The Exit Whisperer

Carrie Kerpen
  • 5.0 (30)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
The Exit Whisperer

Women-owned businesses capture just 0.8% of the total exit value in the US. Carrie Kerpen is here to change that, through sharing the stories of women who have broken through and sold their businesses. Having sold her own business for 8-figures in 2021, Carrie knows what it takes to build a sellable brand. She also knows that the experience can be different for women than it is for men because she has personally interviewed hundreds of exited female founders. New Episode Every Tuesday!

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    #21 - Maggie Lord (Rustic Wedding Chic)

    Maggie Lord, founder of Rustic Wedding Chic, highlights her incredible entrepreneurial journey. Maggie shares how she transitioned from being a teacher to starting and scaling a successful digital media business without prior business experience.   Learn about her strategies for building and monetizing her company, navigating the decision to sell to David's Bridal during COVID-19, and her shift to a corporate role post-acquisition. Maggie also discusses her current focus on mentoring female entrepreneurs, offering insights on strategic partnerships, business valuation, and the importance of mindset.   This episode is packed with valuable advice for women in business, from entrepreneurship and scaling a business to selling it effectively.   00:28 Meet Maggie Lord: The Woman Behind Rustic Wedding Chic 01:37 From Teacher to Entrepreneur: Maggie's Journey Begins 03:36 Building a Media Empire: Strategies and Growth 05:44 Monetization Mastery: Turning Traffic into Revenue 08:32 The Decision to Sell: A New Chapter 10:51 Preparing for the Sale: The Inside Story 12:14 Initiating the Sale: From Cold Email to Leadership 12:48 Valuation and Deal Structure 14:56 Maintaining Brand Independence 17:36 Transition to Corporate Life 19:16 Navigating COVID Challenges 22:15 New Beginnings: Consulting Female Founders 24:46 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

    25 min

  2. OCT 17

    #20 - Nathalie Walton (Expectful App)

    Carrie interviews Nathalie Walton, who shares her journey of transforming Expectful, a meditation app for expectant mothers, into a comprehensive wellness platform.   Nathalie discusses her transition from a stable role at Airbnb to co-founding Expectful, raising seed funding within 90 days, and the importance of a structured approach to fundraising.   She candidly addresses challenges in a male-dominated space, the mental health toll on entrepreneurs, and balancing time management with venture capital pressures. Nathalie reflects on the emotional journey of scaling and selling the business in just 28 months, emphasizing self-care, personal boundaries, and the support system required in entrepreneurship.   This inspiring conversation offers valuable insights and practical advice for women in business, entrepreneurs, and those interested in mindset, building, scaling, and selling a business.   02:22 Nathalie's Journey to Expectful 04:14 Taking the Leap: Joining Expectful 05:58 First 90 Days: Rapid Growth and Fundraising 09:23 Building Expectful: Vision and Expansion 11:01 Challenges and Realizations 13:59 Market Realities and Mental Health Toll 15:57 Facing Investor Pressure 16:29 Reflecting on Bootstrapping 17:41 Exploring Strategic Sales 19:43 The Role of a Banker 21:09 Mental Health and Personal Growth 26:19 Closing the Deal 27:53 Life After the Sale 29:59 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

    31 min

  3. OCT 15

    #19 - Sharon Lee Thony (SLT Consulting)

    In this episode of 'The Exit Whisperer,' host Carrie Kerpen interviews entrepreneur Sharon Lee Thony about her inspiring journey from a corporate job to founding and scaling SLT Consulting, which she eventually sold to Fiverr.   Sharon shares practical steps for transitioning from a side hustle to a thriving agency, challenges in balancing family obligations, and the significance of building a supportive network of freelancers.   The discussion includes insights on mindset shifts, strategic decisions, and maintaining company vision post-acquisition. Key topics cover entrepreneurship, women in business, digital marketing, and strategies for building, scaling, and selling a business.   Sharon also reflects on her role in launching Fiverr Agencies and her future plans as an advisor and angel investor.   00:28 Welcome to The Exit Whisperer 00:37 Meet Sharon Lee Thony 02:50 The Birth of SLT Consulting 05:18 Taking the Leap from Corporate 10:53 Building a Freelance Empire 13:56 Connecting with Fiverr 19:06 The Unexpected Journey Begins 19:57 Building Relationships and Growing the Agency 21:05 The Turning Point: Acquisition Talks 24:23 Navigating the Acquisition Process 26:23 Reflections on the Acquisition 29:09 Empowering Future Entrepreneurs 32:24 The Impact of Selling a Business 35:21 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

    39 min

  4. OCT 10

    #18 - Christine Merser (Blue Shoe Strategy)

    Carrie Kerpen interviews Christine Merser, an experienced entrepreneur who shares her journey with Blue Shoe Strategy and what it took to sell her business with both triumphant successes and challenging failures.   Christine reflects on her negotiation of a company sale for double the valuation amidst a room of skeptical men, the early days of the internet and managing forums in 1993, and her pivotal role in launching Obama's digital campaign.   The conversation delves into her ventures during the dot-com era, an early luxury goods online marketplace, and lessons learned from its subsequent downfall. Merser also recounts a later venture with a party rental business, navigating an exit, and imparting wisdom on managing company board dynamics and valuations.     00:28 Welcome to The Exit Whisperer 00:42 Introducing Christine Merser 02:12 Early Internet Days and Blue Shoe Strategy 03:23 Obama's Digital Campaign and Early Successes 04:40 Parallels Between Internet Boom and AI 07:25 The Dot-Com Bust: Best Selections 13:46 Lessons from the Dot-Com Era 18:20 Party Rental Business and Quick Exit 24:38 Resurrecting Blue Shoe Strategy 26:32 Writing and New Ventures 27:29 Final Thoughts and Resilience

    28 min

  5. OCT 8

    #17 - Michelle Jacobik (SAVA Insurance Group)

    Michelle Jacobik, a successful entrepreneur who transitioned from employee to business owner. Michelle shares her journey of buying out her employer, expanding the business, and ultimately selling it at a high valuation. With a focus on maximizing business profits and protection for business owners, Michelle's story is filled with challenges and triumphs.   She emphasizes the importance of planning, vision, and financial awareness, offering insights into partnerships, transitions, and life after exit.   Michelle's journey illustrates the power of persistence, learning, and smart financial management. This episode is a treasure trove of advice for aspiring and established entrepreneurs alike.     00:52 Michelle's Entrepreneurial Journey Begins 02:54 Challenges and Triumphs in Business 05:40 The Big Leap: Buying the Business 07:47 Navigating Financial Hurdles 13:52 Strategic Planning and Exit Strategy 21:15 Selling a Business: The Reality of Potential 22:30 Personal Struggles and Business Decisions 24:42 The Role of a Life Coach in Transition 25:40 Taking Time Off: Reflection and Realization 26:57 Exiting the Business: A New Beginning 29:31 Writing a Book: Prosperity After Divorce 33:24 Choosing the Right Business Partner 38:46 The Path to Profits: Final Thoughts

    41 min

  6. OCT 3

    #16 - Richelle Pena (American Pediatric Dental Group)

    Richelle Pena shares her inspiring journey of building and selling American Pediatric Dental Group alongside her husband, Will.   Starting from a single dental office funded by bootstrapping their savings, they expanded to seven locations by focusing on strategic marketing and community engagement.   Richelle discusses the importance of ignoring competition noise, leveraging relationships, and understanding market needs. She also shares the thought process behind selling their business to Dentistry for Children, a Dental Service Organization (DSO), while retaining ownership of the real estate for future passive income.   Richelle's story highlights the vital balance of family, faith, and business priorities, and she teases her upcoming book on being a 'Power Couple' in entrepreneurship.      00:28 Meet Richelle Pena: From Pharmacist to Entrepreneur 00:39 Building a Dental Empire: The Early Days 03:44 Challenges and Sacrifices: The Road to Success 08:01 Innovative Marketing Strategies 12:24 Expansion and Team Building 15:55 The Decision to Sell: Timing and Strategy 22:18 Valuation and Sale of Dental Practices 23:13 Retaining Real Estate for Passive Income 24:40 Life After Selling the Practice 26:50 Working with Your Spouse: Tips and Challenges 31:49 New Ventures and Future Plans 34:02 The Power Couple: Writing a Book Together 36:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    36 min

  7. OCT 1

    #15 - Kat Hantas (21 Seeds Tequila)

    In this episode, Kat Hantas, co-founder of 21 Seeds, shares the journey of building her female-focused infused tequila brand.   Kat discusses how a personal need for a low-calorie, less harsh alcoholic option led to the creation of 21 Seeds with the unique market insight that propelled the brand to success: women drink tequila differently.   Kat recounts the challenges and strategies behind scaling the business quickly, the importance of understanding your core consumer, and the strategic decisions leading to their nine-figure sale to Diageo.   Kat also touches on the emotional aspects of entrepreneurship, including the responsibilities of managing friends and family investments and adjusting to life post-acquisition.     00:29 Introducing Kat Hantas of 21 Seeds 02:05 The Birth of 21 Seeds Tequila 03:53 From Personal Solution to Business Idea 06:45 Launching and Scaling 21 Seeds 09:25 Marketing Strategies and Consumer Focus 20:57 The Decision to Sell and Finding the Right Buyer 33:30 Life After the Sale 36:48 Reflections on Money and Success

    41 min

  8. SEP 26

    #14 - Lindsay Pinchuk (BumpClub)

    Lindsay Pinchuk shares the incredible journey of launching and scaling Bump Club, a thriving community for expectant mothers that she bootstrapped with her background in media sales.   She dives into the nuances of negotiating her company's sale, including achieving double the valuation and confronting the challenges of an earn-out gone wrong.   Lindsay candidly discusses the emotional and practical hurdles she faced post-sale, from retaining her brand's integrity to ultimately advocating for her team's well-being.   Now thriving as a consultant and mentor for female founders, Lindsay imparts valuable lessons on entrepreneurship, resilience, and finding one's true calling.     00:28 Introducing Lindsey Pinchuk and The Bump Club 01:31 The Birth of The Bump Club: From Idea to Reality 02:36 Growing the Community: Early Events and Challenges 07:44 Scaling Up: Expanding Beyond Chicago 11:53 Partnerships with Major Retailers: Target and Nordstrom 16:55 The Road to Acquisition: Interest from Brand Connections 19:59 The Acquire Proposal 21:19 Valuation and Deal Structure 23:41 Team Reactions and Negotiations 25:40 Challenges with Earnouts 28:46 Realizing Misalignment 32:02 Planning the Exit 33:27 Final Negotiations and Departure 36:30 New Beginnings and Current Ventures

    39 min
See All (22)

5
out of 5
30 Ratings

About

Women-owned businesses capture just 0.8% of the total exit value in the US. Carrie Kerpen is here to change that, through sharing the stories of women who have broken through and sold their businesses. Having sold her own business for 8-figures in 2021, Carrie knows what it takes to build a sellable brand. She also knows that the experience can be different for women than it is for men because she has personally interviewed hundreds of exited female founders. New Episode Every Tuesday!

Information

  • Creator
    Carrie Kerpen
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Exit Whisperer

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