How seizing opportunities built an empire | Kyle McGee, Sunchase Companies - Unlocking Moves Ep. 59
Description
Join us this week on Unlocking Moves, as host Kurt Wilkin dives into the pivotal moments in a leader’s journey that unlock their success. Most people only talk about their successes, their "glory" stories, but Kurt knows we learn more from the "gory" stories.
This episode delivers both as he sits down with Kyle McGee, the founder and CEO of Sunchase Companies, for a gritty, hopeful look at turning setbacks into success.
Kyle’s journey begins with hard labor and even harder lessons. He grew up watching the hard work of his father, a contractor, and his grandfather, a mason, learning the trades from the ground up. Inspired, he started his own landscaping business at 16 to have enough money to party... but a DUI at 21 nearly derailed his future. He returned home and set his sights on real estate and a partnership with his father.
Then his world shattered when his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer and passed away, a loss that shook Kyle to his core, but ultimately steeled his resolve. In the midst of personal hardship, a couple took a chance and hired Kyle to build their waterfront home. Kyle seized the opportunity, cutting his teeth on, until a 14-unit apartment acquisition forever changed his mindset about scaling his business.
A lifelong learner, Kyle firmly believes in the mantra "Knowledge is NOT power - applied knowledge is power." After observing his father's backbreaking work "IN" the contractor business, Kyle read everything he could about leadership and working ON the business. Ultimately, he built Sunchase Companies, leveraging the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), bringing discipline to his growing business. Today, with over 300 "doors" in his portfolio, Kyle shares how he built a real estate investment empire from the ashes of adversity.
This conversation digs into the values and strategies behind the numbers. Kyle opens up about his faith that keeps him grounded and the mentors who guided him along the way. He explains how embracing EOS helped him scale with intention rather than ego, and why staying fiercely loyal to his subcontractors and trade partners became one of his smartest moves. Whether you’re a young leader recovering from early mistakes or an entrepreneur looking to grow your company on solid foundations, Kyle’s story is a masterclass in grit, grace, and strategic growth. You’ll be inspired to turn your own setbacks into opportunities for growth.
About Kyle McGee - Kyle McGee is the founder and CEO of Sunchase Companies, a real estate development and investment firm based in Florida. He founded Sunchase in 2017 and has since developed a portfolio of over 300 multifamily units, along with multiple commercial projects. Named one of Pro Builder’s Forty Under 40 in 2024, Kyle is also a licensed general contractor who’s passionate about building communities and guiding others on their entrepreneurial journeys.
About Kurt Wilkin - Kurt is a connector - of dots, ideas, and people. For over 30 years, he has advised high-growth companies, starting his career with Ernst & Young and today serving as Founder of BusinessEarth and Managing Partner of Bee Cave Capital. He’s a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build their companies.
Listen now:
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unlocking-moves
- Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unlockingmoves
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