Kirsten Olsen
Managing Director, Private Capital
About Kirsten
Kirsten Olsen is the Head of PWM Private Capital at William Blair. She leads the firm’s Merchant Banking program, a dedicated private capital investment program available to qualifying Private Wealth Management clients. She and the Merchant Banking program aim to provide an unparalleled experience in private market investing for Merchant Banking clients from offering through closing to ongoing monitoring, reporting, and client service.
Kirsten joined William Blair in 2024. Her background has spanned investment banking and investment management at bulge bracket firms and small entrepreneurial ventures. Most recently she was a Managing Director with The Rondout Group, a niche investment bank boutique, where she supported privately-owned businesses with strategic and capital needs. Prior to that, she co-founded Nexstar Capital Partners, an investment management company, where she led the firm’s direct private investment portfolio. Earlier in her career, she was with Deutsche Bank, Bankers Trust, and Société Générale. She completed Chase Manhattan Bank’s corporate finance/credit training program.
Kirsten received her B.A. in Economics, Magna cum Laude, from Temple University.
About William Blair
William Blair is a premier global partnership with expertise in investment banking, investment management, and private wealth management. We provide advisory services, strategies, and solutions to meet our clients’ evolving needs. As an independent and employee-owned firm, together with our strategic partners, we operate in more than 30 offices worldwide.*
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1935Year William Blair was founded
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1,950+Employees worldwide
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154 billion+Client assets
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90+ YearsIndependent and employee-owned
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30+Offices worldwide*
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650+Companies under coverage
As of December 31, 2025
*Includes strategic partnerships with Allier Capital, BDA Partners, and Poalim Equity.