Patrick Flood, Founder and CEO of Owners In Honor, joined Andrew Kazlow on The Diligent Observer Podcast to talk about how military leadership translates to business acquisition — and why veterans are uniquely positioned to succeed in Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA).
A decorated Special Forces veteran who served for 26 years, Patrick brings a unique perspective on how military leadership translates to business operations. After earning his MBA from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, he identified a gap between veteran capabilities and traditional entrepreneurship paths — leading him to build a structured approach to business acquisition rooted in the collaborative, mission-driven mindset of military culture. Owners In Honor has since guided over 190 veterans toward business ownership.
WHAT THEY DISCUSS
- The historical context of veteran entrepreneurship from WWII to today, and why current conditions are creating a new wave of military-to-business transitions
- Why the “smallest unit is two” principle gives veterans a natural advantage in business acquisition, compared to the isolation many traditional startup founders face
- A framework for why ETA investments carry a different risk profile than traditional startup investing — and how family offices and angel investors can benefit from this emerging asset class
- How asking a previous commander about unfulfilled goals mirrors exactly what a successful business buyer should ask a seller
Acquire with discipline. Grow with intention. Exit with honor.
CONNECT
Learn more about Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition → Buyers Program
