Exploring Life & Business with D.K. Smith

Today we’d like to introduce you to D.K. Smith. 

Hi D.K., so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago and used sports as a way to keep myself out of trouble and off the streets. I played college football at Eastern Illinois University, University of St. Francis, then blew my knee out and transferred to University of Miami (FL) to finish a degree in Finance and Mathematics. After I graduated, I pursued a law degree at NYU School of Law where I focused on tax law and corporate law. My first summer I interned at Goldman Sachs as a banker and my second summer I interned at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan in their corporate department. In law school, I started my first business: a custom clothing fashion company for young professionals. I moved to Shanghai my second year to study Chinese law and business and find a supplier for my company. 

After graduating NYU Law, I practiced law full time in New York City as a private equity attorney. After just under two years, I pivoted my career into management consulting and became a consultant at Boston Consulting Group where I focused on building organic and inorganic growth strategies for fortune 500s and private equity groups. I now run a hybrid management consulting and law firm where I focus on developing and implementing growth strategies for small to midsize businesses, nonprofits, and startups. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I am the first lawyer in my family so I dealt with a lot of imposter syndrome in law school. Many of my classmates were 2nd or 3rd generation lawyers from well-to-do families working on their 2nd graduate degree. And there I was, a 22 kid from the Southside of Chicago fresh out of undergrad. I got over my imposter syndrome by working hard and doubling down on my god-given strengths. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about D.K. Smith & Co.?
D.K. Smith & Co. is a private equity independent sponsor, startup advisor, and law firm. As a private equity independent sponsor, we focus on making control acquisitions and partnering with management teams to grow lower middle-market companies. We seek platform investment targets with $5-$25 million in EBITDA and will go as low as $2 million in EBITDA for bolt-on investments. 

We work with middle-market business owners seeking a meaningful upfront cash payment for their business, an opportunity to roll over and retain a continued ownership position, and potentially remain involved in the management and growth of the business. 

In addition, we provide business law services to startups, financial service companies, and middle-market businesses. Lastly, we offer business strategy and advisory services to pre-Series B startups. 

What sets us apart is analytical horsepower and creativity. We leverage internal and external data to develop custom solutions for you and your organization. 

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I see there being a huge shift to digital and automation. But before we get there, companies must first understand how to clean their data and read it, so they can benefit from automated recommendations and suggestions. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected] [email protected]
• Instagram: @mr_dksmith

Image Credits
Salina Ellison