Growth Solutions: Larry Gies '92

Glenn Jeffers

Editor's note: In this new series, the Kellogg School spotlights members of the Kellogg community who have stimulated growth in their teams, organizations and markets.

Since starting Madison Capital Partners in 1994, CEO and founder Larry Gies ’92 has been successful at buying, building and selling businesses.

So it was surprising when Gies shifted focus and turned an investment firm whose companies generated more than $5 billion in revenue into Madison Industries, a holding company that now acquires and keeps businesses.

“We build really great businesses with great teams and when you sell them, you’re selling a part of yourself,” Gies says. “We’d rather keep those businesses for the long term.”

Gies sat down and spoke with Kellogg about pivoting into Madison Industries, what he looks for in a company and why leadership is the biggest barrier to growth.

Pivoting a company’s focus

Scouting a potential acquisition

The challenges of growing a company