Succession Stories

Laurie Barkman
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Succession Stories is an award-winning podcast guiding entrepreneurs through the journey of transition to transaction, with an exclusive limited series called The Entrepreneur Gene™ Hosted by Laurie Barkman—The Business Transition Sherpa®, nationally recognized business advisor, and Amazon best-selling author of *The Business Transition Handbook*—the show explores the full entrepreneurial lifecycle: from growth to maturity, value creation to exit planning, succession, and M&A for owner-led companies. If you're an entrepreneur looking for inspiration to build a more valuable business, or a business owner seeking the best way to transition or sell your closely held company, this podcast is for you. Each episode provides actionable insights, expert conversations, and real-world stories to help you navigate one of the most important chapters in your entrepreneurial journey. 🎙️ Learn more at https://btsherpa.com

  1. Scaling Smart, Exiting Intentionally with Bruce Eckfeldt

    8 ABR

    Scaling Smart, Exiting Intentionally with Bruce Eckfeldt

    "Exit planning is good business, not just about exits. Doing exit planning is going to help your business today." Too many founder CEOs pour years into scaling their company without ever building a plan for what comes next — and it costs them. Bruce Eckfeldt is a former Inc. 500 CEO who scaled, led, and exited his own company, and now coaches founder CEOs to do the same with intention. He faced the reality of an unplanned post-exit life firsthand — and what he discovered changed how he coaches everyone who comes after him.   Key Insights: Exit planning improves your business today, not just at the finish line. Treating your business as if it could be sold tomorrow forces clarity in strategy, leadership, and operations — giving you a stronger company whether you sell or not. Develop a compelling post-exit vision first. When founders have a clear, exciting plan for what comes after, they become more motivated to grow faster, set tighter timelines, and make better decisions leading up to a transaction. Founder dependency in sales is the riskiest — and hardest — constraint to break. When the founder is the rainmaker, it suppresses valuation, complicates deals, and is fueled by a dopamine cycle that's genuinely difficult to step away from. Institutional knowledge must replace individual knowledge to scale. Brilliant technical founders often are the smartest person in the room — but a company built around one person's intellect cannot scale or transact at full value. Know where you fall in the valuation range — and move the levers. The market sets the multiple range; what you can control is whether you land in the bottom, middle, or top third of it by addressing the fundamentals buyers care about most. The "keep-sell posture" protects your negotiating power. Being genuinely ready to either sell tomorrow or hold for another decade removes desperation from the table and ensures you're choosing the right deal — not just the first one. Chapters 00:00 - 01:51 Introductions 01:52 - 05:24  Bruce's Founder Journey as Inc. 500 CEO 05:25 - 06:48 The Architectural Thinking Behind Scaling a Company 06:49 - 08:04 Why Scale and Exit Planning Are Connected from Day One 08:05 - 09:25 Building a Post-Exit Vision That Motivates Faster Growth 09:26 - 10:51 Founder's Identity and System Building 10:52 -12:30 Founder Dependency: The Sales Dopamine Trap 12:31 - 14:46 When Intellectual Capital Is Trapped in the Founder's Head 15:22 - 18:56 Exit Readiness and Push & Pull Factors across Generations 18:57 - 21:19 Legacy Building  21:20 - 24:33 What makes a Business Valuable 24:45 - 25:45 Bruce's Three Takeaways for Every Founder 26:00 - 26:36 Life After Exit: Himalayas, Adventure, and What Comes Next   Is your business truly ready—and are you? Take the Succession Readiness Assessment to get a clear snapshot of where you stand and what to focus on next. https://btsherpa.com/succession P.S. Most owners don't realize where they stand until they're already in a transition. Take a few minutes now to understand your readiness—and give yourself more options later.   Connect with Laurie Barkman:  Website: https://lauriebarkman.me LinkedIn: in/lauriebarkman YouTube: @LaurieBarkman_BTSherpa   Connect with Bruce Eckfeldt Website: https://www.eckfeldt.com   Email: bruce@eckfeldt.com   LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/beckfeldt      📣 Write a Podcast Review: ratethispodcast.com/successionstories   This Show Is Sponsored by The Business Transition Sherpa® Learn what every entrepreneur needs to know about building value and avoiding pitfalls!

    28 min

  2. 19 MAR

    Protecting People, Legacy, and Culture with Amy Veltri, NGE

    "The day you start your business, you should know your exit strategy."  Host Laurie Barkman sits down with Amy Veltri, Co-Founder and CEO of NGE, an environmental and geotechnical engineering firm. Amy built the company with her brother nearly 20 years ago, and made the deliberate choice to transition to 100% employee ownership through an ESOP. Amy shares the personal journey of weighing a third-party sale, doing nothing, or choosing a path that protected the people who helped build the business.   Celebrating 6 Years of Succession Stories This episode is part of a special milestone—celebrating 6 years of the Succession Stories Podcast. Thank you for being part of this journey, where we explore the real stories, decisions, and strategies behind building, transitioning, and exiting businesses. This episode was filmed in front of a live studio audience in partnership with the Exit Planning Institute Pittsburgh Chapter, bringing the conversation to life with an engaged community of advisors and business owners.   Key Episode Insights Co-founding a business with a sibling requires clear operating agreements to protect both the relationship and the company Drive may be an innate entrepreneurial trait, but skills like communication and judgment can be learned Knowing your exit strategy from day one shapes how you build and grow your business An ESOP can be financially compelling — tax savings alone can nearly offset transaction costs Employees who become owners are motivated to grow company value for themselves and future colleagues Leadership succession planning requires intentionality — and starting the search early enough to find the right fit   CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction and the Entrepreneurial Gene  02:00 Co-Founding NGE with Her Brother — and Making It Work  08:00 Scaling from $50K to $5M in Five Years  09:15 Challenges when scaling the business 11:30 The Three Exit Options for a Service-Based Business  14:00 Why a Near-Closing Third-Party Sale Changed Everything  15:30 Understanding ESOPs and the Feasibility Study Process  17:00 The ESOP Magic — Tax Benefits and Employee Engagement  21:00 Leadership Succession and the Search for Amy's Replacement  22:25 What's Next: Retiring, Grandbabies, and Letting Go     Is your business truly ready—and are you? Take the Succession Readiness Assessment to get a clear snapshot of where you stand and what to focus on next. https://btsherpa.com/succession   P.S. Most owners don't realize where they stand until they're already in a transition. Take a few minutes now to understand your readiness—and give yourself more options later.     Connect with Laurie Barkman:  Website: https://lauriebarkman.me LinkedIn: in/lauriebarkman YouTube: @LaurieBarkman_BTSherpa     Connect with Amy Veltri: Website: https://www.ngeconsulting.com  Email: aveltri@ngeconsulting.com

    28 min
  3. Building Value Beyond the Founder: The Structural Capital Advantage, Steve Preda

    8 MAR

    Building Value Beyond the Founder: The Structural Capital Advantage, Steve Preda

    "Profitability rewards the founder. Transferability rewards the future." In many founder-led businesses — especially those under $10 million — the owner is the strategy, the rainmaker, and the decision-maker. But what happens when the business can't operate without you? In this episode of Succession Stories, Laurie Barkman is joined by Steve Preda, Founder, Summit OS Group, to explore the role of structural capital in succession planning and exit readiness. They unpack the difference between building a profitable business and building a transferable one — and why reducing owner dependence is critical to increasing enterprise value. You'll learn: What structural capital really means for small, founder-led companies Why being indispensable can hurt your exit strategy The early warning signs that your business is too owner-centric How to build leadership, systems, and processes that increase valuation Why succession planning should start long before you're ready to exit Whether you're actively planning a business exit or simply want more freedom as a founder, this conversation will help you shift from operator to architect — and build a company that thrives beyond you. Because succession isn't an event. It's a design decision.   This Show Is Sponsored by The Business Transition Sherpa® Learn what every entrepreneur needs to know about building value and avoiding pitfalls! 📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook https://lauriebarkman.me/book   📣 Write a Podcast Review: ratethispodcast.com/successionstories   Connect with Laurie Barkman:  Website: https://lauriebarkman.me LinkedIn: in/lauriebarkman YouTube: @LaurieBarkman_BTSherpa   Connect with Steve Preda: Website: https://stevepreda.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevepreda/

    31 min
  4. How Smart Business Owners Plan For The Unexpected with Scott Arden

    8 FEB

    How Smart Business Owners Plan For The Unexpected with Scott Arden

    "No one's promised tomorrow." Host Laurie Barkman talks with Scott Arden, Chairman of Controllers Ltd and Managing Partner of Generational Wealth Solutions, about the intricacies of financial strategies for business owners. Controllers Limited focuses on advanced strategies for asset protection and generational wealth.  Focusing on growth, succession planning, and the importance of legacy, Scott emphasizes the need for business owners to prepare for transitions, whether through exit strategies or succession planning, and highlights the significance of teaching financial literacy to future generations. The conversation also touches on the psychological aspects of business ownership and the value of experiences over mere accumulation of wealth.   Key Insights Business owners often procrastinate on succession planning due to a false sense of security. Crucial to identify who will run the business in case of an owner's incapacitation. Protecting asset value can be as important as building asset value. Experiences and memories may be more valuable than simply accumulating wealth. Financial literacy is essential for future generations to manage inherited wealth. Engage the next generation in business operations or governance. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Financial Strategies for Business Owners 02:35 Understanding Business Growth and Exit Strategies 05:28 The Importance of Succession Planning 10:30 Psychology of Business Transition and Legacy 14:34 Rethinking Wealth: Experiences Over Accumulation 17:19 Teaching Financial Literacy to Future Generations   This Show Is Sponsored by The Business Transition Sherpa® Learn what every entrepreneur needs to know about building value and avoiding pitfalls! 📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook https://lauriebarkman.me/book   📣 Write a Podcast Review: ratethispodcast.com/successionstories Connect with Laurie Barkman:  Website: https://lauriebarkman.me LinkedIn: in/lauriebarkman YouTube: @LaurieBarkman_BTSherpa   Connect with Scott Arden: Website: https://generationalwealthsystems.com/ Website: https://www.controllersltd.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottarden/

    22 min
  5. The B.U.I.L.T.™ Method for Business Growth and Transition with Laurie Barkman

    25 ENE

    The B.U.I.L.T.™ Method for Business Growth and Transition with Laurie Barkman

    🎙️ Business growth and succession planning start long before an exit. In this special Succession Stories swapcast, Laurie Barkman introduces the B.U.I.L.T.™ Method, a practical framework for building value and preparing for business transition. 🔓 This episode features Laurie's guest appearance on The B2B Growth Podcast with Mark Osborne, where the mic is turned around and she shares the thinking behind the B.U.I.L.T.™ Method for Business Growth and Transition. Designed for founder-led and closely held companies, the framework helps owners reduce dependency on themselves, strengthen operations, and prepare for leadership transition or exit — on their terms. 🎯 This conversation is especially relevant for owners in the built environment, including construction, engineering, architecture, and related professional services, where complexity, people, and relationships make transition planning both critical and challenging. 📊 The B.U.I.L.T. Method explained… Why succession planning should be integrated into business growth How the B.U.I.L.T. Method helps build transferable enterprise value Common transition challenges for built-environment companies How owners can prepare for what's next without rushing an exit 💬 Standout insight:  "Gen X business owners have seen what happens when owners never step away — and we want something better." - Laurie Barkman 🧭 If you're thinking about business growth, succession, or transition planning, this episode offers a clear, structured approach to building a stronger, more resilient company — long before an exit is on the table. This Show Is Sponsored by The Business Transition Sherpa® Learn what every entrepreneur needs to know about building value and avoiding pitfalls! 📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook https://lauriebarkman.me/book 📣 Write a Podcast Review: ratethispodcast.com/successionstories Connect with Laurie Barkman:  Website: https://lauriebarkman.me LinkedIn: in/lauriebarkman YouTube: @LaurieBarkman_BTSherpa

    29 min
  6. Optometrist to Tech Maven, Journey in Revolutionizing Eye Care with Dr. Brianna Rhue

    14/12/2025

    Optometrist to Tech Maven, Journey in Revolutionizing Eye Care with Dr. Brianna Rhue

    In this episode, Laurie Barkman is joined by Dr. Brianna Rhue, optometrist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Dr Contact Lens. Brianna shares her journey from a private practice owner to a tech maven, driven by the need to solve a critical "leaky bucket" problem: doctors losing contact lens sales to online retailers. She discusses the "entrepreneurial gene", the power of a "chip on your shoulder", and the lessons learned in building a full-blown tech platform from scratch. 💬 Quote from Brianna: "You have to get a really thick skin... as an entrepreneur, you are going to pave roads and you're gonna get arrows shot at your back. You're gonna get knocked off, you're gonna get made fun of... And if you don't have that core belief in yourself of your why, it makes those days really, really hard." Key Takeaways:  💡 How the "entrepreneurial gene" is planted by early exposure to risk and observing the "ups and downs". 👥 Why a "chip on your shoulder," often formed from childhood experiences, can be essential energy for an entrepreneur. 💰 The steep transition from medicine to tech, and learning a new language of SaaS, CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost), and LTV (Lifetime Value). 🏦 How Doctor Contact Lens solves the "leaky bucket" problem of doctors losing recurring revenue to online retailers. 🤝 Brianna's "Three Frogs" method for daily productivity: one joy, one easy, and one hard task to move the business forward. 🎧 Tune in to Succession Stories to learn how to identify a major pain point in your industry and build a tech solution to solve it.   This Show Is Sponsored by The Business Transition Sherpa® Learn what every entrepreneur needs to know about building value and avoiding pitfalls! 📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook: btsherpa.com/book   📣 Write a Podcast Review: ratethispodcast.com/successionstories   Connect with Laurie Barkman:  Website: https://lauriebarkman.me LinkedIn: in/lauriebarkman YouTube: @LaurieBarkman_BTSherpa   Connect with Dr. Brianna Rhue: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannarhue

    39 min
  7. Courageous Pivot From Corporate Job to Business Ownership with Aashay Kumar

    30/11/2025

    Courageous Pivot From Corporate Job to Business Ownership with Aashay Kumar

    🎧 Tune in to learn the realities of entrepreneurship through acquisition, from the search process to surviving economic uncertainty in the first year.  Laurie Barkman sits down with Aashay Kumar, owner of Tri-Form, Inc. Aashay shares his story of leaving a corporate career to buy an existing manufacturing business. He demystifies the process of entrepreneurship through acquisition. Listen in as Aashay reflects on his acquisition journey including stealth search process, securing an SBA loan, diligence misses, and the ups and downs of the first 15 months of ownership. 💬Quote from Aashay Kumar: "Take the approach of being a learner from day one. Always ask questions. Always do more research than you think you have to, and be humble throughout the process." ________________________________________________________________________ Key Takeaways: 💡 Why buy vs. start: The value of buying a business with positive cash flow, especially if you don't have a specific problem you are trying to solve. 👥 Independent search vs. search fund: Why Aashay chose an independent path to maintain full ownership and control, rather than being diluted by a search fund. 💰 How to finance the deal: A look at navigating SBA loans, negotiating with multiple banks, and using a seller financing note to structure the deal. 🏦 The diligence "misses" to watch for: Aashay shares what he overlooked, including the condition of the building and smaller assets like a company truck. 🤝 "Fit first, financials second": Why the cultural fit and relationship with the prior owners (and their family members in the business) was a critical, non-negotiable part of the deal. This Show Is Sponsored by The Business Transition Sherpa® Learn what every entrepreneur needs to know about building value and avoiding pitfalls! 📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook: btsherpa.com/book   📣 Write a Podcast Review: ratethispodcast.com/successionstories Connect with Laurie Barkman:  Email: laurie@btsherpa.com LinkedIn: in/lauriebarkman Book: Free Download YouTube: @TheBusinessTransitionSherpa    Connect with Aashay Kumar: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/aashaykumar LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tri-form-inc/

    40 min
  8. How to Finance a Business Transition or Acquisition, David Miller

    02/11/2025

    How to Finance a Business Transition or Acquisition, David Miller

    What does it take to finance a business transition or acquisition? In this episode, Laurie Barkman sits down with David Miller, Executive Vice President at Enterprise Bank, to demystify lending for business owners — from SBA loans to insider buyouts. David shares how banks assess deals, why management continuity matters most, and how entrepreneurs can become "bankable" when it's time to grow or exit. 💬 Quote from David Miller: "Don't think you can't buy a business just because you're not personally wealthy. If you have the right skillset and knowledge of the industry, there are flexible ways to make it happen." Key Takeaways: 💡 How SBA loans act as an "insurance policy" for banks — and a growth tool for small businesses. 👥 Why insider buyouts often outperform private equity or third-party acquisitions. 💰 How to match financing structures to your business goals and cash flow needs. 🏦 What "being bankable" really means — and how to build it before you need it. 🤝 Why having the right professional team (CPA, attorney, advisor) is critical in any business transition. 🎧 Tune in to Succession Stories to learn practical strategies for financing growth, buying a business, or preparing for your own successful exit.   This Show Is Sponsored by The Business Transition Sherpa®   Get your copy of The Business Transition Handbook, the Amazon best-selling book that reveals what every entrepreneur needs to know about building value and avoiding pitfalls!   ✨📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook: btsherpa.com/book   📣 Write a Podcast Review: ratethispodcast.com/successionstories  _________________________________________________________________   Connect with Laurie Barkman:  Email: laurie@btsherpa.com LinkedIn: in/lauriebarkman Book: Free Download YouTube: @TheBusinessTransitionSherpa  Connect with David Miller: Website: https://www.enterprisebankpgh.com/ LinkedIn: /in/david-miller-0b668386/   Special thanks to Ryan Nolf, Marketing Director, for producing this Succession Stories episode live in studio at Enterprise Marketing.

    37 min
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Succession Stories is an award-winning podcast guiding entrepreneurs through the journey of transition to transaction, with an exclusive limited series called The Entrepreneur Gene™ Hosted by Laurie Barkman—The Business Transition Sherpa®, nationally recognized business advisor, and Amazon best-selling author of *The Business Transition Handbook*—the show explores the full entrepreneurial lifecycle: from growth to maturity, value creation to exit planning, succession, and M&A for owner-led companies. If you're an entrepreneur looking for inspiration to build a more valuable business, or a business owner seeking the best way to transition or sell your closely held company, this podcast is for you. Each episode provides actionable insights, expert conversations, and real-world stories to help you navigate one of the most important chapters in your entrepreneurial journey. 🎙️ Learn more at https://btsherpa.com

Información

  • Creador
    Laurie Barkman
  • Años de actividad
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodios
    229
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Copyright
    © Copyright @ Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa® 2020 - 2025
  • Mostrar sitio web
    Succession Stories

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