Leadership, Family, and Purpose with Bart Walker of McGuireWoods LLP 10-6-25

Summary

Becker Business Podcast Episode Summary
Episode Title: Leadership, Family, and Purpose with Bart Walker of McGuireWoods LLP
Release Date: October 6, 2025
Host: Scott Becker
Guest: Bart Walker, Partner, McGuireWoods LLP
Location: McGuireWoods Growth and Operations Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina

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Episode Overview

In this crossover episode of the Becker Business and Becker Private Equity Podcasts, host Scott Becker sits down with Bart Walker, a partner at McGuireWoods LLP and the driving force behind the Growth and Operations Conference. The conversation weaves together themes of leadership in business, unconventional family life, educational choices, and personal purpose. Walker shares candid insights about career-building, his family's approach to homeschooling, balancing professional and personal ambitions, and his philosophies about mentorship and excellence.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Bart Walker’s Career and Role at McGuireWoods

• Background: Walker has spent his entire 21-year legal career at McGuireWoods, leading the healthcare M&A team in Charlotte.
  • [00:46] “I'm a partner with McGuire woods and I've been here my whole career, 21 years now. And I do healthcare, M and A, primarily in healthcare services, lead the team here in Charlotte…” — Bart Walker
• Practice Focus: Specializes in healthcare services M&A, serving both private equity sponsored companies and other sectors within healthcare.

Homeschooling: The Walker Family Approach

• Naming the Homeschool: North Carolina requires homeschoolers to register under a unique school name, sparking a lighthearted family debate.
  • [02:06] “My suggestion was shot down because I wanted to name it after the X Men School, the Professor Xavier School for Exceptional Youngsters… ended up with Sacred Heart Academy, which was something that has religious significance to us.” — Bart Walker
• Student Body: The Walkers currently homeschool seven out of eight children; their oldest has started college.
  • [03:07] “Unfortunately, enrollment's down a little bit this year. Scott, my oldest, went off to college, so we're down to seven students instead of the usual eight.” — Bart Walker
• Flexible Approach: Some children enroll in local high school classes for sports; education choices are reevaluated annually.

Family, Education, and Values

• Sibling Achievements: The Walker’s eldest received a full scholarship to Washington and Lee University.
  • [03:59] “He's at Washington and Lee University… He is fortunate enough to earn a full scholarship there. So that's an amazing thing… We're super proud of him.” — Bart Walker
• Attributing Success: Bart humbly credits his wife and son for these academic accomplishments.
  • [04:43] “It was determined that 100% of the credit belongs to either my son or my wife. As the headmaster, I take no credit.” — Bart Walker
• Balance & Sacrifice: Bart’s wife, a veterinary surgeon, scaled back her career to dedicate time to homeschooling their eight children (aged 19 to 19 months).
  • [05:54] “She's sacrificed a lot over the years to homeschool our kids. And she still practices a little bit here and there… But she's so dedicated to the kids.” — Bart Walker

Humor and Personality

• Naming Debates & ‘Dad Humor’: Bart’s original name for their homeschool poked fun at superhero lore.
• Playful School Rivalries: Lighthearted teasing between Chapel Hill (UNC) and Duke alumni, with a nod to personal relationships.
  • [07:15] “I like to say the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill really doesn't have any true rivals. I think it's really a class of one.” — Bart Walker
  • [07:38] “[Kevin McGinnis] did attend the University of New Jersey at Durham. We don't really talk about it that much. But you know, he's actually a normal person. It's, it's remarkable.” — Bart Walker

Reflections on Leadership and Career Advice

• Advice to Emerging Leaders:
  • [08:32] “My first piece of advice would be do the best work you possibly can. Excellence never goes out of style… You never know when one little project can make all the difference.” — Bart Walker
  • He underscores the value of diligence, small opportunities, and consistent commitment to quality.
• Mentorship and Impact: Bart highlights how a simple project early in his career led to a long-lasting professional and personal relationship with Scott Becker.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On naming the homeschool:

  • “My suggestion was shot down because I wanted to name it after the X Men School, the Professor Xavier School for Exceptional Youngsters.” — Bart Walker [02:06]

• On parental credit and humility:

  • “It was determined that 100% of the credit belongs to either my son or my wife. As the headmaster, I take no credit. I will gladly accept all blame and criticism, but they deserve all the credit.” — Bart Walker [04:43]

• On education values:

  • “Excellence never goes out of style. And you owe it to yourself, you owe it to your colleagues, you owe it to your clients to do the best you absolutely can on any given project.” — Bart Walker [08:32]

• On friendly school rivalries:

  • “I like to say the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill really doesn't have any true rivals. I think it's really a class of one.” — Bart Walker [07:15]

• On the realities of large families and commitment:

  • “Eight children aging from 19 to 19 months… what a fascinating life.” — Scott Becker [05:36]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Introduction and Bart’s Role – [00:00]–[01:11]
• Homeschooling and School Naming Fun – [02:06]–[03:38]
• Children’s Education Paths – [03:38]–[04:43]
• Credit for Academic Success & Family Contributions – [04:43]–[05:27]
• Wife’s Career & Family Dynamics – [05:27]–[06:28]
• Religious and Ethical Considerations (spay/neuter) – [06:28]–[06:54]
• North Carolina School Rivalries – [06:54]–[07:38]
• Career Advice and Mentorship – [08:32]–[09:15]
• Closing Reflections and Gratitude – [09:53]

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Summary

This episode offers an engaging mix of professional wisdom, personal storytelling, and humor. Bart Walker exemplifies balance between high-level leadership in law and deep-rooted family commitment, offering listeners a candid insider’s look at building a purposeful, multidimensional life. The conversation is rich in memorable moments, practical advice, and the kind of warmth that underscores authentic leadership.

Transcript

[A]

This is Scott Becker with a special combined episode of the Becker Private Equity Podcast and the Becker's Healthcare Podcast. We're recording today live from the McGuire Woods Growth and Operations Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. I'm thrilled today to be joined by really, the driver and founder of this conference, Bart Walker, who's a partner at McGuire Woods. But beyond being a partner at McGuire woods, may be one of the most interesting people you'll ever get a chance to visit with. We're going to try and bring out a lot of those different pieces today in our discussion. Bart, tell us for a moment what you do for a living and then we'll talk. Today. This will. My hope is we'll talk about a lot of the different things that Bart does, not just business, but let me give him a moment to tell us a little bit about what you do from a business perspective.

[B]

Thanks, Scott. Delighted to be on. Thanks for being here. Thanks for making the trip down and doing the podcast. So I'm Bart Walker. I'm a partner with McGuire woods and I've been here my whole career, 21 years now. And I do healthcare, M and A, primarily in healthcare services, lead the team here in Charlotte and started in Chicago, where I got to know Scott, and he's been a great mentor for me for 20 years now and learned a lot from him and do M and A every day, all day.

[A]

Bart built this tremendous practice representing different areas in health care, often private equity, sponsored companies, often deals, all in health care. And it's just done an incredible job of building a practice, building a presence both nationally and in the Charlotte, North Carolina region, which is the second largest office of McGuire woods, which is a YAML. Huge, huge firm, has just done an amazing job. Bart, there's so many interesting parts of your background that people might not be familiar with. But, but tell us the story of naming a school because people are not familiar with the concept of naming a school. And you and I and Kevin McGinnis and others talked last night about how in North Carolina, so many people go to public school, some people go to private school, there's this day school, there's that day school, there's all kinds of different private schools. Talk about your own private school and the fight over the naming of that private school.

[B]

Thank you. It was a big controversy in our family. So in North Carolina, the way it works is you have to register with the state if you're going to homeschool. And we, we kind of reevaluate each year whether our kids. Each one is homeschooled versus in. There's a small school where we live that one of my children is in right now. And some of them do a combination of online and hybrid learning. But in North Carolina, if you want to homeschool, you have to register your school with the and you have to come up with a name. It can be any name. And my suggestion was shot down because I wanted to name it after the X Men School, the Professor Xavier School for Exceptional Youngsters. And so my wife didn't like that very much. The kids, I think, thought it was cool or dad humor or both. But so we ended up with Sacred Heart Academy, which was something that has religious significance to us.

[A]

And people think about a homeschool and they think, oh, my goodness, those people homeschooled their youngster. But BART is different than that. Tell us how many youngsters typically matriculate in a yearly basis at the Sacred Heart School?

[B]

So, unfortunately, enrollment's down a little bit this year. Scott, my oldest, went off to college, so we're down to seven students instead of the usual eight. So, you know, we're looking. Maybe we'll bring in some other students next year, I don't know. But right now we're at seven.

[A]

But I thought one was going to.

[B]

Public school, one is going well. So as with all things Walker, it's a little bit complicated. So some of our older kids take a couple classes at the local high school to be eligible for sports. North Carolina, if you're homeschooled, you have to take classes at the school to be eligible for sports. So they wanted to do that.

[A]

So you've got, you've got really still seven, really full time enrolled in the Walker School, but the Sacred Heart School and sort of like we used to talk about that the Walker family could have their own school, their own hmo, their own accountable care organization and so forth. Talk a little bit about your oldest son is starting college. Talk about where he's starting college.

[B]

Yes, absolutely. He's at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. It's a small liberal arts school. He is thrilled to be there. It's a great environment for him. He is fortunate enough to earn a full scholarship there. So that's an amazing thing that he was able to accomplish. We're super proud of him. He's in the second week of classes doing a lot of reading and I think enjoying it.

[A]

And Washington Lee is a great, great school. Talk for a second about Washington Lee. Great, great school, full scholarship. Do you give most of the credit for his academics and the teaching to your spouse who's a brilliant doctor. Does most of the credit go there or does a lot of it go to you as well? Where do you get to the spot where he comes out of a homeschool and gets a full scholarship at Washington Lee?

[B]

Yes. Well, we recently discussed this at a committee meeting at the board meeting for our school, and it was determined that 100% of the credit belongs to either my son or my wife. As the headmaster, I take no credit. I will gladly accept all blame and criticism, but they deserve all the credit. My son in particular deserves a lot of credit.

[A]

But your job. Job. Your son and wife deserve a lot of credit, but your job is to. Is really to.

[B]

To.

[A]

To give you credit as the headmaster, as the chair. Chair of the board. Your job is really to put the best team on the field and to let them go.

[B]

That's fair. Yeah, it should.

[A]

You feel like by allowing your wife to do her thing, you've. You've put the best people in place to make this go great.

[B]

100. They're absolutely the best people to do that. My wife is definitely the best person to do this.

[A]

It is literally remarkable. And she's a veterinary surgeon. Give people a sense of this. Eight children aging from 18 to 2.

[B]

19 to 19 months.

[A]

19 to 19 months. So that's, that's a full group veterinary surgeon reduced her practice over the last 19 years now to spend a lot of time homeschooling the children and what a fascinating life. And talk about your. Both academic backgrounds.

[B]

Sure, yeah. I mean, my wife is brilliant. She went, we both went to Chapel Hill University of North Carolina, go heels for undergrad. She finished in three years, immediately went to vet school at NC State, which we don't really talk about. During basketball season, I went to Notre Dame for law school and got married, and the rest is history. She's sacrificed a lot over the years to homeschool our kids. And she still practices a little bit here and there. And she enjoys it, she loves it. But she's so dedicated to the kids.

[A]

When she's doing veterinary surgery, is it on farm animals? Pets? Where's the practice?

[B]

So for a period of time, she was the spay neuter surgeon for the Humane Society here in Charlotte for a couple of years at least. But she just kind of bangs it out. You know, they line them up and then she does the surgery.

[A]

Let me ask you a question, because from a religious background perspective, is it okay to spay neuter animals?

[B]

Yes. Like Bob Barker said, it is encouraged and it's perfectly Acceptable.

[A]

I just want to make sure we hit that right. When you look at UNC and you look at UNC as sort of the great, great public institution here, you know, great, wholesome, hardworking kids, not all elitist. How do you ever compare that to other North Carolina based schools? Are there any rivalries that we should be aware of?

[B]

You know, I like to say the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill really doesn't have any true rivals. I think it's really a class of one. So if you're asking me for my opinion, I think that's, that's what I would say.

[A]

And when you talk about. We might have lost our studio audience of Kevin McGinnis. When you talk about Kevin McGinnis, who's a Duke person. Yes, but, but do you think of him as typical Duke person? He's also the godfather of a couple of the kids, right?

[B]

He is the godfather a couple of my kids. He did attend the University of New Jersey at Durham. We don't really talk about it that much. But you know, he's actually a normal person. It's, it's remarkable.

[A]

He's as good as they come. And didn't come from a privileged background, but still went to Duke and still a fantastic, fantastic leader and individual. I'm going to take you back to a serious subject for a second. And people that do not know. Bart Walker, Notre Dame graduate of law school, UNC undergraduate, played baseball at unc. Eight children homeschools them. They live sort of in the mountains. Boone, North Carolina, one of the most beautiful places on earth. Just a remarkable, remarkable leader. Talk for a moment on you've built this great career, really in this healthcare deal world. What advice would you give to emerging leaders, people trying to build great careers?

[B]

That's a loaded hard question. My first piece of advice would be do the best work you possibly can. Excellence never goes out of style. And you owe it to yourself, you owe it to your colleagues, you owe it to your clients to do the best you absolutely can on any given project. You never know who's watching. You never know when one little project can make all the difference. I think the first project I ever worked on for you, like 21 years ago I started in our corporate securities group, was not having a great time and picked up a random healthcare project. And I just did the best I could with it. And you must have been impressed or thought it was good enough. And you never know when that one little project turns into a 20 year career. So you gotta do the best every chance you can.

[A]

No, I think that is great, great advice and we're gonna come back and record that separately. Actually, that just is fantastic advice. And I've worked with Bart for 20 plus years, one of the best people I've ever worked with. So we joke about the homeschooling, which they've done with tremendous success. I mean, literally amazing to homeschool now of a kid going on scholarship to one of the great universities in the country. I'm always impressed with Bart and his wife and what they've done. Dr. Walker, an amazing, amazing job. Bart, I can't tell you how thankful I am for the relationship with you over the last 20 years and the work that you do and the person you are. Thank you for joining us in this special episode of the Becker Private Equity and Becker Business podcast. What a pleasure to visit with you.

[B]

Likewise. It's mutual. Thank you for everything you've done for me.