Andrew Lauck – 20 Under 40
Redbird Capital Partners
36 | Education: Indiana University – Kelley School of Business
When he’s not at work as a partner with the local private investment firm RedBird Capital, you can find Andrew Lauck working to support Vogel Alcove and the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association or coaching his children at the Moody Family YMCA.
“My wife and I moved to the Park Cities shortly after we relocated to Dallas. We love raising our two kids, Theo (6) and Cassidy (4), in this community. A lot of my community involvement has centered around our kids’ activities,” Lauck said. “I’ve been a coach for both my kids as a part of the Moody YMCA, including T-ball and soccer, and with PCBC’s Upward Basketball program. I also volunteer pretty regularly helping out at Hyer, where my son is in kindergarten.”
He moved to Dallas in 2014 after working for BDT Capital in Chicago and Goldman Sachs in New York City. During his tenure with RedBird, he’s helped lead a number of the firm’s investments, including the partnerships with Dallas-based Main Event Entertainment, Jet Linx, Ampler Restaurants, and EquipmentShare.
Outside of work, Lauck is co-chairing Vogel Alcove’s 30th annual arts performance event featuring Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black, April 30 at Gilley’s Dallas. The nonprofit provides services to children and families experiencing homelessness.
“I’ve been on the board of Vogel for a few years now and continued to be so moved by the organization’s mission,” Lauck said. “It’s easy for us, especially in the Park Cities, to be unaware of how many families within our broader community struggle with the effects of homelessness.”
What was your “lightbulb moment” that lead you to your career?
I knew finance was going to be my career of choice pretty early on in college; it’s why I chose to be a finance major from day one. I wasn’t smart enough at the time to understand what that meant, but having had the chance to move to New York as an intern the summer of my junior year helped re-direct my interests. But after a few 100+ hour weeks working in banking as an intern, I knew pretty quickly I’d rather be a client than in client service. So I made the move to private equity pretty early on and have not looked back!
Fun fact that someone wouldn’t know about you?
I’m a private pilot and have been flying for fun since I was a senior in college. I’ve flown a few hundred hours, have an instrument rating, and have been slowly working on a commercial rating.
How do you motivate others?
I believe the best way to motivate others is through your own work ethic. My belief is that if I am willing to work as hard or harder than what I ask of my teams, it will pay dividends and set the right example and culture for our firm.
What are you most excited about for the future?
As cheesy as it is, I am most excited to watch my kids grow up. So much has changed for them in just a few years. And seeing their interests evolve and grow is really like getting to relive life through a whole new perspective. It makes all the challenges of parenting worth it.
What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
My first job was working as a cashier and junior employee at my uncle’s sub sandwich shop in Indianapolis, IN (where I grew up). There is nothing like cleaning bathrooms, dishes, and stocking food to make you want to find a way to move up in your career. At the time, I wanted the chance just to make sandwiches (but was too young to use the meat slicer). But I quickly learned that a key part of a successful career is always working hard to accomplish what’s next. We all have to start somewhere, though!
Where do you see yourself and/or your career 10 years from now?
I love what I do and working as an investor. Getting to partner with great business owners, founders or management teams to help them grow their companies is a rewarding career. My hope is to still be doing what I am doing today ten years from now!
Which leadership skills were the most challenging for you to develop and why?
Working in finance is a detail-orientated career which requires a deep focus on analysis and the numbers. So I think learning to step back, delegate, and trust more junior team members to step in and take charge of this aspect of the job was certainly the hardest.
If you could buy a book (or rent a movie) for your neighbor, what would it be and why?
I can think of so many great answers to this, and maybe it depends on the neighbor? But my favorite book that I read over the last few years was The Day the World Came to Town by Jim Defede. It’s the story of the people of Newfoundland on September 11th and how they took in thousands of people from around the world for days when planes were grounded or turned away from landing in the United States. It’s an uplifting story of compassion and humanity.
What is your favorite local store?
Maybe it’s because I am a kid at heart, but I’d have to go with Toys Unique on Lovers Lane. Whether is birthday or holiday shopping for our kids or finding gifts for others, it’s always fun to see a thriving local toy store when so many others haven’t survived.
Toughest business/personal challenge?
It almost certainly would be balancing home/work balance. My work involves a lot of travel and uncertain hours and it can be a challenge to find time to spend with my kids and be an active participant in their lives.
How do you motivate others?
I believe the best way to motivate others is through your own work ethic. My belief is that if I am willing to work as hard, or harder, than what I ask of my teams, it will pay dividends and set the right example and culture for our firm.
What would you tell an 18-year-old you?
It’s amazing how much life can change in a few months or years, let alone in 18 years! I’d remind myself that everything I thought was a priority or important at the time is short-lived. Life gets better and more complicated. And I’d probably tell myself how jealous I am that an 18-year-old me is getting to start college; those really are some of the best years!
Biggest business/career success in the past 12 months?
I’m most proud of some of the great investments we have made/I have led over the last year. We’ve had the chance to partner with some amazing leaders and platforms, like Chris Morris at Main Event. I’m very fortunate they’ve trusted RedBird and me as a partner and excited to see how these companies continue to grow in the coming years.
What’s on your bucket list?
Even though I get plenty of travel in for work, it’s still probably my favorite pastime. Just harder to do with young kids! But most of my bucket list items are centered around places I’d still like to visit. Antarctica is at the top of that list.
