Excuse Me Sir?

What happens when you’ve worked inside the world’s most powerful brands --- and decide to step outside the system entirely?

In this episode of Excuse Me Sir, Lacey sits down with Perry, former brand operator for Paris Hilton, Airbnb, and Tinder, to unpack what she learned working inside globally influential brands and why she ultimately chose to build her own.This isn’t a conversation about marketing tactics or brand aesthetics.It’s a conversation about who owns the narrative, how power actually moves behind the scenes, and what happens when women stop building “on brand” and start building with intent, leverage, and continuity.

We explore:

- What it’s really like working inside iconic, culture-shaping brands

- How narrative control creates power (and who usually benefits from it)

- The invisible cost of being an operator inside someone else’s vision

- The shift from building brands for others to building a life on her own terms

- Where wellness, identity, and ownership intersect for modern women

This episode is for women who’ve done everything “right” — built the résumé, worked with the big names, played the game — and are now asking a deeper question: What am I actually building… and who does it belong to?

MORE ABOUT PERRY HOWELL

Perry Howell is a wellness entrepreneur, media creator, and marketing leader building scalable wellness programs and experiences at the intersection of community, content, and mindful living.With over a decade of experience leading global brand strategy for companies including HBO, SiriusXM, Tinder, and Paris Hilton’s 11:11 Media, Perry has been recognized on Adweek New York’s Future Is Female list for her innovation, impact, and leadership in modern media and marketing.

Globally educated at The London School of Economics, Miami University, and The University of Sydney, Perry holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Master of Business Administration. Perry is the founder of Pilates Gang, a wellness events and media platform that blends movement, community, and culture through signature pilates experiences, curated wellness partnerships, and pop-ups hosted in collaboration with leading studios. Pilates Gang reimagines boutique fitness as a scalable, community-driven wellness experience.

She is also the host and creator of Core & Commerce, a wellness and business media platform exploring how modern wellness brands grow, evolve, and reach wider audiences. Through podcast conversations, behind-the-scenes content, and industry insights, Perry sits down with founders, executives, and creatives shaping the future of wellness, fitness, and mindful entrepreneurship.Through her platforms, Perry helps wellness brands, studios, and organizations think bigger about how they show up, turning events, content, and programs into scalable media experiences that drive connection, visibility, and long-term impact.

FIND PERRY HERE

Website - http://www.perryhowell.com

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/perryhowell/

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrymhowell/

What if the biggest thing holding women back from building generational wealth through M&A isn’t capital — but access to the right conversations, networks, and legal strategy?

In this episode of Excuse Me Sir, Lacey Madison sits down with Leslee Cohen, founder of All Rise Lawyers and one of the most experienced women in M&A and corporate law, to dismantle the myths, power dynamics, and quiet deal-killers that disproportionately affect women buyers and sellers.

From Wall Street boardrooms to lower middle market deals, Leslee has seen it all — and in this conversation, she breaks down:

• why women are often less prepared for transactions (even when they’re more capable),

• how legal strategy can either protect or destroy a deal, and

• what women must start doing differently if they want real leverage, control, and continuity.

This is not a surface-level conversation about “confidence.”
This is a practical, tactical, and deeply honest walkthrough of the M&A process — from LOI to closing — through a female lens.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by legal, intimidated by deal-making, or unsure how to protect yourself while still honouring relationships — this episode is required listening.

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ABOUT THE GUEST

Leslee Cohen is the founder and Managing Partner of AllRise Legal Counsel.  AllRise concentrates its transactional practice in securities and startup law, corporate finance, technology law, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate law. It represents clients across many industries from consumer products to technology companies to healthcare businesses to real estate firms.

Leslee started her practice at a Wall Street firm in 1992, spent 13 years honing her skills at a large firm based in Chicago and left to form AllRise in 2010.  AllRise was founded on Leslee’s desire to work with earlier stage and smaller businesses.  Each of its attorneys is big firm trained and experienced.Leslee has been named by Illinois Super Lawyers as a Top 100 Lawyers in the State of Illinois and Top 50 Women Lawyers in the State of Illinois, corporate finance and securities, every year since 2010, a Leading Lawyer in mergers & acquisitions, securities and venture finance every year since 2007, the Advocate of the Year by the Small Business Advocacy Council in 2019, an Enterprising Woman of the Year by Enterprising Women Magazine in 2023 and an Entreprenista Top 100 in 2024.  She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Small Business Advocacy Council, a co-founder of the Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law, a speaker and mentor for the Good Food Accelerator, the Hatchery, LegalPad, the Founders Institute and Workbox, and involved with the Chicago Job Creators Grant organization and GirlCon, which supports high school girls interested in careers in technology. Leslee received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her J.D. from New York University School of Law.

📍 Learn more: www.allriselawyers.com🔗 Connect: LinkedIn

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

• M&A is not transactional — it’s relational...But relationships do not replace legal protection.

• Women are not risk-averse — they’re risk-aware...The problem is being socialised to prioritise harmony over leverage.

• The LOI is where power is set....If you get this wrong, everything downstream becomes harder and more expensive.

• Lawyers should support deals — not dominate them...The best outcomes happen when business owners stay actively involved.

Most women aren’t “risk-averse.” They’re risk-aware and often risk-accurate. But there’s a third category nobody talks about: risk-stalled.

In this episode, Lacey breaks down why the internet debate about women and risk misses the real problem: time-to-action. She explains how women’s diligence and caution can produce better outcomes after a decision is made but how identity readiness, perceived legitimacy, and the search for certainty can quietly delay action for months or years.

In M&A, time isn’t passive... it changes valuations, multiples, deal availability, and your financial future.

If you’ve been thinking about buying a business for 3 to 24+ months without taking action, this episode is your wake-up call and your next step.

Primary Takeaways

• Women aren’t too risk-averse for M&A. The bigger problem is risk stagnation.

• Most research measures results after decisions but ignores the time it takes women to feel “allowed” to decide.

• There are three risk buckets:

  1. Risk-averse: avoids risk altogether

  2. Risk-aware/accurate: evaluates risk and moves with it

  3. Risk-stalled: hyper-aware of downside → rumination → no action

• Men pay for mistakes. Women pay for waiting.

• In M&A, time changes the market: multiples rise, deal costs increase, opportunity shrinks.

• Women often tie worth to income, not ownership — but generational wealth comes from equity and assets.

• You don’t need more information — you need guidance, proximity, and a decision container.

• Ownership is something you can enter, not something you must earn.

• The goal is to shorten the gap between: “I’ve thought about it” → “I took action.”

Episode Timeline (Suggested Timestamps)

00:00 — Closing hook: risk awareness vs risk stagnation + “Be the first”
00:41 — Episode intent: from “am I ready?” to “what’s my next step?”
01:15 — The online debate: risk-averse vs risk-aware
02:16 — Risk aware → risk accurate: diligence, diversification, calibration
03:10 — Couples + ego motivations: safety nets vs status chasing
03:50 — Investing study: men trade more, underperform; women hold and win
04:35 — Why women stabilise markets: diligence reduces hype-driven volatility
06:31 — The missing variable: identity readiness + legitimacy + time-to-decision
08:49 — The 3 buckets: risk averse / aware / stalled
11:07 — The real problem: information threshold + “earn vs enter” ownership
13:17 — The cost of delay: multiples rise, purchase prices increase
15:35 — The takeaway: shorten time between thought and action
17:00 — CTA: if you’ve been stuck 3–24 months, book the call
17:51 — Outro: reviews + where to find Lacey

Primary Keywords

• psychology of becoming a buyer

• women and risk tolerance

• women in M&A

• buying a business mindset

• investor mindset for women

• acquisition readiness

• generational wealth for women

• risk stagnation

• risk awareness vs risk aversion

Secondary Keywords

• female founders investing

• women building wealth through ownership

• business acquisition strategy

• M&A mindset shift

• time-to-decision gender gap

• decision paralysis entrepreneurship

• deal multiples EBITDA

• buyer vs founder identity

What if you could shortcut a decade of trial, error, and startup hustle and step directly into new ownership in a fraction of the time? In this episode, we unveil the 8-step blueprint for how female founders can build generational wealth through mergers & acquisitions.

From shifting your identity from founder to capital allocator, to structuring deals that protect your legacy, this episode breaks down how women can use M&A to create lasting economic power, not just for themselves, but for their families, communities, and futures.

Whether you're acquisition-curious or ready to make your first offer, this is the roadmap no one ever gave you.

Key Takeaways

• Ownership > Hustle: Generational wealth doesn’t come from grinding; it comes from equity and continuity.

• Your First Acquisition Is a Wealth Engine: Stabilise, optimise, then stack.

• Cash Flow Is Your Compounding Fuel: Buy businesses that pay you, fund your next move, and survive without your daily hustle.

• Women Are Matriarchs of Capital: You can use acquisitions to fund not just your lifestyle, but your lineage.

• Continuity Capitalism Is the New Playbook: Build wealth by inheriting and improving, not always starting over.

💬 Loved this episode? Share your favourite step on IG/LinkedIn and tag us

🎧 Coming next: Deal Structuring 101: How to Buy a Business Without $100K in the Bank

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women in business, acquisitions, generational wealth, capital allocation, female entrepreneurs, business buying, investment strategies, wealth building, M&A, financial empowerment

In this episode of the Excuse Me, Sir podcast, Lacey Madison discusses the critical importance of ownership for women in today's socio-economic landscape. The conversation explores the socio-economic arguments for women's ownership, the impact of women in business on workplace culture, and the mindset shift required to embrace ownership. Lacey also contrasts the benefits of acquiring existing businesses versus starting new ones from scratch, highlighting the advantages of established operations and the potential for accelerated growth.

Takeaways

• This is your ownership era, focusing on power and wealth.
• Women need to engage in business acquisitions.
• Ownership is crucial for closing the wealth gap.
• Women are underrepresented in business ownership and revenue.
• Acquisitions can reduce time and risk in business growth.
• Women reinvest more into their communities than men.
• Ownership reshapes workplace culture and employee treatment.
• Caution in business decisions can lead to better outcomes.
• The current wealth transfer presents a unique opportunity for women.
• Cultural attitudes towards women in wealth are changing.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to the New Era

01:30 The Importance of Ownership for Women

05:33 Socio-Economic Arguments for Women's Ownership

07:36 Closing the Wealth Gap through Acquisitions

11:01 The Greatest Wealth Transfer in History

14:17 The Impact of Women in Business Ownership

18:18 Changing Workplace Culture through Ownership

20:08 The Importance of Ownership in Economic Power

24:25 Acquisitions vs. Startups: A Safer Path to Success

32:22 Mindset Shift: Embracing Ownership and Investment

37:04 Cultural Shifts: Women Redefining Wealth and Capitalism

To move beyond traditional "journey mapping" and into the emotional rhythm that governs decision-making, engagement, execution, and retention. When you understand how clients feel at every stage,  not just what they’re doing, you can architect support that sustains momentum.

WANT MORE?

Follow Lacey on Instagram ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠.

Visit the Website to Learn More ⁠HERE⁠.

PLEASE SEE THE ACCOMPANYING WORKBOOK HERE. 

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To explore the invisible yet critical factors that build trust and psychological safety in client relationships,  beyond testimonials and timelines. This training teaches how to encode safety into your delivery, communication, and leadership, creating the kind of client experience that fosters deep loyalty, execution, and long-term retention.

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Follow Lacey on Instagram ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠.

Visit the Website to Learn More ⁠HERE⁠.

Scaling is ultimately about getting smarter about how you lead people & 10 x their outputs without 10x the inputs or your TIME!! So...Let's Talk about how to do it

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Visit the Website to Learn More ⁠HERE⁠.

This is the SIMPLEST way to scale to 7 Figures 

Your offer suite isn’t just a list of services—it’s the strategic backbone of your revenue. And if your growth feels unpredictable, scattered, or like you’re constantly reinventing the wheel… it’s not a sales problem, it’s a business model & offer suite structure problem.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Learn the The Deep Model → One Transformation, One ICP, Multiple Levels of Access
   Instead of juggling 10 different offers, the most profitable and scalable businesses focus on solving ONE problem for ONE ideal client—at different levels of depth, access, and price points. 

If you’ve been stuck thinking you need more offers to grow, this training just proved otherwise. The most successful founders aren’t chasing new offers every quarter. They’re refining, optimizing, and deepening ONE powerful solution.

The path to 7 figures isn’t in doing more. It’s in doing it better.

WANT MORE?

Follow Lacey on Instagram ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠.

Visit the Website to Learn More ⁠HERE⁠.