Sherrell Dorsey joins Carrie Kerpen to share her journey of transforming a newsletter into a data-driven media company that highlights Black innovation, underrepresented founders, and the business stories that traditional media overlooked.

This episode explores founder burnout, media entrepreneurship, data as a business asset, market timing, team leadership, and the emotional complexity of selling a company.

This episode is sponsored by Theory Planning Partners. Theory Planning Partners helps founders and business owners make smarter decisions around wealth, financial planning, and life after exit. Learn more at www.theoryplanning.com.

3:35 - How The Plug Got Started

8:38 - Deciding to Build Something Bigger 

12:46 - Bootstrapping & Building the Data Product

17:08 - Founder to CEO: Leading a Team

21:12 - Recognizing It Was Time to Exit

29:20 - Finding a Buyer & Shopping the Deal

29:59 - Communicating the Sale to the Team

33:36 - Life After the Exit

38:19 - Knowing You're a Zero-to-One Founder

41:27 - What's Next: Climate Tech