Michael’s workshops are phenomenal. Michael’s ability to capture an audience is unparalleled. I highly recommend any business leader attend who is looking to sharpen their decision-making skills and execute strategies that lead to growth.
Dr. Michael Burcham
Founding Partner, Shore Capital | Built and led three major healthcare companies | Advisor to U.S. Presidents | Educator at Vanderbilt University | Author
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Dr. Michael Burcham
Biography
Dr. Michael Burcham is the Chief Strategist, board member, and investor at Shore Capital Partners, a U.S.-based private equity firm with over $12 billion in assets under management. He previously built and sold three companies for a combined $750 million and taught thousands of entrepreneurs along the way the frameworks that work to build and scale a venture. As both a successful operator and proven educator, he delivers practical insights on scaling businesses, making high-stakes decisions, and turning potential into performance.
But Michael's impact extends far beyond his own ventures. His expertise has been sought at the highest levels, including advising two U.S. Presidents on innovation and entrepreneurship and serving as Chair of the National Advisory Council for Innovation and Entrepreneurship under President Obama. He has shared his knowledge globally, including four years chairing the Advisory Board for Entrepreneurship at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia.
His contributions to business and entrepreneurship have earned him recognition as Nashvillian of the Year, Tennessean of the Year, and induction into the Entrepreneurs' Hall of Fame.
He has taught and mentored more than 5,000 students through his courses on Launching a Venture and Business Models as Faculty Director of Vanderbilt's Center for Entrepreneurship for over 20 years.
As the founding CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, he helped build the city's entrepreneurial ecosystem and created programs like Catalyst, which has launched over 500 entrepreneurs.
His book, Launching the Venture, captures these tested approaches for turning ideas into investor-ready businesses. It is a proven framework used by startups, accelerators, and innovation teams within large enterprises.
Michael's commitment to developing others runs deep, rooted in his belief in "sending the elevator back down." Raised in a rural community where no one in his family had attended college, he became the first to graduate through scholarships, military service, and the guidance of a high school teacher who saw his potential. This experience shaped his dedication to helping others unlock their own possibilities.
Dr. Michael Burcham helps turn potential into performance—with strategy, structure, and story that scale, whether you're leading an established business or building your first one.
Dr. Michael Burcham
Featured Video
Current: Video Testimonials
Time 35:30
Dr. Michael Burcham
Featured Keynote Programs
Lead the Storm
Decision-Making in Disruptive Times
Disruption isn’t coming—it’s already here. Whether navigating healthcare reform, macroeconomic shocks, or global crises, the leaders who thrive aren’t just strategic; they’re resilient. In this powerful session, Dr. Burcham shares how he’s helped founders and Fortune 500 executives lead through chaos with courage, clarity, and conviction.
With stories from his advisory roles in public policy and private equity, Michael shows how leaders can remain decisive and grounded when the world is anything but. This talk blends hard-won wisdom with actionable tactics to help you emerge from disruption stronger, smarter, and more aligned than ever.
Audience Takeaways:
• How to lead when the map is outdated or missing entirely
• Strategies to stabilize teams and maintain morale under pressure
• Tools for rapid yet thoughtful decision-making in uncertain times
The Trust Edge
How Leaders Build Loyalty That Lasts
In a world of disengaged teams and skeptical stakeholders, trust is no longer a soft skill—it’s a strategic asset. In this compelling keynote, Dr. Burcham explores the “10 Commandments of Trust” and the leadership behaviors that build or break it. Drawing on decades of experience as an advisor and executive coach, Michael outlines how leaders can earn the trust of their teams, boards, customers, and communities. More than a lecture, this talk is a call to consistent action: to lead with integrity, communicate with transparency, and show up when it matters most. Whether you're trying to rebuild trust or raise the bar, this keynote gives you the playbook.
Audience Takeaways:
• Why trust is a competitive advantage—especially during inflection points
• How to diagnose and repair broken trust inside your org
• Rituals and routines that reinforce authenticity and alignment
Building a Culture
How Elite Teams Win
Vision sets the direction, but culture and execution drive results. In this dynamic keynote, Dr. Michael Burcham—accomplished entrepreneur, executive coach, and leadership strategist—reveals how top-performing organizations build intentional cultures, set game-changing goals, and create systems of accountability that fuel sustained success.
Drawing on decades of experience leading high-growth companies and coaching elite executive teams, Michael shares how to move from vague values and wishful thinking to clear standards, measurable progress, and world-class performance. He explains how to architect a culture that scales, establish shared leadership habits, and drive excellence without burnout or micromanagement.
Ideal for executives, entrepreneurs, and team leaders, this keynote is a masterclass in transforming your organization into a focused, values-driven execution engine.
Audience Takeaways:
• Define values that actually shape behavior and build trust
• Set bold, measurable goals that inspire focused, strategic execution
• Build a culture of ownership, feedback, and high performance
• Create alignment and accountability across teams, especially during growth or change
• Avoid common goal-setting and cultural missteps that erode momentum
Your Model Is Your Message
Business Design That Speaks Volumes
What you sell is important, but how you make money says everything. In this strategic session, Dr. Burcham unpacks why the business model is more than a financial plan—it’s a declaration of your value, scalability, and intent. After decades of teaching and practicing winning models, he explores the strengths and weaknesses of what is popular—from subscription to transaction to hybrid—and helps leaders align their model with their mission and market. This talk is ideal for founders, investors, and innovation leaders who want to evaluate or evolve their model in a rapidly changing market. Using real-world examples, Michael shows how the right model not only drives profit but amplifies purpose.
Audience Takeaways:
• How to evaluate your model’s fitness for your market and mission
• Signs your current model is stalling growth—and what to do
• The investor perspective: What great models signal beyond the numbers
Dr. Michael Burcham
Featured Books
Creating & Launching a Venture: The Journey from Founding to Leading a Growth Company
by Dr. Michael Burcham
Every entrepreneur starts with a spark—a bold idea, a moment of inspiration, or a dream to build something greater. But turning that spark into a thriving business? That’s the challenge. While countless people dream of starting and scaling a company, most stumble over the same roadblocks: how to launch effectively, how to overcome early hurdles, and how to sustain growth when the stakes get high.
This book is your roadmap through the entrepreneurial wilderness. It’s a guide to building not just a business but a scaling, sustainable enterprise that can thrive in a competitive world. From refining your vision to crafting a bulletproof business model, this book provides the frameworks, tools, and hard-won insights you need to navigate every stage of the startup journey.
Whether you’re just sketching ideas on a napkin or wrestling with the complexities of scaling, this book will help you tackle the questions that matter:
- How do you define a clear vision and set actionable goals?
- What are the first steps to turn an idea into reality?
- How do you build and lead a team that shares your ambition?
- How do you embrace the unknown, solve problems, and innovate under pressure?
- What does it take to create a business model that not only works but thrives?
This isn’t just a book about starting a business—it’s a study guide for growth, resilience, and success. Packed with practical advice, sharp frameworks, and stories from the trenches, it’s written for entrepreneurs who don’t just want to build something but who aspire to build something great.
No matter where you are in your entrepreneurial journey, this book will challenge your thinking, sharpen your strategies, and inspire you to create a business that’s built to last. The road ahead won’t be easy, but with the right tools, mindset, and guidance, you can navigate it with confidence.
Let’s turn your vision into a reality—and your business into a force to be reckoned with.
Launching a Venture
by Dr. Michael Burcham
This book is designed to provide the frameworks and insights to those who wish to build a scaling business. Working through the entrepreneurial process is an exercise in defining vision and goals, implementing ideas, building a team, managing the unknown, and creating a business model with sustainable cash flows. This book is a study guide for those processes and tools needed to grow a business.
Dr. Michael Burcham
Featured Reviews
Dr. Michael Burcham
Featured Articles & Resources
Becoming a Leader | Becoming Yourself
The older I get, the more I realize that just because someone has an important job or leadership role doesn't necessarily mean that they do it responsibly, or are even good at...
Innovation in Health Care Management
Abstract: The care management models in use by most health plans are vintage designs created over 20 years ago, and are more about controlling utilization than consumer...
Customer Centric Design of Products and Services
Is Your Business Addressing a Symptom… or Solving the Real Problem?
So many times when companies create a product or service, they lock in on the customer’s symptoms but not...
The Future of Health Care
While attending a significant healthcare conference this fall – I found myself thinking about the Future of Healthcare. I came to the realization that the future of healthcare...
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