Carrie interviews Courtney Gould Miller, who successfully sold her family's marketing agency for a double-digit multiple. Courtney shares insights from her journey, which includes joining her family's business, implementing digital marketing strategies, and ultimately negotiating an impressive exit to private equity.

 

Courtney also discusses the impact of family business dynamics, the grief of letting go, and her experience transitioning into a leadership role within the acquiring company.

 

The conversation sheds light on valuing hidden assets, the pitfalls of earnouts, the emotional journey post-sale, and her passion for helping other family businesses thrive through her new podcast, Family Business Secrets.

 

00:29 Welcome to The Exit Whisperer

00:33 Meet Courtney Gould Miller

00:53 Family Business Beginnings

02:51 Growing Up in the Business

06:12 From Law to Marketing

08:33 Joining the Family Business

11:55 The Decision to Sell

16:14 Negotiating the Exit

24:25 Life After the Sale

26:50 The Emotional Journey of Selling

31:45 Courtney's Legacy and Future Plans

35:12 Closing Thoughts and Podcast Launch

I was recently a guest on the Worthy for Thirty podcast with Eric Tash! We talked about my journey as an entrepreneur, how I'm helping other women entrepreneurs successfully sell their businesses, and how I'm trying to make a real difference in the world. 

 

I want to share one of Eric's conversations with Elissa Kalver, Founder & CEO, WeGotThis.org.  WeGotThis.org is the first non-profit gift registry for cancer patients and their loved ones. Elissa's story is a fascinating exploration of strength, resilience, and the power of community. Elissa founded WeGotThis.org after her own diagnosis with stage IV metastatic breast cancer close to four years ago. She asked herself, 'how can I help anyone going through a similar journey?'  Since its founding, WeGotThis.org has bootstrapped and raised $1MM for its mission. I suggest listening to this episode to learn how she's building a platform to support cancer thrivers and their loved ones while learning how you can make a difference in other people's lives too.

 

Link to the full episode:https://open.spotify.com/episode/3LDPgLNcI7kbUbxZYMYhtY?si=TOiq0MneR0KwP_6wkXo0FQ

In this episode, we dive into the story of Sam, an entrepreneur who successfully bootstrapped her kitchen product business from a simple broken spatula idea to a remarkable sellable company (including inventing the first silicone spatula).

 

Sam shares her journey, including the challenges of scaling, the significant milestones achieved through Kickstarter and wholesale channels, and the strategic decisions that led to exponential growth. She also discusses the emotional and practical aspects of selling her business and offers valuable insights for bootstrapped founders considering an exit.

 

Learn how she navigated identity shifts post-sale and the importance of taking a break before venturing into new projects.

 

 

00:30 Introducing Sam

01:51 From Idea to Prototype

03:35 Kickstarter Success

07:09 From Kickstarter to Retail

09:30 Challenges and Innovations: New Products and Strategies

13:59 Pandemic Pivot: Masks and Market Adaptations

16:56 Exit Strategy: Planning and Execution

19:02 The Importance of an Exit Plan

20:48 Balancing Passion and Business Strategy

21:42 The Acquisition Journey Begins

22:56 Meeting the Acquirers

24:50 Navigating the Legal and Business Concerns

27:21 Valuation and Negotiation

33:02 Post-Acquisition Reflections

36:03 Advice for Future Founders

Emily Mueller shares her inspiring journey of founding and scaling Wellory, a company she started from personal health challenges.

 

Emily discusses how her entrepreneurial background and sales expertise helped her raise significant VC funds and ultimately led to Wellory's acquisition.

 

She highlights the strategic decisions behind selling the company, the impact of emerging prescription drugs on her business model, and the importance of deal-closing skills in entrepreneurship. Emily also touches on her post-exit life, including her advisory role at The Whisper Group.

 

 

00:28 Meet Emily

00:43 The Birth of Wellory

01:57  From Startup to Acquisition

02:36 The Entrepreneurial Spirit: Family Influence and Risk

04:30 Sales Skills: The Key to Success

07:42 Raising Funds: The Venture Capital Path

13:04 Navigating Market Changes

16:51 The Decision to Sell: Timing and Strategy

20:57 The Exit Process: Closing the Deal

30:45 Life After Exit

Carrie Kerpen interviews Bea Dixon, the founder of The Honey Pot, a feminine care company. Bea shares the inspiring story of how she received the idea for her business in a dream and transformed it into a thriving company that sold to Compass Diversified Holdings for over $380 million.

 

The conversation covers Bea's challenges and successes, her commitment to her company post-sale, and the unique experiences she faced as a black founder in the industry.

 

Bea also emphasizes the importance of responsible business management and the joy found throughout the entrepreneurial journey.

 

01:00 Bea Dixon's Journey: From Dream to Reality

02:45 The Struggle with Bacterial Vaginosis

05:25 The Turning Point: A Dream with a Solution

08:27 From Personal Solution to Public Product

12:58 Building the Honey Pot Brand

19:33 Breaking into Retail: The Target Deal

20:17 Breaking into Target: A Game-Changer

21:24 The Challenges of Fundraising

23:53 Growth and Expansion with New Voices Fund

26:01 The Decision to Sell: Timing and Strategy

34:12 Maintaining Control and Vision Post-Sale

40:06 Reflections on the Journey

Carrie interviews Jaclyn Johnson, founder of Create and Cultivate. Jaclyn's journey from selling her first business, No Subject, to creating and eventually buying back Create and Cultivate is an excellence tale. Jaclyn shares insights on entrepreneurship, mindset, and navigating business partnerships. This episode provides valuable lessons for women in business, focusing on building, scaling, and selling a business.

 

00:28 Welcome to The Exit Whisperer

00:47 Interview with Jaclyn Johnson: Founder of Create and Cultivate

01:52 Early Career and First Business Sale

02:58 The Birth of No Subject

06:16 Challenges and Lessons in Business Partnerships

07:35 Selling No Subject to Small Girls PR

08:52 The Rise of Create and Cultivate

14:15 Navigating Offers and the Big Deal That Fell Through

18:06 Challenges of Being Deal Direct as a CEO

19:01 Navigating Valuations and the Impact of COVID-19

21:11 Transitioning Leadership and Strategic Pivots

23:48 Reacquiring the Business and Future Plans

32:16 Insights on Financial Independence and Gender Bias

Maggie Lord, founder of Rustic Wedding Chic, highlights her incredible entrepreneurial journey. Maggie shares how she transitioned from being a teacher to starting and scaling a successful digital media business without prior business experience.

 

Learn about her strategies for building and monetizing her company, navigating the decision to sell to David's Bridal during COVID-19, and her shift to a corporate role post-acquisition. Maggie also discusses her current focus on mentoring female entrepreneurs, offering insights on strategic partnerships, business valuation, and the importance of mindset.

 

This episode is packed with valuable advice for women in business, from entrepreneurship and scaling a business to selling it effectively.

 

00:28 Meet Maggie Lord: The Woman Behind Rustic Wedding Chic

01:37 From Teacher to Entrepreneur: Maggie's Journey Begins

03:36 Building a Media Empire: Strategies and Growth

05:44 Monetization Mastery: Turning Traffic into Revenue

08:32 The Decision to Sell: A New Chapter

10:51 Preparing for the Sale: The Inside Story

12:14 Initiating the Sale: From Cold Email to Leadership

12:48 Valuation and Deal Structure

14:56 Maintaining Brand Independence

17:36 Transition to Corporate Life

19:16 Navigating COVID Challenges

22:15 New Beginnings: Consulting Female Founders

24:46 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Carrie interviews Nathalie Walton, who shares her journey of transforming Expectful, a meditation app for expectant mothers, into a comprehensive wellness platform.

 

Nathalie discusses her transition from a stable role at Airbnb to co-founding Expectful, raising seed funding within 90 days, and the importance of a structured approach to fundraising.

 

She candidly addresses challenges in a male-dominated space, the mental health toll on entrepreneurs, and balancing time management with venture capital pressures. Nathalie reflects on the emotional journey of scaling and selling the business in just 28 months, emphasizing self-care, personal boundaries, and the support system required in entrepreneurship.

 

This inspiring conversation offers valuable insights and practical advice for women in business, entrepreneurs, and those interested in mindset, building, scaling, and selling a business.

 

02:22 Nathalie's Journey to Expectful

04:14 Taking the Leap: Joining Expectful

05:58 First 90 Days: Rapid Growth and Fundraising

09:23 Building Expectful: Vision and Expansion

11:01 Challenges and Realizations

13:59 Market Realities and Mental Health Toll

15:57 Facing Investor Pressure

16:29 Reflecting on Bootstrapping

17:41 Exploring Strategic Sales

19:43 The Role of a Banker

21:09 Mental Health and Personal Growth

26:19 Closing the Deal

27:53 Life After the Sale

29:59 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

In this episode of 'The Exit Whisperer,' host Carrie Kerpen interviews entrepreneur Sharon Lee Thony about her inspiring journey from a corporate job to founding and scaling SLT Consulting, which she eventually sold to Fiverr.

 

Sharon shares practical steps for transitioning from a side hustle to a thriving agency, challenges in balancing family obligations, and the significance of building a supportive network of freelancers.

 

The discussion includes insights on mindset shifts, strategic decisions, and maintaining company vision post-acquisition. Key topics cover entrepreneurship, women in business, digital marketing, and strategies for building, scaling, and selling a business.

 

Sharon also reflects on her role in launching Fiverr Agencies and her future plans as an advisor and angel investor.

 

00:28 Welcome to The Exit Whisperer

00:37 Meet Sharon Lee Thony

02:50 The Birth of SLT Consulting

05:18 Taking the Leap from Corporate

10:53 Building a Freelance Empire

13:56 Connecting with Fiverr

19:06 The Unexpected Journey Begins

19:57 Building Relationships and Growing the Agency

21:05 The Turning Point: Acquisition Talks

24:23 Navigating the Acquisition Process

26:23 Reflections on the Acquisition

29:09 Empowering Future Entrepreneurs

32:24 The Impact of Selling a Business

35:21 Final Thoughts and Future Plans