Growth + Exit

Susan Kearney and Heather Bennett
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Management

This is the Growth + Exit Podcast, where owners of privately held, middle-market companies talk about founding, scaling, and exiting their businesses successfully.

  1. Aug 12

    The Strategic Plan for Second-Generation Leaders Wanting To Buy and Grow a Family Business

    Jeff Aplin is the CEO of Aplin, a Canadian staffing and recruiting firm providing temporary, contract, permanent, and IT talent solutions across North America. He leads the company's growth strategy, acquisitions, capital partnerships, and response to industry and technology shifts. Drawing on strategy and operations experience at Deloitte, Jeff has transformed the family business toward recurring revenue, client-centric service, stronger leadership, and scalable expansion. His expertise also includes family-business succession, culture change, executive team building, and private capital. In this episode… Successful business transitions require more than transferring ownership; they demand clear communication, strategic reinvention, and the discipline to put the company's future ahead of legacy habits. Growth becomes more sustainable when leaders align their people, culture, customers, and capital around a shared direction. How can an owner preserve the core of the business while rebuilding what no longer works? According to staffing expert Jeff Aplin, the answer is to separate family and business roles, listen closely to customers, and build a team capable of executing the next stage. He recommends replacing commission-driven work with scalable, recurring-revenue models and asking clients what works, what could improve, how to earn more of their business, and what might drive them away. Equally important are trusted peer groups, carefully selected capital partners, and the willingness to make difficult personnel decisions when the vision outgrows the existing team. Lasting growth comes from combining customer focus with operational courage and disciplined preparation. In this episode of Growth + Exit, Heather Bennett chats with Jeff Aplin, CEO of Aplin, about transforming a family business for scalable growth. Jeff explains how disciplined succession, client-centric culture, and the right capital partner can strengthen a company. He also touches on due diligence, peer mentorship, daily focus, and building a team capable of carrying a bigger vision.

  2. Aug 5

    Getting to Exit: Planning by the Book

    David Reid is the Founder of Plan B Gurus, a consulting firm that helps business owners strengthen operations, build value, and prepare for successful exits. A seasoned CEO, board advisor, and the author of Getting to Exit, he spent decades scaling Epic Information Solutions from a small technology company to a 100-plus-person enterprise before guiding its strategic sale. David advises owners and leadership teams on exit planning, valuation, disciplined execution, scalable systems, leadership alignment, due diligence, and life after ownership. In this episode… Preparing for a successful exit begins long before a buyer enters the picture. It takes years of deliberate decisions about growth, operations, valuation, and the owner's life beyond the company. So how can business owners prepare early enough to leave on their own terms? The answer is to plan backward from the desired outcome. Exit planning expert David Reid maintains that owners should define their financial goals, understand how buyers value the business, and identify the right type of acquirer well in advance. Strong systems, clean financials, and organized records can make due diligence smoother while improving negotiating leverage. David also stresses the importance of preparing personally for the loss of routine, identity, and relationships that may follow a sale. Intentional preparation helps owners build value while reducing the possibility of regret. In this episode of Growth + Exit, Heather Bennett talks with David Reid, Founder of Plan B Gurus and author of Getting to Exit, about building a business with the sale in mind. David explains how to identify the right buyer, prepare for due diligence, and negotiate terms that safeguard your financial interests after the sale. He also touches on life after ownership and the role of debt in shaping a stronger exit.

  3. Jul 29

    Three-Time Ironman Finisher and Three-Time Tech Founder Shares the Secrets to Success

    Tony Medrano is the Co-founder and CEO of LongevityPlan.AI, a physician-supervised wellness company using peptide protocols, health data, and AI to support longevity, recovery, and performance. A three-time tech startup CEO with two successful exits, he leads strategy, product development, and growth while applying expertise in AI, molecular diagnostics, enterprise sales, and personalized health. Before LongevityPlan, Tony helped scale Cue Health through major partnerships with Google, NASA, Netflix, the FBI, and leading sports organizations. He has also completed three Ironman Triathlon races since 2019. In this episode… Building and exiting a company rarely follows a predictable path. Market shifts, investor incentives, leadership decisions, and customer demand can quickly reshape even a strong business. How can entrepreneurs reduce risk while creating companies that are valuable, resilient, and ready for growth? Technology entrepreneur and enterprise growth expert Tony Medrano argues that founders should stay close to customers, control risk, and avoid becoming dependent on the next round of funding. Profitability and strategic enterprise sales can create leverage, while misaligned investors and founder overconfidence can undermine long-term value. Tony also emphasizes seeking experienced advisers, recognizing personal limitations, and choosing an exit path that serves founders and employees — not just investors.  In this episode of Growth + Exit, Heather Bennett talks with Tony Medrano, Co-founder and CEO of LongevityPlan.AI, about building, scaling, and exiting technology companies. Tony explains how customer insight drives growth, why profitability reduces risk, and what founders should consider before pursuing an IPO. He also discusses enterprise sales, leadership, AI-powered health, and the value of trusted mentors.

  4. Jul 22

    An M&A Strategist Turned Founder Empowers Through AI and Community

    Molly McCartan is the Managing Partner at The Whisper Group, an M&A and exit-readiness advisory firm helping women founders scale and sell their companies. She is also the Founder and CEO of The Mom Pact, a career strategy platform for working mothers. With over a decade of experience in strategy, operations, business development, and acquisitions, Molly guides owners through growth, valuation, and successful exits. She also helps mothers navigate leave, reentry, advancement, and other pivotal career transitions with practical tools, data, and support. In this episode… Strong exits rarely begin when a buyer appears; they are built through disciplined operations, clear systems, and teams that can perform without constant founder involvement. The same principle applies to careers, where thoughtful preparation creates greater flexibility during major transitions. What does it take to build a business — and a professional life — that can adapt without losing momentum? According to M&A executive and strategy leader Molly McCartan, the answer is to prepare before change becomes urgent. She advises owners to maintain clean financials, reduce founder dependency, and assemble experienced legal, financial, and industry advisers well before due diligence begins. Molly extends that systems-based thinking to working mothers through structured leave plans, career tools, and financial preparation. Across business and career transitions, the clearest path forward comes from stronger systems, trusted support, and lessons applied from setbacks. In this episode of Growth + Exit, Heather Bennett talks with Molly McCartan, Founder and CEO of The Mom Pact and Managing Partner at The Whisper Group, about preparing businesses and careers for major transitions. Molly explains how to improve exit readiness, reduce founder dependency, and build a trusted advisory team. She also touches on maternity leave planning, career pivots, mentorship, and learning from failure.

  5. Jul 15

    Building Your Deal Team: Transaction Attorney

    Newt Fowler is a Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson, a global law firm advising businesses on corporate, transactional, and regulatory matters. He helps companies, investors, and entrepreneurs navigate mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture financing, governance, technology and intellectual property issues, and complex commercial deals. With more than 30 years as a transactional attorney and experience running a startup, Newt brings practical insights to helping owners prepare for growth, manage risk, and position their businesses for successful transactions. In this episode… Selling a business is rarely just a transaction. For many owners, it is the culmination of years of risk, identity, decision-making, and emotional investment. So how can leaders prepare for a sale in a way that protects value and reduces surprises? Transactional attorney Newt Fowler explains that preparation starts with understanding where risk lives before a buyer finds it. The right attorney should do more than push paper — they should help owners identify blind spots, pressure-test assumptions, and assemble the right team. Newt also highlights the importance of leadership structure, board alignment, clean documentation, realistic expectations, and timing legal involvement appropriately. The strongest sale processes begin long before the letter of intent, with owners assessing what could affect valuation and building a strategy to address it. In this episode of Growth + Exit, Susan Kearney chats with Newt Fowler, Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson, about how transaction attorneys help owners prepare for a sale. Newt shares why risk management affects valuation, how legal counsel supports the deal team, and what owners should address before going to market. He also touches on leadership, AI in law, and lessons from running a startup.

  6. Jul 8

    How a Wedding Media Magnate Is Redefining the Exit Process for Female Founders

    Maggie Lord is the Co-founder of The Whisper Group, an exit-readiness advisory firm and community helping women business owners scale and sell their companies. In her role, she advises female founders on exit readiness, strategic acquisition planning, and navigating the personal and professional transition that comes after a sale. She previously founded Rustic Wedding Chic, a digital wedding media and lifestyle brand that she grew into a major platform before its acquisition by David's Bridal in 2020. In 2026, Maggie was named to Inc.'s Female Founders 500 list. In this episode… Building a business around a clear audience need can create opportunities beyond the original idea. When growth turns into brand authority, product extensions, and acquisition interest, how does a founder know what to build, what to protect, and when to let go? Maggie Lord's answer comes from her experience in digital brand building, licensing, and founder-led exits: stay close to the customer, know where your strengths end, and surround yourself with people who fill the gaps. Maggie recommends protecting brand value when licensing products, using data to understand what customers need, and approaching potential acquirers with energy, clarity, and a strong case for strategic fit. Growth and exit readiness depend on making intentional decisions before the pressure mounts. In this episode of Growth + Exit, Heather Bennett sits down with Maggie Lord, Co-founder of The Whisper Group, to discuss building and selling a founder-led brand. Maggie talks about monetizing a niche audience, licensing products without losing brand control, and preparing emotionally and operationally for an exit.

  7. Jul 1

    How To Build a High-Trust Marketing Agency

    Ari Pirutinsky is the Founder and CEO of Steady Growth Partners, a digital marketing agency focused on long-term, data-driven growth strategies. In this role, he leads client strategy, oversees service delivery, and works closely with both clients and internal teams to build transparent, trust-based marketing systems that drive measurable results. He is also the COO of Mesoodar Media, a publication that inspires and empowers Jewish women. Previously, Ari worked in leadership roles in digital advertising, where he helped clients optimize paid media performance and identify growth opportunities. In this episode… In fast-growing service businesses, the most difficult shift is sustaining client trust while scaling teams and expectations. As responsibilities expand, leaders must balance delivery, hiring, and culture without losing clarity or authenticity. What does it take to build trust while scaling a service-based business? Ari Pirutinsky, a growth marketing and paid media expert, maintains that trust is built through radical transparency, especially in high-pressure client relationships. He emphasizes leading conversations with mistakes or missed expectations, openly admitting knowledge gaps when needed, and then following through with clarity and action. Ari explains how hiring people smarter than yourself, empowering teams instead of micromanaging, and grounding operations in clear systems help maintain consistency as a company grows. Combining honesty with strong structure allows leadership and client relationships to scale sustainably. In this episode of Growth + Exit, Susan Kearney chats with Ari Pirutinsky, Founder and CEO of Steady Growth Partners, about scaling service businesses through authenticity and leadership. Ari discusses building client trust through transparency, the challenges of hiring and scaling a marketing agency, using identity-based habits, and clear goal-setting to drive sustainable growth.

  8. Jun 24

    Finding a Capital Partner for a Healthcare Services and Technology Company

    Tom Jacobs is the Founder and Board Partner at Avanza + MedHQ, which provides outpatient advisory services and administrative solutions to the healthcare industry. Under his leadership, MedHQ expanded its service offerings and partnered with Avanza Healthcare Strategies to bring outpatient advisory expertise to hospitals, physicians, and ASCs nationwide. Tom also has experience as an ASC Administrator. Michael Condron is the Managing Partner at Newport LLC, a national business advisory firm that helps privately held businesses accelerate growth, improve profitability, and prepare for successful exits. Before joining Newport, he was the COO and President of CorSolutions Medical, Inc., where he helped guide the company through major growth and a successful sale. Michael also served as CEO of CareGuide, Inc. and founded a strategic counseling firm focused on healthcare consulting, mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. In this episode… Building a company often means learning how to recognize the moments when growth needs a new kind of support. For many founders, the challenge is not just creating value, but understanding when to bring in the right people, systems, and partners to help carry that value forward. How can leaders prepare for that next stage without losing sight of the mission that got them there? Healthcare operations expert Tom Jacobs spent years searching for the right entrepreneurial opportunity before stepping into a business serving ambulatory surgery centers with essential back-office support. As the business matured, Tom learned to hire people stronger than himself in critical areas, stay ahead of technology, and turn regulatory complexity into a chance to become a trusted resource for clients. When the time came to consider a capital partner, strategic advisor Michael Condron's perspective helped frame the process not as a quick exit but as a thoughtful next chapter built around fit, preparation, founder goals, and the company's future growth.  In this episode of Growth + Exit, Heather Bennett sits down with Tom Jacobs of Avanza + MedHQ and Michael Condron of Newport LLC to discuss preparing a founder-led business for growth, capital partnership, and exit. In separate interviews, Tom and Michael explore MedHQ's early growth, the decision to seek a capital partner, and how founders can prepare for life after a transaction.

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About

This is the Growth + Exit Podcast, where owners of privately held, middle-market companies talk about founding, scaling, and exiting their businesses successfully.

Information

  • Creator
    Susan Kearney and Heather Bennett
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Growth + Exit (c) 2025
  • Show Website
    Growth + Exit