In this episode of Branching Out, Jake Bittner, former CEO of Qlarion, recounts his path from co-founding a government data analytics firm to leading it through a successful acquisition by GCOM in 2021. He offers a transparent look at what it’s like to navigate the sale process with private equity buyers, from managing due diligence to balancing emotion with strategy. Jake also reflects on how selling a business changes your perspective on leadership, purpose, and personal identity. His story reveals the often-overlooked realities of exiting a company—and finding clarity on what comes next.