David Miller shares the story behind his journey from a college basketball player at SMU to a pioneering force in private equity within the oil and gas industry. He reflects on the importance of resilience, especially after a career-threatening injury, and how that mindset carried into entrepreneurship. Miller dives into the founding of Mays Exploration, the lessons learned from its challenges, and how those experiences laid the groundwork for Endcap. Beyond business, he offers insight into leadership, teamwork, and philanthropy—particularly his deep involvement with SMU and its transformation into a top-tier academic institution. The conversation blends personal storytelling with practical wisdom on risk-taking, partnerships, and long-term vision.

In This Episode

[02:00] Choosing the Right Partners in Business
[03:00] Early Career at Republic National Bank
[04:00] Taking the Leap into Entrepreneurship
[06:00] Basketball Dreams & SMU Scholarship Journey
[10:00] Recruiting Comeback & Commitment to SMU
[18:00] Founding Mays Exploration
[22:00] Oil Boom, Bust, and Business Pivoting
[27:00] Lessons from Failure & Risk-Taking
[33:00] Transitioning to Encap & Private Equity
[40:00] Raising Capital & Building Credibility
[46:00] SMU Leadership & Institutional Growth
[50:00] Vision for SMU’s Future
[55:00] Higher Education Challenges & ROI Debate
[59:00] SMU’s Move to the ACC & Strategic Vision

Thanks to Our Sponsors

Our Presenting Sponsor is ⁠⁠⁠Lynn, Pinker, Hurst & Schwegmann. ⁠⁠⁠ To learn more visit: https://www.lynnllp.com. And thank you for your support.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Clay Cooley Automotive⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Editing and Support by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠

EnCap Founder David Miller on Winning in Business and Leading SMU Forward