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. 1d ago

    How To Build a Resilient Business Through Strong Leadership

    Kelly McLaughlan is the Co-Founder and CEO of KME.digital, a digital marketing agency that helps organizations grow through SEO, paid media, web content, and digital strategy. A systems engineer turned entrepreneur, she leads the firm's strategy, client service, and team development while helping businesses strengthen their online presence. Kelly is also the Co-founder of Power of 100 Washington, DC, which brings together women professionals for charity donations.  In this episode… Building a business over the long term requires more than finding customers and delivering quality work. Sustainable growth often comes from knowing when to adapt, when to delegate, and how to create systems that support both employees and clients. What does it take to grow a company without losing the discipline, relationships, and leadership practices that made it successful? Kelly McLaughlan, a digital marketing expert and entrepreneur, maintains that long-term growth depends on adaptability, trust, and a willingness to make difficult decisions. Diversifying the client base can reduce risk, while developing employees and giving them room to take ownership creates a stronger organization. Kelly also emphasizes building safeguards around delegation, learning from mentors, setting boundaries around work, and embracing tools like AI when they can improve efficiency and client outcomes. Together, these practices help business owners build companies that are more resilient, scalable, and prepared for change. In this episode of Growth + Exit, Susan Kearney sits down with Kelly McLaughlan, Co-founder and CEO of KME.digital, to discuss building a resilient business and evolving as a leader. Kelly shares lessons on responding to changing client needs, developing a trusted team, and using AI to improve results. She also touches on work-life balance, mentorship, and the importance of strong financial discipline.

  2. Aug 26

    Building Your Deal Team: Chief Financial Officer

    John Cox is a Partner at Newport LLC, a business advisory firm helping middle-market companies grow and exit. With over 35 years of senior financial management experience across private industry and government, he advises owners and CEOs on finance strategy, budgeting, capital markets, M&A, due diligence, and exit readiness. John brings an operator's perspective to helping businesses strengthen financial processes, assess risk, and make informed growth and investment decisions. In this episode… As a company grows, its financial needs change. Solid accounting is important, but owners also need a clearer view of what's ahead so they can make smarter decisions about hiring, investing, growth, and future opportunities. So when is it time to move beyond basic accounting and build a stronger finance function? John Cox, an experienced CFO and strategic advisor, says that the key is adding financial expertise before the business reaches a point where complexity starts creating problems. Budgeting, forecasting, ROI analysis, and better financial processes can help owners make more informed decisions and prepare for bigger moves like acquisitions, raising capital, or selling the business. John also stresses the importance of having the right people in the right roles as a company grows. With stronger financial leadership and solid preparation, owners can reduce surprises, build credibility with investors and buyers, and create more value over time. In this episode of Growth + Exit, Susan Kearney talks with John Cox, Partner at Newport LLC, about building finance functions for growth and exit readiness. John explains when to add finance leadership, how CFOs help prepare for transactions, and why owners may need to upgrade their advisors as the business grows. He also shares lessons from M&A transactions and his family business background.

  3. Aug 19

    Derisking a Financial Climate Solutions Startup With a Board of Directors

    Scott Ryan is the Founder and CEO of Investature, a sustainable finance and fintech company helping organizations align retirement benefits, investment choices, and financed-emissions goals. He leads the company's strategy, growth, partnerships, and development of tools that connect financial wellness with environmental impact. With leadership experience at firms including Salesforce, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, and Accenture, Scott has experience in fintech innovation, wealth and asset management, technology scaling, and impact investing. In this episode… A strong business idea only goes so far if the company cannot adapt, attract the right people, and prove its value in the market. For founders building around a larger mission, growth decisions also carry implications about impact, governance, and long-term direction. How can entrepreneurs stay focused on both business performance and the change they want to create? Scott Ryan, a growth-focused executive, sees business as a practical way to advance environmental goals. His approach centers on testing the value proposition, paying close attention to traction, building an experienced board early, and changing course when the market demands it. Scott also stresses the importance of succession planning and creating practical company values when pressure or conflict arises. These practices give founders a stronger framework for making decisions without losing sight of the mission behind the business. In this episode of Growth + Exit, Heather Bennett talks with Scott Ryan, Founder and CEO of Investature, about building a financially viable business around environmental impact. Scott shares the importance of early governance, how traction shapes strategy, and what founders can learn from changing markets. He also discusses mentorship, succession planning, and company values.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

See All (64)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

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
    64
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Growth + Exit (c) 2025
  • Show Website
    Growth + Exit