TheMilVet Podcast

In this episode of TheMilVet Podcast, host Beau Higgins sits down with John Price, US Army Special Forces veteran, former Senate staffer, private equity operator, and founder of HighGround. John shares his journey from a college student at the University of Colorado Boulder whose life changed on September 11th, to joining the Army through the 18X Special Forces program, serving alongside elite teammates, and later navigating a challenging transition out of the military. He offers a candid look at the realities of leaving service without a clear plan, the identity shift veterans face, and how lessons from Special Forces — discipline, grit, planning, and trust in your compass — translate powerfully into business, private equity, and entrepreneurship. Throughout the conversation, John walks through his non-linear civilian career: earning his MBA, working in Fortune 500 leadership roles, advising and fixing PE-backed portfolio companies, serving in the U.S. Senate on AI and acquisition reform, leading corporate development at Deloitte, and ultimately betting on himself to build a software company focused on making government markets easier to understand and navigate. Listeners will gain insight into: Why military leadership and resilience provide an edge in private equity, venture capital, and founder rolesThe hard truths of transitioning from the military — and why having a plan matters more than the plan itselfHow to overcome imposter syndrome and compete confidently in elite business and academic environmentsWhy understanding culture matters more than trying to “change” it in large organizationsHow private equity and government contracting really work — and the gaps veterans must close to succeedWhat it’s actually like to pitch investors, hear repeated “no’s,” and keep moving forward as a founderWhy education, mentorship, and “putting in the reps” are critical before taking on senior leadership rolesHow veterans should think about entrepreneurship as both a sprint and a marathon John also shares practical, hard-earned advice for veterans considering the founder path — from building the right team and doing deep market homework, to knowing which parts of military culture to bring forward and which to leave behind. If you’re a veteran exploring entrepreneurship, private equity, venture capital, government-focused technology, or simply trying to chart your next mission after service, this episode delivers grounded perspective, real talk, and actionable guidance from someone who’s lived every phase of the journey. 🔗 Connect with TheMilVet → themilvet.org 🔗 Follow us on LinkedIn → @The Military Veteran  🎧 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for more conversations empowering veterans to win after service. #Veterans #SpecialForces #Leadership #CareerTransition #Entrepreneurship #PrivateEquity #VentureCapital #GovTech #DefenseTech #StartupFounders #VeteranEntrepreneurs #ServiceAfterService #Resilience #MilVet #TheMilVetPodcast Thanks for listening! Here's how you can find us to continue the conversation: Tweet us at @brendan_aronson Follow us on Instagram at @themilitaryvet Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter at https://www.themilvet.org/resources-for-veterans Check out our video content on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@themilitaryvet