ETA Insider Podcast How a Recovering Attorney Built a Healthcare Empire
30 snips
May 30, 2025 In this engaging conversation, Keith Burns, Co-chairman and CEO of Lullwater and Company and entrepreneurship professor at Chicago Booth, shares his dynamic journey from law to building a healthcare empire. He discusses the pivotal moment that ignited his transition and the crucial partnership with Michael Curry. Listeners will find insights on navigating acquisitions, the significance of aligned values, and the challenges of teaching entrepreneurship. Keith also emphasizes the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship and the importance of lifelong learning.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Leaving Law for Entrepreneurship
- Keith Burns left a lucrative career in law and finance after receiving a large bonus and feeling the urge to pursue entrepreneurship with his friend Michael Curry.
- They confirmed their partnership over wine and started their search fund journey together, leveraging a 25-year relationship.
Different Excellence Modes
- Excellence experienced in top firms taught Keith valuable lessons on work ethic and quality standards.
- However, leading a small business requires different emotional intelligence, balancing rigor with empathy and adaptability.
Building a Healthcare Business
- Keith and Michael acquired Kruger Gilbert Health Physics, a medical physics compliance testing service based in Baltimore.
- They grew the business mostly via inorganic growth with acquisitions and recapped with private equity, multiplying business size six-fold in six years.