About DRV Advisory
I built DRV Advisory because great science stalls in the market. Not because of the product but because the commercial strategy doesn't match the complexity of what's being sold, or the deal leaves value on the table before launch.
Some of the best innovations I've seen have cost companies money. It's almost always a strategy problem or a storytelling problem. DRV Advisory closes that gap.
WHY I DO THIS WORK
When I was working at Cargill and speaking to companies around the world, I noticed something: the best strategy isn't universal. Culture, power dynamics, and context reshape what actually works in a negotiation or a go-to-market. That observation drove me back to school. My doctoral research at Paris School of Business focuses on how these nuances shape B2B deal outcomes and it's the work that shaped DRV Advisory. Strategy and negotiation aren't separate. They're the same conversation, told differently depending on who's in the room.
Deven R. Vespi
FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL ADVISOR
I've spent over a decade at the intersection of science and commercial strategy in the global animal health and nutrition industry. I led the transformation of a global animal health additives portfolio, delivering 125% growth across priority markets, expanding an equine health business from North America into 20+ countries, and driving 74% year-over-year growth within a newly launched pet additives segment. I also hold the AFIA Member of the Year award for 2025, arecognition that reflects both industry standing and the depth of my engagement with the category.
My advisory work is grounded in doctoral research at Paris School of Business, where I'm pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration with a specialization in complex business negotiations. My research focuses on how culture, power dynamics, and gender influence outcomes in complex deal environments. I bring that academic rigor into the practical realities of high-stakes negotiation.
Credentials and Thought Leadership
Doctor of Business Administration, B2B Negotiations — Paris School of Business (In Progress)
MBA, Marketing and Business Intelligence — Colorado State University
BS Biology — University of Florida
Certificate in Disruptive Strategy — Harvard Business School Online
Monthly Columnist, Animal Health News and Views