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. 4d ago

    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.

    43 min

  2. 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.

    54 min

  3. 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.

    51 min

  4. Jun 17

    How To Use AI To Grow Your Business — Without Ever Putting People Second

    Andy Crestodina is the Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer at Orbit Media Studios, an award-winning digital agency. With over 20 years of experience in analytics, SEO, content strategy, AI, and website optimization, he is widely recognized as a leading expert in the marketing industry. Andy has written over 500 articles on content strategy, SEO, AI, social media, and analytics, and is the author of Content Chemistry. In this episode… Starting a business or growing an existing one often comes with the question of how to make the most of limited resources while achieving meaningful results. Many entrepreneurs wonder where to focus their time and energy to create a lasting impact. What strategies help small- to mid-sized businesses grow effectively without burning out? Andy Crestodina, a digital marketing and content strategy expert, suggests focusing on measurable actions that directly influence outcomes. He recommends leveraging AI to understand your audience better, such as generating personas or analyzing visitor behavior, and prioritizing improvements to your existing web pages to optimize conversions. By taking small, deliberate steps to enhance client engagement and communication, leaders can generate more value with fewer resources while building a scalable foundation. In this episode of Growth + Exit, Heather Bennett chats with Andy Crestodina, Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer at Orbit Media Studios, about building sustainable businesses through digital strategy. Andy shares the origin story of his company, the importance of early hires and delegation, and actionable advice for improving web conversions and lead generation.

    44 min

  5. Jun 10

    How To Lead With Authenticity

    Lynda Ellis is the CEO of Capitol Concierge, a leading provider of corporate, residential, and commercial concierge services. She joined the company in 1998 and later purchased it in 2007, guiding its growth into a nationally and internationally recognized service brand serving more than one million people worldwide. Lynda has received multiple industry honors for her visionary leadership and community involvement. She has also been appointed to the National Small Business Association (NSBA) Leadership Council, where she advocates for small‑business interests with policymakers. In this episode… Entrepreneurship demands persistence, adaptability, and a willingness to tackle challenges head-on. Leaders must find ways to stay motivated while guiding teams through uncertainty. How can business owners navigate high-stakes decisions while maintaining focus and resilience? Lynda Ellis, an experienced business leader and strategist, emphasizes the importance of leaning into challenges rather than avoiding them. She suggests framing obstacles as opportunities for growth, building a strong support network, and empowering employees to take ownership of their work. Lynda encourages entrepreneurs to maintain daily rituals that foster clarity and focus, helping leaders manage personal and professional responsibilities effectively. By integrating these practices, leaders can turn complex problems into actionable solutions and cultivate a motivated, engaged team. In this episode of Growth + Exit, Susan Kearney chats with Lynda Ellis, CEO of Capitol Concierge, about leadership and growth strategies. Lynda discusses her early career lessons in management and service, strategies for staying motivated and seeking new challenges, and her approaches to community engagement and giving back.

    44 min

  6. Jun 3

    Disrupting Hospitality: How To Run Successful Restaurants and Music Venues

    Robert Gomez is the Owner of Beat Kitchen, a popular Chicago live music venue and restaurant known for its blend of food, drinks, and nightly performances. With over 30 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, he has operated other venues in the Chicago area, including Subterranean, Underbar, and Bar Sol. Beat Kitchen has expanded to three locations, including two on Navy Pier. In this episode… Restaurants and live music venues can be hubs of creativity, community, and culture, but they require more than just a passion for food or music to sustain. From staffing challenges to balancing multiple revenue streams, running a hospitality business demands strategy, resilience, and adaptability. How can owners navigate these complexities while staying true to their vision? Veteran Chicago restaurateur and multi-concept venue owner Robert Gomez has built thriving businesses in this demanding industry. He emphasizes starting from the ground up, observing operations before launching a business, and cultivating resilience when managing people and events. Robert also highlights the importance of leveraging equity, understanding market trends, and maintaining flexibility to adapt to changing customer behaviors. In this episode of Growth + Exit, Heather Bennett sits down with Robert Gomez, Owner of Beat Kitchen, to discuss building a resilient hospitality business. Robert talks about navigating early operational challenges, shares strategies for booking and promoting live music, and discusses hiring and developing staff to handle diverse, high-pressure environments.

    41 min

  7. May 27

    How To Be Outrageously Successful in Business From a Master Vistage Chair

    Mikki Williams, CSP, CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame, is an international speaker, storyteller, author, and executive speech coach. She holds both the Certified Speaking Professional designation and the CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame honor, a combination held by fewer than 1% of professional speakers worldwide. Recognized by Meetings & Conventions magazine as one of the country's favorite speakers, Mikki is also an award-winning Vistage speaker and Chair. Known for her "Be Outrageous" philosophy, she helps leaders and audiences communicate with authenticity, humor, and impact. In this episode… Building a business means learning when to push forward, when to adapt, and when to let go. The most successful leaders don't just rely on strategy; they develop the self-awareness to trust their instincts, create meaningful relationships, and stay open to reinvention. How can entrepreneurs build that kind of resilience while continuing to grow? Professional speaker and executive coach Mikki Williams says they do it by embracing change, staying authentic, and listening deeply before making decisions. She encourages leaders to be decisive, build accountability into their teams, create rituals that strengthen connection, and listen to mentors while trusting their own instincts. Growth comes from pairing confidence with curiosity and structure with humanity.  In this episode of Growth + Exit, Heather Bennett chats with Mikki Williams, CSP, CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame, about reinventing yourself in business. Mikki discusses embracing risk and change, coaching CEOs through Vistage, and becoming a viral digital content creator at 82.

    42 min

  8. May 20

    Turning Customer Feedback Into Startup Growth

    Catherine Connelly is the Founder and Fractional Head of Marketing at Connelly Ventures, LLC, a marketing advisory firm that helps entrepreneurs and growing teams build scalable, practical marketing strategies. As an entrepreneur, marketing leader, speaker, and author, she co-founded myYearbook as a teenager and helped grow it into The Meet Group, a NASDAQ-listed social dating and livestreaming company. During her time at The Meet Group, Catherine led brand strategy and marketing through mergers, acquisitions, and rebrands before the company was acquired for $500 million in 2020. In this episode… Building and exiting a company takes focus, adaptability, and the ability to keep listening when the market shifts. For founders navigating growth, fundraising, leadership, and exit decisions, how can you stay grounded while making choices with incomplete information? Catherine Connelly's answer, drawn from her experience as an entrepreneur and startup leader, is to stay close to the people you serve and keep your decision-making anchored to a clear goal. She emphasizes listening to customers, translating feedback into informed product decisions, and resisting the urge to chase every new trend or tool before gaining strategic clarity. Catherine also encourages founders to ask for help, learn from others who are a few steps ahead, and build small habits that create momentum and resilience.  In this episode of Growth + Exit, Susan Kearney sits down with Catherine Connelly, Founder and Fractional Head of Marketing at Connelly Ventures, LLC, to discuss building, scaling, and exiting a community platform. Catherine shares how she used customer feedback to shape product strategy, scaled after reaching one million users, and navigated the stress of a $500 million exit.

    48 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
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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
    56
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Growth + Exit (c) 2025
  • Show Website
    Growth + Exit