founder & Strategic Advisor
Claire brings nearly two decades of finance experience spanning corporate and entrepreneurial environments. At Lockheed Martin and Sierra Nevada Corporation, she built deep expertise in program finance, strategic planning, overhead and rate management, IT financial partnership, and full business unit P&L ownership — managing financials fo
Claire brings nearly two decades of finance experience spanning corporate and entrepreneurial environments. At Lockheed Martin and Sierra Nevada Corporation, she built deep expertise in program finance, strategic planning, overhead and rate management, IT financial partnership, and full business unit P&L ownership — managing financials for approximately $300M in annual revenue.
Beyond corporate finance, Claire served as the founding CFO of a startup social enterprise, managing everything from initial financial setup and bank relations to investment modeling. She also spent two years in Latin America consulting with local businesses — building financial systems, creating investment models, and establishing management and investor reporting from scratch.
Claire masterfully analyzes data and transforms it into meaningful, actionable insight for business leaders. She now channels that experience as a strategic finance partner for entrepreneurs, founders, and purpose-driven organizations through Business Stewardship Partners.
John Sebesta — Co-Founder & Strategic Advisor
John Sebesta — Co-Founder & Strategic Advisor
John Sebesta — Co-Founder & Strategic Advisor
John built his career in the private sector with extensive experience in financial and business strategy, including serving as business manager for international programs where he led the proposal, negotiation, and management of more than $500M in contracts. He also served as the founding board president of a community development non-pro
John built his career in the private sector with extensive experience in financial and business strategy, including serving as business manager for international programs where he led the proposal, negotiation, and management of more than $500M in contracts. He also served as the founding board president of a community development non-profit.
In 2017, John left corporate America to focus on using business as a tool for positive change, consulting with social enterprises in Guatemala and organizations around the world. He holds a Bachelor of Finance from New Mexico State University, an MBA from Southern Methodist University, and an Executive PhD from the University of Denver, where he currently serves as a professor of business and social entrepreneurship.