In this episode of Outlaws, we speak with Michael Kingsbury, a former M&A lawyer who left corporate law to co-found Uluu, a climate tech startup creating seaweed-based alternatives to plastic. Michael shares how curiosity, transferable legal skills and a willingness to de-risk career decisions led him from law to climate entrepreneurship. This conversation explores leaving law, redesigning work, and building a career aligned with impact—without having all the answers upfront.

Outlaws Podcast: Embracing Career Freedom

Shayla Strapps & Kate Offer | Outlaws Podcast

From M&A Lawyer to Biotech Startup Founder: Michael Kingsbury on Uluu, Seaweed and Reinventing Your Career

JAN 25, 202640 MIN
Outlaws Podcast: Embracing Career Freedom

From M&A Lawyer to Biotech Startup Founder: Michael Kingsbury on Uluu, Seaweed and Reinventing Your Career

JAN 25, 202640 MIN

Description

In this episode of Outlaws, we’re joined by Michael Kingsbury, a former M&A lawyer who walked away from corporate law to co-found Uluu, a climate tech startup creating seaweed-based materials designed to replace fossil-fuel plastics. What began as curiosity about science, technology and impact has become a globally significant attempt to tackle plastic pollution, climate change and ocean health—using seaweed. Michael shares his journey from law school to top-tier firms, through strategy and innovation roles, and into the uncertain, exhilarating world of startups. We talk about leaving law, redesigning work, and why legal skills like problem-solving, clarity of thinking and working under pressure can be powerful assets far beyond the profession. This is a conversation about career reinvention, calculated risk, and the courage to follow what genuinely interests you—even when the path isn’t obvious. For lawyers questioning the traditional trajectory, professionals craving career freedom, or anyone wondering whether meaningful work can look radically different from what they were taught to expect, this episode offers both inspiration and permission.