Women’s Search Network: The Podcast.

Great CEOs learn where they can have the most impact and build the right team around them. In this episode, Carla Larin shares what she has learned since stepping in as CEO of MaxRTE and growing the healthcare software company. Carla discusses how she identified her strengths, built a leadership team to complement them, and learned to value potential and fit over experience alone. Carla shares candid lessons from hiring mistakes and reflects on her unexpected discovery that enterprise sales was one of her strengths. She also explains why getting clear on your ideal customer profile is so important before building a sales team. Throughout the conversation, she offers a practical look at growing into the CEO role and building a team that can scale. 

AI is moving fast, but most operators are still trying to figure out what it means for their business. In this episode, Siri Chakka and Silva Gentchev share how they're approaching AI as operators. They talk about where they've found the most value, what surprised them along the way, and how they're thinking about AI's role inside their company. The conversation covers everything from diligence and customer support to internal tools, reporting, and AI agents. 

Rather than focusing on theory, Siri and Silva discuss what they've actually implemented, what they've learned from experimentation, and where they believe operators should be paying attention. They also reflect on their journey from search to operations and share advice for others looking to build and grow businesses in an increasingly AI-driven world. 

In this episode, Austin Settle and Claire Nesler share how they approached structuring their search, building platforms, and navigating the complexities of scaling across multiple locations. They discuss how they selected their focus areas, med spas and physiotherapy, and walk through different approaches to capital structure, including longer-duration and more flexible models. Along the way, they explore the tradeoffs between committed capital and shorter-term funds, and how these choices shape growth strategy, operations, and exit considerations. 

In this episode, Beixi Li shares how she is successfully executing a multi-site healthcare thesis through the search fund model, despite entering the industry with no prior healthcare experience. She offers a thoughtful exploration of what it takes to scale healthcare operations, highlighting the importance of structured processes and a repeatable playbook for de novo growth, from strategic site selection to effective staffing and patient acquisition. Beixi also emphasizes the vital role of community, board guidance, and adaptability in order to drive sustainable growth. Her journey is a compelling roadmap for aspiring searchers driven by curiosity, discipline, and a people-first approach. 

In this episode, Brittany Collins shares her path to entrepreneurship through a search fund, highlighting her experience acquiring and operating a healthcare company, despite not having a medical background. She opens up about the realities of working alongside her spouse, the nuances of building trust in healthcare, and how she approached key challenges like compensation structures, strategic hiring, and managing key man risk in a multi-site business. 

Brittany reflects on the early hurdles of running the business, the strategies that fueled its growth, and the decision to ultimately exit. She also talks about balancing entrepreneurship with family planning and her recent shift into investing. For aspiring searchers, Brittany offers honest, actionable advice on navigating today’s market with grit, adaptability, and passion. 

In this episode, Monica Weaver shares her journey from the corporate world to CEO of TGI Direct, offering an authentic perspective on what it takes to balance the demands of career, family, and leadership. Monica openly discusses the triumphs and challenges she faced while navigating company culture and gender dynamics in a traditionally male-dominated industry. She emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships, making decisive choices, and communicating clearly as a leader.  Drawing from personal experiences during her ETA journey, Monica provides valuable insights and practical guidance for aspiring female entrepreneurs seeking to thrive both personally and professionally. 

In this episode, we’re honored to host Stacey Krauss, CEO of Transitions Counseling and Consulting. Stacey is a search fund entrepreneur with a unique background as a board-certified psychologist and U.S. Army veteran. In this episode, Stacey shares with us the story of her entrepreneurial journey and how she has successfully leveraged her extensive background in leadership and organizational design within the setting of the armed services to successfully lead her company and drive more than 200% growth since acquisition in 2021.  

Stacey goes into detail on what she learned during her ten years as a clinical psychologist in the active-duty U.S. Army, working with infantry and aviation brigades in both domestic and deployed settings. She shares the key takeaways from her time in the Army and what they taught her about effective leadership, including the importance of trusting herself to make hard decisions for the sake of the team.  

We go on to discuss how Stacey has been able to drive such impressive growth at her company and the logistics of opening seven new locations in just three years. We cover her leadership style in more depth, and she offers tactical advice on the importance of culture building and team retention.  

This episode is packed with insights on leadership, organization design and the importance of a team. We are grateful to Stacey for taking some time to tell us her story and to share her wisdom on these and other topics. We hope you’ll tune in and are sure you will be inspired by Stacey’s story and tips on finding your voice as an entrepreneurial leader!   

In this episode, we’re honored to host Sarah Rowell, a trailblazer in the search community and one of the first women to successfully navigate the full journey—from search and acquisition to operating and exiting. Sarah’s story is as inspiring as it is insightful, and she shares how a bias toward action was pivotal throughout every stage of her process.

Sarah delves into essential topics, including effective strategies for connecting with business owners and cultivating a thriving company culture while driving growth. She also reflects on balancing family life with professional ambitions as a working mother and offers insights on overcoming challenges while staying purpose-driven. 

Additionally, Sarah discusses valuable lessons learned during the exit process and highlights the unique advantages of being a woman in business.

This is an episode packed with inspiration and actionable insights—don’t miss it!

In this episode, we sit down with Laura Franklin, the dynamic CEO of Woven Care. Laura takes us through her unexpected journey from the world of education to building a thriving company through the search fund model. With her infectious energy, Laura shares the key principles that fueled her success and drops invaluable gems for aspiring searchers and operators. Don’t miss this episode packed with real talk, powerful insights, and actionable takeaways. Thanks for listening!