In this special roundtable episode of The Road to the Dallas 100, host Daniel Litwin welcomes three prominent leaders from the DFW health care space: Paul Helm, CEO of FocusStaff; Michael Walsh, cofounder of Cariloop; and Nicole Cox, cofounder of the Anders Group. Together, they explore the challenges, personal stories, and strategies behind building successful health care companies in a highly competitive and rapidly changing industry. As part of the series leading up to the SMU Cox Dallas 100 Awards, this episode provides a unique opportunity to learn from leaders at the top of their game and offers insights for aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals.
The conversation opens with reflections on each guest’s entry into the health care space. Paul Helm’s initial path toward becoming a pharmacist shifted when his interest in business took over, leading him to manage people and operations at Walmart before moving into health care staffing. Michael Walsh’s personal experience caring for his grandfather during a health crisis motivated him to create Cariloop, a platform to support caregivers through life’s toughest moments. Nicole Cox shared how a mentor helped her break into the health care staffing industry, where she built meaningful relationships with health care professionals and later co-founded Anders Group, providing travel nursing and allied health services.
As the episode progresses, the guests discuss their early leadership challenges and the valuable lessons they learned along the way. Paul recalls a pivotal lesson from a mentor on the power of paying attention to people and genuinely investing in them, while Nicole reflects on how her initial struggle with leadership evolved into a more people-focused approach, recognizing that the more her team knows her, the better they understand her intentions. Michael emphasized the importance of giving his business a soul and aligning his team around a shared mission, which has been a cornerstone of Cariloop’s growth.
The discussion also covers scaling challenges in the health care industry, particularly in the post-COVID landscape. Nicole highlighted how technology has changed the staffing industry, requiring companies like hers to adapt quickly, while Paul discussed the importance of process excellence to ensure consistency and efficiency as businesses grow. Michael shared how Cariloop’s data has become increasingly valuable in helping employers understand the impact of caregiving on their workforce, allowing the company to offer actionable insights in a market that’s still relatively new.
A key theme throughout the episode is mentorship. All three leaders benefited from mentors early in their careers, and now, as seasoned professionals, they are focused on paying it forward. Nicole acknowledges that mentorship is something she’s grown into, now taking more time to actively champion her team. Paul emphasizes the importance of listening and helping employees think through their challenges, while Michael finds fulfillment in mentoring new founders, offering them reassurance and guidance as they embark on their entrepreneurial journeys.
The roundtable concludes with a reflection on the significance of the Dallas business community in their success. For Michael, moving to Dallas twelve years ago introduced him to a welcoming, hustle-driven environment that’s helped him grow Cariloop. Paul emphasized the wealth of talent in the city, while Nicole expressed gratitude for the tight-knit and supportive local community that has helped her and her business thrive.
In summary, this episode offers a deep dive into the realities of leading in the health care industry today, with valuable lessons on scaling, leadership, and mentorship that go beyond the sector. For more on their companies, visit Cariloop at cariloop.com, FocusStaff at focus-staff.com, and Anders Group at andersgroup.org.
Stay tuned for more episodes of The Road to the Dallas 100 as we continue to showcase the stories behind Dallas’ fastest-growing companies.
