Nursa founder Curtis Anderson encourages UVU students to think boldly, act courageously, and create purpose-driven businesses.
Curtis began by sharing his belief that the mind is the safest and most powerful place to experiment. Before testing ideas in the real world, he explained, entrepreneurs must first think boldly, challenge assumptions, and mentally work through possibilities for progress and growth. This habit of deliberate thinking has guided his approach to building companies from an early age.
From childhood, Curtis used software as a tool to improve the world around him. That mindset followed him into his professional life and ultimately led to the creation of Nursa. In 2017, after purchasing a traditional staffing agency, he quickly recognized inefficiencies that negatively impacted nurses, healthcare facilities, and patients alike. Rather than accepting the status quo, Curtis envisioned a better system. Nursa was born in a basement, bootstrapped with personal savings, and built with a clear mission: to put a nurse at the bedside of every patient in need. Today, the platform supports nurses and healthcare facilities across the country, helping deliver care more efficiently and reliably.
Ambition was a central theme of Curtis’s message. He emphasized that meaningful achievements require the willpower to push further than those around you. While intelligence is valuable, he described courage as both rarer and more essential. As Curtis explained:
"Entrepreneurial success belongs to those who pursue their goals with intention, resilience, and a willingness to act despite uncertainty."
Curtis’s presentation flowed seamlessly between his upbringing, career milestones, and the decisions that shaped his path. He encouraged students to view decision-making as a skill developed through repetition, sharing an important lesson:
“One way to make great decisions is to make a lot of decisions.”
Each stage of his journey helped him better understand who he was and what he wanted to build.
In a hands-on moment with students, Curtis walked through real business models to demonstrate how he applies ideas in practice. He then shared Nursa’s business outcomes and recent performance metrics, giving students a concrete look at how strategic thinking translates into measurable impact.
As he concluded, Curtis offered candid advice about motivation. He cautioned that those driven solely by money may find entrepreneurship unfulfilling, noting that “entrepreneurship has to mean more to you than the monetary outcome.” For him, that deeper motivation comes from understanding nurses and their challenges. He shared a personal story about a nurse he knew and the obstacles she faced, an experience that profoundly shaped his “why.” In that moment, Curtis realized he could create a better way for nurses and their managers to do their jobs, improving healthcare for everyone involved.
The Woodbury School of Business extends sincere thanks to Curtis Anderson for sharing his journey, insight, and perspective. His message reinforced the importance of ambition, courage, focused decision-making, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship, leaving students with both practical lessons and lasting inspiration.
Want to catch every insight from this year’s Halladay Lecture Series?
LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL SPRING 2026 HALLADAY LECTURE SERIES SPEAKERS HERE.
Watch Curtis Anderson's full lecture below.
