Most founders think exit planning is about financials, operations, and timing. But buyers look

for something deeper first: trust.

In this episode of the ExitEngine™ Podcast, Jo Stapleton and John Canniffe sit down with

Christopher Thiede, storytelling strategist and creator of Visibility Brief, to explore how founder

visibility and narrative control directly impact business value, buyer confidence, and exit

outcomes.

Christopher explains why buyers don’t just evaluate numbers — they assess leadership

credibility, culture, and whether the business can thrive beyond the founder. Through real-world

examples, he shows how executive visibility builds intangible assets like trust, goodwill, and

perceived stability — all of which influence valuation multiples and deal certainty.

This conversation reframes personal branding as a strategic exit lever, not a marketing vanity

play.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why buyers care deeply about founder credibility and visibility

• How storytelling reduces perceived risk during diligence

• When founders must step back — and elevate their leadership team — to increase

transferability

• How executive visibility supports succession, investment, and exit readiness

• Why trust is one of the most underappreciated drivers of valuation

If you want to build a business that buyers trust, teams believe in, and markets respect, this

episode will change how you think about visibility, leadership, and exit planning.

Guest Info: Christopher Thiede, Founder, Visibility Brief https://www.linkedin.com/in/

christhiede/

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