Closing Remarks

by Benchmark International
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  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated weekly

Season 2 of Closing Remarks premieres October 2026. Closing Remarks is Benchmark International’s exclusive podcast, where leading CEOs, thought leaders, business experts, and M&A professionals share insights from the front lines of dealmaking. Each episode explores the strategies, stories, and lessons that shape successful transactions and lasting legacies. Whether you’re an entrepreneur preparing for the next chapter or a professional navigating the complexities of the middle market, Closing Remarks offers the perspectives you need to stay ahead in today’s business landscape.

  1. 6 days ago

    E20: Q&A on Market Readiness with Dara Shareef & Jordan Wilkins

    Market readiness begins with a basic question. What happens to your business when you are not around?   Imagine going on a six-week river cruise in Europe, turning off your cell phone and refraining from checking email. When you return, will the business be running smoothly? Or did your team need to pause important decisions while you were away?   In this Q&A episode of Closing Remarks, host Dara Shareef talks with Jordan Wilkins, Managing Director at Benchmark International. They explore the difference between market readiness and exit readiness.   What You’ll Learn Why market readiness and exit readiness require many of the same actions even if you have no plan to sellHow to tell if your business is too dependent on you and why decision-making needs to extend beyond the ownerHow delegation, functional ownership, and decision rights can reduce founder dependenceHow customer and supplier concentration can create additional points of dependenceHow advisors and market feedback can uncover opportunities you may not see in your businessHow strategic buyers may see value in your people, products, customers, or capabilities beyond EBITDAHow market readiness can give you more options when your priorities and circumstances change With this episode, we’re closing out Season 1 of Closing Remarks. We’ll be back in October with more conversations, insights, and closing remarks. In the meantime, if you’re thinking about what’s next for your business, start a conversation with Benchmark International.

    E20: Q&A on Market Readiness with Dara Shareef & Jordan Wilkins

  2. 9 Sept

    E19: Kal Gullapalli on Risk & Returns

    What would an investor see if they looked at your business today? In this episode of Closing Remarks, Dara Shareef sits down with Kal Gullapalli, CEO of Built Different Brands, to talk about his journey from investment banking at Merrill Lynch and helping raise a hedge fund to entrepreneurship and franchise ownership. Today, his experience includes Dave’s Hot Chicken, Marco’s Pizza, PopUp Bagels, Orangetheory Fitness, and European Wax Center. Drawing on his experience as both an investor and an operator, Kal shares how he evaluates opportunities, thinks about risk and returns, diversifies across brands and markets, builds teams with the right culture, and makes decisions that can influence business value. What You’ll Learn Why self-awareness matters in businessHow Kal thinks about diversification across brands and marketsHow investors weigh risk, return, and opportunity costWhat to look for in brands, management teams, and opportunitiesHow culture and accountability support businessesHow multiples and roll-ups can create opportunityWhy key operators receive bonuses, equity, and insight into value creationHow to build a business beyond the ownerWhy patient, aligned capital matters

    E19: Kal Gullapalli on Risk & Returns

  3. 2 Sept

    E18: Thomas Frey on Selling a Business

    Selling a business can open the door to more than a new phase. It can change how you think about what you built, who you built it with, and what you want to do next. On this week’s episode of Closing Remarks, Dara Shareef sits down with Thomas Frey, founder of Silexx Financial Systems and former SVP, Software Engineering at Cboe Global Markets. Thomas founded Silexx Financial Systems, a broker-neutral order and execution management system (OEMS), before Benchmark International facilitated its transaction with the Chicago Board Options Exchange (Cboe Global Markets). Together, they reflect on the transaction, the journey that led to it, and the lessons that followed. From building business value and surrounding yourself with great people to embracing AI and finding purpose beyond the transaction, Thomas shares valuable insights for business owners considering a sale and thinking about what comes next. Whether you’re building for growth, exploring a business sale, continuing with an acquiring company, or planning your next chapter, Thomas’s experience offers perspective for every stage of the journey. What You’ll Learn How identifying a specialized market need can create the foundation for business value What business owners can learn from Thomas’s experience exploring an M&A opportunityHow experienced M&A experts and the right people can bring valuable perspective to important decisionsWhy a shared approach may help keep buyers, sellers, and advisors focused on a shared objectiveHow bringing in great people earlier can help owners delegate, develop talent, and growHow AI can change the way businesses scale and why human expertise may become even more valuableWhy having a clear understanding of purpose matters when considering a business sale and what comes next

    E18: Thomas Frey on Selling a Business

  4. 26 Aug

    E17: Ian Barkin on AI, Automation, & Exit Readiness

    AI can create more, automate more, and move faster. But more doesn’t always mean more valuable. On this week’s episode of Closing Remarks, host Dara Shareef sits down with Ian Barkin, founder of magentIQ, to discuss building and selling Symphony Ventures, life and purpose after an exit, AI slop, the future of AI and automation, what automation means for the next generation of leaders, and why entrepreneurship is ultimately a team sport. Whether you’re navigating an exit, embracing AI, or thinking about what comes next, this conversation offers lessons for building smarter while keeping the human element at the center. What You’ll Learn How to spot when AI is creating volume and not valueWhy AI-slop can create more workWhere human judgment, context, and connection still matterHow magentIQ combines AI agents and human talentWhat robotic process automation (RPA) can teach us about AI and automationWhy “AI first” is an ambition, while “AI ready” is a planHow stronger processes, documented knowledge, and less founder dependency can make a business both AI-ready and exit-readyHow the “shoe swap” can help leaders see problems from another perspectiveWhat happens to tomorrow’s leaders when AI eliminates the work that once trained themHow “building out loud” can bring family, work and purpose closer together

    E17: Ian Barkin on AI, Automation, & Exit Readiness

  5. 19 Aug

    E16: Scott Fink on Success & Relationships

    How do strong business relationships and bold leadership turn a struggling dealership into a nationwide success story? In this episode of Closing Remarks, Dara Shareef talks with Scott Fink, the Chairman and CEO of Giant Auto Group–Fink Auto Group, about the business relationships, leadership, and bold decisions that shaped his success in the automotive industry.   Scott shares how he helped transform a struggling Mitsubishi dealership into the number one Mitsubishi dealership in the nation within three years, then went on to build a Hyundai dealership that became the number one Hyundai store in the country, earning the top spot 12 times. Along the way, his automotive portfolio expanded to include Volkswagen, Subaru, Toyota, Mazda, Chevrolet, and Genesis brands.   Throughout the conversation, Scott shares how building strong business relationships, putting relationships before transactions, and choosing to “come out and fight” when competitors pulled back helped drive his success and create lasting opportunities. Whether you’re building a business, considering a sale, or thinking about your team and legacy, this episode features someone who has built, sold, and successfully grown businesses, including a #1 dealership, all while giving back to the community.   What You’ll Learn How Scott Fink built some of the nation’s top-performing automotive dealerships by putting relationships ahead of transactionsThe leadership mindset behind the “leave the foxhole” philosophy and why taking action when others retreat can create opportunitiesPractical lessons on preparing a business for sale, negotiating deals, selecting advisors, and structuring earnoutsWhy planning for life after an exit is just as important as building a successful business

    E16: Scott Fink on Success & Relationships

  6. 12 Aug

    E15: Doug Starcher on Simplifying M&A Legal Terms

    The most important parts of a business sale often aren’t found in the purchase price; they’re hidden in the legal language of the deal. In this episode of Closing Remarks, host Dara Shareef sits down with Doug Starcher, a Managing Partner at Nelson Mullins, to break down the legal terms that every business owner should understand before selling a company. With more than 35 years of M&A experience, Doug explains everything from Letters of Intent (LOIs) and purchase agreements to representations and warranties, indemnification, disclosure schedules, working capital, and deal structure. Whether you’re preparing for an exit or want to understand the M&A process better, this episode provides practical guidance to help you protect the value you’ve built. What You’ll Learn Why the Letter of Intent (LOI) sets the foundation for a transactionThe role of an experienced M&A attorney throughout the deal processHow representations and warranties help buyers understand a businessWhy indemnification and disclosure schedules matter after closingThe importance of working capital and transaction structureWhy assembling an experienced deal team can help protect value

    E15: Doug Starcher on Simplifying M&A Legal Terms

  7. 5 Aug

    E14: Josh Weis on Growth, Culture & Winning

    What separates companies that consistently outperform their competitors? In this episode of Closing Remarks, host Dara Shareef sits down with Josh Weis, CEO of Vehlo, to talk about how to use data to drive better decisions and build a people-centered winning culture. Drawing on his experience scaling companies across multiple industries, Josh shares the leadership lessons that have shaped his approach to managing change, driving growth, and helping teams perform at their highest level. Vehlo provides technology and payment solutions for automotive dealerships and independent repair facilities. Through dealership management platforms like Dealerlogix and Velocity Automotive, the company helps streamline operations, repair workflows, and customer communication for service departments, including those representing major automotive brands such as Mitsubishi. From the Rule of 40 and Goodhart’s Law to the buffalo mindset, Josh breaks down the frameworks that have influenced his leadership philosophy. Whether you’re growing a business, preparing for an exit, or leading a team through change, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you build a stronger, more resilient company culture.   What You’ll Learn Winning is contagious and why it's important to celebrate your winsHow AI is transforming sales coaching, customer experience, and business operationsHow to apply the principles of Goodhart’s Law by putting people ahead of metricsWhat the buffalo mindset means and how it helps leaders face challenges head-onWhy the Rule of 40 is one of private equity’s most important growth metricsThe leadership principles behind integrating 19 acquisitions into one organization

    E14: Josh Weis on Growth, Culture & Winning

  8. 29 Jul

    E13: Will Sullivan on Private Equity Trends

    Where are buyers placing their capital, and what does that mean for business owners? In this episode of Closing Remarks, host Dara Shareef talks with Will Sullivan, Managing Director at Benchmark International, to explore where buyers are deploying capital, which industries are attracting the most attention, and the market trends shaping middle-market M&A.   The biggest opportunities in today’s M&A market aren’t always where you’d expect. From industrials and infrastructure to AI-driven demand and evolving deal structures, this conversation examines the forces influencing buyers and what business owners should understand before taking their business to market. Watch the episode to learn where capital is flowing, what today’s buyers are looking for, the industries buyers are watching closely, and how today’s market could impact your future exit strategy. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN Why industrial and infrastructure businesses continue to attract buyersHow AI and data centers are influencing M&A investmentWhere private equity firms are deploying capital in 2026How deal structures like earnouts and rollover equity are evolvingWhy strategic buyer fit can matter more than priceWhat business owners can do today to prepare for a future sale

    E13: Will Sullivan on Private Equity Trends
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About

Season 2 of Closing Remarks premieres October 2026. Closing Remarks is Benchmark International’s exclusive podcast, where leading CEOs, thought leaders, business experts, and M&A professionals share insights from the front lines of dealmaking. Each episode explores the strategies, stories, and lessons that shape successful transactions and lasting legacies. Whether you’re an entrepreneur preparing for the next chapter or a professional navigating the complexities of the middle market, Closing Remarks offers the perspectives you need to stay ahead in today’s business landscape.

Information

  • Creator
    by Benchmark International
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © by Benchmark International
  • Show Website
    Closing Remarks

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