Meet the Nuance Partners
How did Nuance Partners Start
Nigel and I have been friends since undergrad in 2013. We both went to business school at the same time and wanted to conduct a search fund. We decided to partner because of our common interest, longstanding respect for each other, and our complementary skills.
What makes Nuance Partners Different?
We are not just two MBAs who did private equity and want to run a business. We have worked on the front lines with a myriad of groups and led in a multitude of scenarios. We bring a balance that will allow us to tackle unique problems.
Nigel Walker
With a vision for building something meaningful, our founder brings a blend of big-picture thinking and hands-on experience. They set the tone for everything we do.
Co-Founder-
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<link>https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigeldwalker</link> -
Samuel McDaniel
An operator at heart with 10+ years in family-owned healthcare, a background spanning consulting, product management, and tech sales, and a drive to build businesses from the inside out.
Co-Founder-
Samuel McDaniel was raised in Atlanta, Georgia, a city with a rich legacy of economic development, and specifically, Black economic development. Growing up seeing figures like Alonzo Herndon and Herman Russell across the city gave Samuel belief from a young age that a Black man could build something meaningful, something that scales, and something that makes a lasting impact in the community. That belief was multiplied by watching both of his parents become entrepreneurs, his father building an employee benefits company and his mother operating a multisite healthcare business in Atlanta. Samuel grew up in his mother's company from the ground level, starting as a caretaker administering medicine before moving into onboarding, training, and eventually serving on the company's board. He launched his career in consulting at PwC, then moved into product management, building and shipping products across retail, home goods, and healthcare with cross-functional teams. When he asked his mom, a successful operator, what one skill helped her most, her answer was simple: sales. Knowing his long-term goal was to become an operator himself, he made the leap, leaving a comfortable product role to start from the bottom in tech sales, from cold calling and prospecting to eventually earning a closing role. It became a passion. The ability to connect with people, understand their needs, and align solutions is something he sees as a core strength and a key part of what he brings to Nuance Partners, not just as an operator, but as someone who can drive go-to-market strategy and grow a business's footprint.
Education has always been a cornerstone for Samuel. He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2016 with a degree in Human & Organizational Development, a blend of business and psychology, with a minor in Corporate Strategy. In 2026, he earned his MBA from the Wharton School, concentrating in Accounting and Management. Beyond the classroom, Samuel is passionate about mentoring and the long-term viability of communities, from job opportunities to educational outcomes to mental health. He volunteers with organizations like Per Scholas and Junior Achievement that focus on building transferable skills, financial education, and tech and professional development. Samuel is a big family guy with most of his family based in Atlanta. He and his mom are on a mission to visit every NFL stadium together and have made it to eleven so far: Chicago, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Baltimore, Las Vegas, Oakland, Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Charlotte, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. When he's not on the road, you can find him on the golf course, cheering on the Cowboys, or smoking a brisket on his Green Egg.
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