Carrie Kerpen's Recent LinkedIn Posts

I had long been dreaming of a conference for women where we would demystify M&A for them. They'd learn the basics of how to prep their businesses for sale, how to buy businesses, and how to think about all of this as they wade through entrepreneurship. There would be no question deemed too dumb, no business that was too big or too small, and zero judgement as we all learned together. ​ Enter: Cate Luzio and the team at Luminary! I am thrilled to partner with Luminary on: Your Exit Plan, our first M&A mini conference centered around women and their exit plans. Taking place the morning of 12/9 in New York City, we have just 75 seats available. ​ Tickets are just $99- which makes this affordable! In addition to incredible speakers, we'll also be joined by my friends at STS Capital Partners and Speed M&A by JonesSpross, PLLC ​This IS going to sell out- so buy your ticket ASAP. Kaitlyn Carlson, CFP®, CEPA, AWMA® Molly McCartan Tricia M. Taitt KK Hart, MHA Andrea Padilla Anna N'Jie-Konte, MBA, CFP® Beki Darlin Ayelet Shipley Brenda Jacobsen Robyn Siers Monika Kochhar Sharon Lee Thony Sarah Weiss Maggie Lord Caitlyn Wells let’s goooooooo https://lnkd.in/edcQchc9

I cannot believe I found this notebook. As I was setting out on the sale process- before any offer was final, I wrote down my fears and how I might address them. I’ve struggled with anxiety for much of my life- and reading this threw me back into that moment. It’s so good for me to see this, as a reminder of what my clients go through. Maybe my followers, the ones that follow but don’t comment because they’re afraid of publicly addressing a potential exit, could use this too. Heck- even if you’re not exiting and just struggling with a decision or fear- I hope this helps. Adding the text in the comments in case you can’t read my handwriting! Cc Dave Kerpen have you ever seen this?

I want to be totally honest with you. I’m a little worried about the female founder “scene”. Feel free to prove me wrong in the comments.

I had long been dreaming of a conference for women where we would demystify M&A for them. They'd learn the basics of how to prep their businesses for sale, how to buy businesses, and how to think about all of this as they wade through entrepreneurship. There would be no question deemed too dumb, no business that was too big or too small, and zero judgement as we all learned together. ​ Enter: Cate Luzio and the team at Luminary! I am thrilled to partner with Luminary on: Your Exit Plan, our first M&A mini conference centered around women and their exit plans. Taking place the morning of 12/9 in New York City, we have just 75 seats available. ​ Tickets are just $99- which makes this affordable! In addition to incredible speakers, we'll also be joined by my friends at STS Capital Partners and Speed M&A by JonesSpross, PLLC ​This IS going to sell out- so buy your ticket ASAP. Kaitlyn Carlson, CFP®, CEPA, AWMA® Molly McCartan Tricia M. Taitt KK Hart, MHA Andrea Padilla Anna N'Jie-Konte, MBA, CFP® Beki Darlin Ayelet Shipley Brenda Jacobsen Robyn Siers Monika Kochhar Sharon Lee Thony Sarah Weiss Maggie Lord Caitlyn Wells let’s goooooooo

Recently, I was asked to speak at Female Founder Day- hosted by Rebecca Minkoff and Alison Koplar Wyatt. Their VP of Programming, Avary Bradford, had an interesting pitch: We are doing sessions where you get up on stage with a few speakers with specific areas of expertise. You doeak for 60 seconds and introduce yourself, and then head over to an area where the audience can come ask you real questions and you interact with them in more of a workshop setting. Let me tell you something- I had no idea how I felt going into this, and no idea how it could go. I could have easily been an egomaniac and said- nope! Prime speaking slot or bust! Or, I could have said- Brooklyn is a trek for just 60 seconds. Boy am I glad I took the chance and said yes. This was a BRILLIANT concept! As a conference attendee, I get easily overwhelmed by people talking AT me, usually back to back, in long stretches of time. I can sometimes lose focus, even for the best of speakers. As a keynote speaker, I’m constantly timing my talks to ensure that I do hold attention. I’m obsessing about where my slot is in the day, and making sure I hit the exact timing that is needed perfectly. I want not a single word to be wasteful, and I want my audience to have a killer takeaway. As a moderator for panels, I’m focused entirely on herding different personalities to create timing that allows for maximum value extracted. But this? This allowed me to focus on impact in the best way. It allowed me to go deep with those that were in my session and came to ask questions. I got instant feedback that I unlocked things for them that I might not have been able to do had I been having a one to many conversation. And in terms of ROI on a conference? I think this will be a better return than many keynotes I’ve given! It made me think about how I’ll organize my own conferences in the future. Maybe I’ll even launch the #60secondspeakerconference (who’s in?) Thank you to The Female Founder Collective for the opportunity. It allowed me to help your audience, but also to learn and grow!

Today marks one of the most meaningful decisions I’ve made as a founder — welcoming a true partner into The Whisper Group. Partnership is one of the most important choices an entrepreneur makes. It impacts your business, your sanity, your joy, and ultimately, your ability to build something that lasts. After seeing (and coaching founders through) countless partnership horror stories, I was terrified to get this decision wrong. And then I met Maggie Lord. From our first conversation, I saw her brilliance — her empathy, her strategic mind, her process-driven approach, and her lived experience as an exited founder. We started working together slowly, intentionally. We “dated before we got married.” Trust built naturally. Calls became daily. Wins became shared. The work became bigger than either of us individually. And today, it becomes official: Maggie Lord is now Co-Founder of The Whisper Group. We are building this together. We are closing the Exit Gap together. We are in it until the end together. Partnerships don’t have to be risky — if you prepare, if you align values, and if you choose someone who shows up for you as much as they show up for the business. Partnership works when it’s rooted in trust, transparency, and aligned ambition — and Maggie embodies all three. Please join me in congratulating Maggie on this milestone — made official on her birthday, which feels exactly right.

Everyone’s got a podcast. I think there’s an SNL skit about this somewhere, and it’s true. Creating a podcast is as simple as a few online tools and a microphone. What’s hard about a podcast? Making it good. Building audience. And not stopping when you notice that your views/downloads are nowhere near where you want them to be. I want to be honest with you. Both podcasts that I’ve launched started as a means to an end. I launched The Exit Whisperer to help connect with other exited female founders. I wanted to test my thesis around the Exit Gap. This season, (season SIX!) I experienced a shift. I wanted the podcast itself to be an actual part of the end, versus the means. I was not only not going to quit, I was going to lean in. In person interviews. Tougher questions. Even a new theme song. This podcast isn’t a means to an end. It’s a movement. It’s a collection of stories of women with business exits big and small. It’s a behind the scenes look at what it takes. And, most important, it only features women who are willing to tell the damn truth about it all. Welcome to season 6 of The Exit Whisperer. Featuring Gigi Lee Chang Monika Kochhar Caren Sinclair-Kay Kendra Bracken-Ferguson Roslyn McLarty Rachel Sklar Lana Powers Meghan Block Amanda Goetz Stacy Stahl Andrea Johnston Natalie Mackey Kristine Tonkonow Please go to your favorite podcast platform to subscribe and show your support. Because I am in it for the long game, and I won’t stop until the Exit Gap is permanently closed. First episode drops 1/13!

I’ve been quieter on here lately. Not because things are hard. (Although sometimes, they are, of course!) Not because I’m on vacation (although I’ve had a couple of fun-only days here and there!) And not because the world feels so heavy, either. (And trust me, I feel that, too) I’ve been quieter because I’m locked in on closing the exit gap. And sometimes when you are zoned in and focus on building, content takes a back seat. ESPECIALLY if you don’t feel compelled to say something smart or important. I know, I know…the algorithm. And frequency of appearing in your feeds. And personal brand. But sometimes, it’s okay to be a little quieter. Because my plan for 2026 is this: When I speak, it’s going to matter. And if it doesn’t, I’m not bothering.

This is a picture of women with a unique shared experience. Women who have gone through the process of building and subsequently selling a business. Women who’ve lived a chapter of their lives that produced wealth, knowledge, and a whole lot of battle scars. Alexis Grant and Sharon K. Gillenwater are both members of my membership community for Exited Female Founders. And they both pay it forward regularly for female founders who are looking to exit. If you’ve exited and want to join the community- DM me. If you want to sell your business eventually, DM me. I’m here to help. All of us are. 💕

This one meant a lot to me! Thrilled to share that Maggie Lord and I have been named to the Inc Female Founders 500 list. We have so many incredible friends that are on this list. (Hi Jessica Fialkovich! Stephanie Cartin! Cate Luzio! Mary Seats! Beatrice Dixon! and many more) I think to me what is most meaningful is that Mindi Zissman made this list. I have had the honor of working with Mindi for the past year and a half and her progress is just unbelievable. It is a true gift watching her grow. Congrats to all of the amazing women on this list. Xo

Call me crazy, but I don’t care about the competition. In fact, I view competitors as allies. When I had Likeable, I met Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer. I was at the top of my game. They were two young, brilliant, motivated minds, and they wanted to do what I did. I helped them. I shared my secrets. I wasn’t threatened and I wasn’t overly protective. I succeeded. They did too! In this next chapter of my life, it’s the exact same thing. With The Whisper Group , I knew we were defining a category- no one, was specifically talking to women about exit planning in a way that made even smaller companies feel seen and understood. The amount of women I talk to have or will launch similar practices to this company is plentiful. And I am still more than happy to teach them and show them the way. I am asked a LOT about why that is. The answer is two fold : First- I have an unquestionable and unwavering belief in myself. In my vision. In my ability to build team. And in my commitment to execution. I will succeed and I will fail, but I will always build with the belief that “I can do this”. Second- there are not enough resources on the planet to help women build sellable companies on their own terms. There is enough business for everyone in this world, and I have never won by crushing others. YES, you must protect your business and your IP. But at the same time, I firmly believe that if you have enough confidence and security in your own abilities, collaboration wins over competition every time.

This week, I got yet another text: Did you hear? (Name) sold her company!?! (I’m leaving her name out because I’m not sure that she’s announced it yet- but you’ll hear soon) No way! I was filled with that same feeling I always get, no matter the size of the exit. That feeling is that same excitement a voracious reader gets in the moment they’ve finished one book and is about to start the next. It’s part satisfaction. Part excitement. Part embracing the unknown. Too many people place all their eggs into building for a large epic exit, so they’ll never “have to work again”. But the number of founders I see daily who continue to work in some capacity- regardless of their exit size— let’s just say it’s not small. I immediately texted the founder congratulating her. I got yet another: “Thanks Carrie! I absolutely loved your book, and it helped so much in this process” text. I am fortunate enough that I could have stopped working after my exit. But when I look back, the best work of my career has been in this second act, in preparing women for these transitions and wealth creation. Want to learn more than my book will teach you? In NYC on December 9th? Then join us at  The Glass Ceiling for the “Your Exit Plan” event! Get your ticket here: https://lnkd.in/edcQchc9

I could audibly hear a sigh of relief when I addressed attendees at the Your Exit Plan conference hosted by The Whisper Group and Luminary . “There is no dumb question. And to prove it to you- I’ll start by answering questions I am CERTAIN you think are too dumb to ask.” I then proceeded to talk about every term you’ve ever heard when thinking about business exits and acquisitions- and pens were scribbling furiously. So yes, I know that even when I say there are no dumb questions- many of you still feel afraid to ask. As I kick off season 6 of The Exit Whisperer, and prep for Season 7’s build- I am launching a new segment. It’s called Ask The Exit Whisperer. Listeners- you can anonymously DM me your questions, your scenarios, your fears, and I will answer them on the show. Let’s test it here. Please like or comment on this post, or even share it to boost its visibility. And if you’ve got an actual question- DM me!

The next few weeks can set the tone for your entire 2026. I know you've made countless decisions over the course of 2025. And at this point in the year, it's tempting to coast—to mentally check out and just get to the finish line. But here's what I've learned: the small decisions you make right now carry big potential for next year. This isn't a call to push through exhaustion or grind until December 31. It's an encouragement to be intentional about what you do between now and the new year. So what decisions can you make to finish 2025 strong and start 2026 even stronger? Here’s a few ideas:  1. Build momentum, don't lose it. 2. Begin to plan your exit strategy before you need it. 3. Set yourself up to actually take time off this holiday season.

Okay LinkedIn….can you work your magic? I need an intro to the head of marketing for Dubsado! I have to share a story with them that they will LOVE. Can you help me find them and tell them I’m not a creeper and they must speak to me? :) please and thank you!

I can't even believe that this thing is going to sell out a month in advance. If you are in NYC on April 22nd, please grab your ticket NOW to Your Exit Plan, from Luminary and The Whisper Group. Since this is my second time doing the event, I can now make a few promises about what I KNOW you'll get from it. - A practical, tactical education in buying and selling businesses - Incredible stories from women who have actually bought and sold businesses and are dedicated to giving back. (No big deal, just brilliant minds like Sharon K. Gillenwater, Suneera Madhani, Lauren Luckey, Maggie Lord and more! - Advice from incredible experts in legal, tax, wealth management and more-- including the incredible folks at Citizens and my go-to resources Leslee Cohen Gal Barzilay Lindsay Waiser (AND MANY MORE!) - A warm fuzzy feeling of being supported in a world that feels relatively unfamiliar to you. There is no question to silly, no business too small. We are here for all of you. I could not possibly be more grateful to Cate Luzio and the wonderful Luminary team for partnering with me on this event. Please get your ticket ASAP, I am very anxious about not being able to accomodate every brilliant human that I want to attend.

I sometimes use the phrase “stackable” exits. Not every business has to be your life’s work, and not every business is built to be a unicorn. In fact, some of the exited founders I know who are happiest, healthiest, and most financially secure have built multiple businesses, exiting each before they let it consume them. I am obsessed with the stories from Stacy Stahl and her episode of The Exit Whisperer. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/e3Gxswi5

She's on the call, and I can hear it in her voice. "I love what I've built. My team is incredible. Revenue is strong." Then the pause. "But I'm tired. Really tired. And I don't know if I can do this for another 10 years." If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Here's the truth: Building a successful business takes everything. But somewhere along the way, the thing you created for freedom starts to feel like a cage. You're the bottleneck, the decision-maker, the one everyone needs. I talk to a lot of women who loved building their business, but who feel burnt out. Here's what I tell them: - You don't have to run this forever. You have options (sell, bring in a CEO, restructure). - Exhaustion isn't failure. It's a sign you succeeded, and now it's time to decide what's next. - Your business has value beyond what it gives you right now. It could fund your next dream, give you time back, or launch something entirely new. The question isn't whether you can keep going. It's whether you want to. You've already done the hard part. What comes next? That's the good part. What would you do if you had your time back?

All I want to do is give a voice to stories you don’t otherwise hear, in the hopes that you might see yourselves in them and realize that you, in fact, are destined for wonderful outcomes.

LOVED FILMING THIS WITH YOU Jennifer Harrington

From day one, this founder didn’t just build a business, she built an asset. Meghan Block approached her company with an investor’s mindset from the very beginning. She understood its value, treated it like an investment, and managed it accordingly. Every decision, every move, every strategy was rooted in building long-term equity. #theexitwhisperer

You’re a female founder. What organization that you’re a part of is your favorite, and why? Comment below pls:

If you’re building to sell, or even if you aren’t- who you surround yourself is the single most important decision you’ll make. The new season is FINALLY live, and the first episode is a mini episode from yours truly- as I build in public and tell you all about the onboarding of some key folks The Whisper Group - including my cofounder Maggie Lord! We are now on Spotify video as well as Apple Podcasts! Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ecN5vj66 Apple: https://lnkd.in/e2mNRYeN

“If you’re not growing, you’re dying.” This is the answer a founder gave me when I asked why they wanted to grow from 3m revenue to 6m revenue in one year. But… She was also running on zero sleep, losing time with her family, experiencing panic attacks, and losing large chunks of hair. “What if you didn’t?”, I asked her. “What if you grew modestly, optimized for profit, and for balance, while simply making sure your product was strong?” You might not make the INC500. You might not be on the cover of a magazine. But you’d be breathing. Unless you can articulate to me exactly why you need to grow, I’m not going to tell you to grow at all costs. If you’re not growing, you’re not really “dying”. But if you’re not breathing? You literally are dying. Please breathe. Please.

Your business deserves a plan. So do you. While your business can feel like a piece of you, it’s important to remember that you are not one and the same. It’s possible for everything to be going right in your business and for you to still feel unfulfilled. That could be because you are burnt out and tired of being the one with the answers, or maybe because you have “figured it out” and no longer feel like your business challenges you. You don’t expect things to remain the same for your business, so why would you expect it of yourself? It’s ok to want change. It’s ok to realize you need rest OR a new challenge. It’s ok to wonder if someone else might be a better fit to take your business to the next level, and to free you up for something new. The best plan is the one that offers you YOUR version of success, not anyone else’s. Wondering how to create that plan? Let's chat about what YOUR version of success is.

Here’s the thing about entrepreneurs devoting time and energy to building a presence online. Its not so easy. It’s a lot of work to come up with thoughtful smart stuff to say every day. It’s hard to put yourself out there. It’s hard to take focus away from actually running your business— and if you’re not a monetized “content creator”- this ain’t the thing that makes you money, at least not in the short term. And after ALL of that? You work so hard on your stuff and have a micro audience. Female founders especially feel this pressure. We often have far less capital, so we default to what’s free. And filming ourselves? It’s a scrappy way to raise awareness and show passion for your product or service. And since the algorithms value people over “brands”, it tends to be our default answer. And yet there you sit… You’re comparing yourself to the Hormozis of the world, the Codies, the Garys….and you’re stating at your like/comment count and thinking… What the heck am I doing this for? Well, I’m here to tell you that if you can abandon the idea of the broad numbers mattering, this can be a highly effective tool. When I started The Whisper Group , I posted a video every single day for an entire year. I invested time money and energy into that process. And while I did grow in reach- most of my videos get a few thousand views at best. Some get in the hundreds. But here’s the amazing thing. That audience? It was the RIGHT audience. And I became not famous, but known. Known for an expertise in helping women sort through the process of exiting. Known for focusing on more than just the monetary value of an exit, but the holistic experience of a closed chapter. It launched my business. It will continue to grow it. But if I were to focus on influencer status? I’d be off focus, chasing numbers, and in an ego trap. Be like my hat. Not famous, but known. ** posting this as a repost because I think this caption gets lost!

Consistent. That's the word of 2026. It's not fancy. It's not sexy. It's actually quite boring! But it's desperately needed. In order to achieve what I've been able to over the years, I've had to be consistent. But as a person with many creative ideas, as a person who is easily excited/distracted, as a person who loves shiny objects, it is EASY to lose consistency. So this year, I'm focused on being consistent. Picking a few things that matter the most, and sticking to them, even while I'm announcing all the shiny new things and enjoying all the change that comes with this time in the world. Consistent with my health regimen. Consistent as a leader. Consistent as a content creator. Consistent as an advisor to so many of you. I am having fun for sure, but rest assured, I'm playing the long game. And to do that? We need consistency. WHAT'S YOUR WORD, KIDDIES?

Let me tell you why on December 9 I am partnering with Luminary to host Plan Your Exit, a power-packed day designed to help connect and learn more about scaling and selling their businesses with confidence. Because I see the same pattern over and over: founders who wait until they're burnt out to start thinking about their exit. By then, it's too late for them to maximize value. The best exits are planned years in advance, not when you need the money or can't take another day. Here's what we'll cover at the event: - What actually drives valuation (hint: it's not just revenue) - Real stories from founders who've exited and acquired - How to position your business for a successful exit (whether that's next year or in a decade) I'm also offering free 1:1 Exit Planning sessions to a limited number of attendees. I want to make sure the founders who show up leave with a clear next step. Even if you are not a Luminary Member, your ticket includes a complimentary Day Pass to their networking space so you can keep the momentum going after the event! Whether you're ready to plan an exit now or just want to understand your options, you can join us on December 9th to change the future of your business, and your life. Admission tickets are at an unbelievably low price, but they are limited! Make sure to get your ticket today! https://lnkd.in/edcQchc9

Your business is only worth what someone will pay for it. Not what you think it's worth. Not what you've put into it. Not what you need it to be worth. What a buyer will actually pay. And here's the hard truth: most founders overestimate their valuation because they don’t know what is actually being taken into account. Why? Because they're emotionally attached. They see the sleepless nights, the sacrifices, the vision. Buyers see numbers. Systems. Risk. If you want to close the gap between what you think your business is worth and what it's actually worth, you need to start thinking like a buyer now. What value would they give your business? (Hint: use the Whisper Calculator to determine your business valuation - https://lnkd.in/eny-9GJp) Don’t wait until you’re ready to sell to face the hard truth of what your business is actually worth. Planning ahead is how you build a business that commands the valuation you want.

Size doesn't matter. :) Okay, that's not always true. But I did want to pop on here to say something about exit sizes for founders, especially founders who built their businesses from scratch. If you build something that is transferable in any way, you've built an asset. That asset has served you well. Hopefully, it's provided career satisfaction, income for you and your family, and a sense of purpose. And while any founder reading this knows that likely wasn't all sunshine and rainbows throughout the entire journey, chances are, some good came from what you built. And you were able to sell that asset to someone else. To have someone pay for it's current worth, or it's current potential. Whether that's for $50,000, $500,000, $5,000,000, $50,000,000 or more. Do you know how many people can say that? Very few. There is not an exit on earth that I won't celebrate in some way. Because a founder who exits is brave, and bold, and has built something meaningful. Regardless of size.

What’s your theme song? Sound ON for mine! Thanks to the incomparable composer extraordinaire Becca Packer, The Exit Whisperer launches its season with a theme song! My theme song used to be "Confident" by Demi Lovato, and I believe everyone needs one, even if it’s not custom written for you! What would yours be?

Buyer Beware: the beginnings are prime time for wasted spends. In 2007 Dave Kerpen and I launched Likeable Media. We were one of the first social media agencies, creating content for brands and managing their social profiles. It is not unusual to hear me say- when we started we had no idea what we were doing. And guess what? Nobody did. But we learned quickly, and we committed to being really, really good. In the first year dozens of social agencies opened. Then came the gurus, the ninjas, the rockstars. Soon it was hundreds, then thousands. As social media became more mainstream- brands, individuals, and corporate leaders needed help. And there was no shortage of people saying they could help them. At every major turning point in technology, there are folks who jump in and say “I do that!” And when brands, individuals, and corporate leaders are not proficient in something, there is no shortage of “experts” willing to take their money. In 2007 it was social media. Today? You guessed it- It’s AI! Between courses, digital twin buildouts, custom GPT builders- I’ve spoken to so many people willing to sell me AI solutions. But when you’re in the Wild Wild West, how do you really know who is good? If you’re not careful, you’re suddenly flushing  money down the toilet. My suggestion is exactly how we grew Likeable initially— through actual word of mouth. Find someone who has actually built something with your AI expert. Ask them for specifics on how it went. Ask them what they wish went differently. If they’re actually good? You’ll know it pretty quickly. Now it’s your turn- who offers the best services for infusing AI into businesses, either via workflows, agents, or custom builds?

Let me tell you why I asked you all for a Dubsado contact the other day, and why I have created a new matrix for evaluating my tech tools. I call it: The Dubsado Test. Since we started using Dubsado at The Whisper Group, we have decreased our time to close by 10x, and I'm not even kidding. The user experience is so smooth and simple that it changed our entire business. Our close ratio has changed in a way that is so obvious, it's truly staggering. Of course I had to do a deep dive into this business, my newfound obsession. In reading about Dubsado, I saw so much of my own experience. Becca Berg and her husband Jake founded this company together, just like Dave Kerpen and I founded Likeable all those years ago. They also, like we did, boostrapped the company, except to do that in tech (versus services) is truly shocking to me-- especially when I see how beautiful the UX is. I don't have an affiliate code, and I'm not paid to say it-- but I need you guys to know that not only did this transform my business, it transformed my thinking about tools. I spend a ton of tech tools. But now? I am holding them all to a higher standard. If I don't feel the way about them that I feel about Dubsado, I may need to keep searching. THAT is the Dubsado test I'm using going forward. I'm curious, do you have a tool that you feel this way about?

This is my favorite event that I do and I am telling you to please please get your tickets right now because this will sell out and it is absolutely essential for every woman who owns a business. Thank you to Cate Luzio and the entire Luminary team for partnering with The Whisper Group on this! You are the best partners! PS. It’s so easy to see I don’t use AI for my posts bc AI doesn’t mess with my chaotic run on sentence energy!

I understand value-based pricing and I understand charging what you believe you are worth. But are you prepared to answer the question: how’d you get to that number? When I price services, I have a rationale for how I got to the price. I am able to articulate it, and when I speak to a business owner, I am able to position my pricing in a way that makes sense to them and is fair. And guess what? It’s still profitable. I know we are supposed to ask for as much money as possible without throwing up. I’ve heard it a million times. But I believe that whether we are dealing with pricing your services or placing a valuation on your company, it’s gotta have a rationale. Pigs get fed. Hogs get slaughtered.

"I regret ever selling my business" If these words come out of your mouth, one of two things have happened: 1. You are forgetting where you were in the moment you decided to sell. Time does that sometimes, it clouds the memory and rewrites history. 2. You were never ready to begin with. As someone who works in exit planning, one who works with founders who are in moments of strength and founders who are in moments of desperation, I can tell you this is not limited to one type of founder or the other. It's also not dependent on the type of deal, the cash at close, or anything else. It's dependent on mindset. A good advisor can help with #2 by doing their best to make sure you really are ready. Generally, they cannot help you with #1. My strong suggestion when you are going through an exit process is to journal. Write down every thought, feeling, experience. Much of an exit process feels like a whirlwind, and it's easy to forget the experience-- where you were leading up to the sale, during the sale, immediately after. Journaling helps you avoid rash thoughtless decisions, but it also does more than that. It offers invaluable perspective when you're looking back at a major life change. Pick up a pen and journal. You won't be sorry.

What does it mean to have an "exclusive" on The Exit Whisperer podcast? When I started this podcast, I had one goal- make female founders feel comfortable enough to share the real stories of their exits. This isn't something that's done through AI-generated content, or articles. This is something that can only truly be done when you're sitting across from one another, creating an intimate safe space for sharing. I am beyond grateful to Gigi Lee Chang for sharing what it's really like to build a business as a solo founder-- and eventually exit to a dream strategic. The narrative? Amazing. The real story? It's a little more complicated. The press you hear about exits feels glamorous. And it should! It's damn hard to do. But my goal with The Exit Whisperer is to give you the real story. And I am grateful to Gigi for sharing hers. Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eh3MBSud Or Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/ehySZ8QP And don't forget to subscribe for more stories like this.

This controversial statement from Kendra Bracken-Ferguson was not meant to diminish the experience or expertise or work ethic of those that are not mothers. It was, however, her own experience share- in the context of her building multiple companies over years and the lessons she’s learned. The internet mob came out in full force when I posted this on Insta. Moms are lazy, moms always have an excuse, this is exclusionary. Actually, no. This is one woman’s personal experience- one who closed a huge exit of a company while her toddler waited in the lobby with one of her partners. People are allowed to share their experiences even if you don’t agree with them. And boy am I lucky to have experienced the insights of this brilliant leader.

Words matter. I’d like to extend my sincerest apologies to the New York sports community for the pain I have caused. As a lifelong Mets fan, I know all to well the pain we have endured, and to acknowledge Boston superiority in any way is simply unacceptable. Jennifer Harrington , you’ll be hearing from my attorney for publishing this slander! Oh, and watch this episode of Eat In or Dine Out from HATCH - the best in the damn business!

I like posting about my own accomplishments, but I LOVE posting about my daughter’s incredible career moves. In today’s employment landscape, Charlotte Kerpen has become an integral part of the sports industry in Charlotte- and I LOVE this new role for her. Fellow incredible go-getting friends, please congratulate Charlotte on this incredible milestone!

New plan… Setting a filter to automatically delete every email with the subject line: Quick question No human I know sends this subject line if it’s not cold outreach. Prove me wrong pls!

Who’s going to be at The Glass Ceiling on December 9, and why you should join us? On December 9, I’m doing a "Plan Your Exit" event in partnership with The Whisper Group and Luminary. Here’s just a few of the amazing people who will be there!  Cate Luzio - Founder and CEO, Luminary Kaitlyn Carlson, CFP®, CEPA, AWMA® - Founder, Theory Planning Partners Tricia M. Taitt - CEO, FinCore Sarah Weiss - CEO, The Family Foundry Andrea Padilla - CEO, Square Root Marketing And so many more amazing founders, presidents, and CEOs. This is the sort of event where you just HAVE to be in the room where it happens. I mean, the conversations you’ll have just in the line for the bathroom will be worth the price of admission! I hope to see you there!  https://lnkd.in/edcQchc9

Here’s the thing about entrepreneurs devoting time and energy to building a presence online. Its not so easy. It’s a lot of work to come up with thoughtful smart stuff to say every day. It’s hard to put yourself out there. It’s hard to take focus away from actually running your business— and if you’re not a monetized “content creator”- this ain’t the thing that makes you money, at least not in the short term. And after ALL of that? You work so hard on your stuff and have a micro audience. Female founders especially feel this pressure. We often have far less capital, so we default to what’s free. And filming ourselves? It’s a scrappy way to raise awareness and show passion for your product or service. And since the algorithms value people over “brands”, it tends to be our default answer. And yet there you sit… You’re comparing yourself to the Hormozis of the world, the Codies, the Garys….and you’re stating at your like/comment count and thinking… What the heck am I doing this for? Well, I’m here to tell you that if you can abandon the idea of the broad numbers mattering, this can be a highly effective tool. When I started The Whisper Group , I posted a video every single day for an entire year. I invested time money and energy into that process. And while I did grow in reach- most of my videos get a few thousand views at best. Some get in the hundreds. But here’s the amazing thing. That audience? It was the RIGHT audience. And I became not famous, but known. Known for an expertise in helping women sort through the process of exiting. Known for focusing on more than just the monetary value of an exit, but the holistic experience of a closed chapter. It launched my business. It will continue to grow it. But if I were to focus on influencer status? I’d be off focus, chasing numbers, and in an ego trap. Be like my hat. Not famous, but known.

I used to be so “likable” and now apparently I’m a curmudgeon….but I’m mad and I have to share why. How many of us live and die by our calendars? I cannot survive without mine. It’s how I manage it all. So when marketers throw fake meetings on my calendar, I feel almost as if someone is breaking into my home! My time is my own. My calendar is my own. And yours is your own, too. Please stop this practice!

I believe strongly that private communities are the future- especially in a world where public online dialogue can be cruel and polarizing. These two are doing it RIGHT.

Why do women scale like pros, but sell for less (and how do we fix it)? Here's what I've learned after years in business: Women entrepreneurs are exceptional at building sustainable, profitable companies. We master operations, nurture teams, create loyal customer bases, and scale thoughtfully. But when it comes time to sell? We consistently exit for less than our male counterparts, even with comparable or better metrics. All female-founded companies were capturing just 0.8 percent of exit value as of 2022. Not because they're worth less. Because women are navigating a system that wasn't built for us. I’ve experienced it myself, and I’ve seen it happen for other female founders:  We're often excluded from the networks where deals happen  We undervalue our achievements (while men overstate theirs)   We face bias in valuations and negotiations  We are less likely to be referred to M&A advisors and advocates But here's the good news: this is fixable. We fix it by naming the problem, by demanding fair valuations, by building our own networks and supporting other women through exits, and by hiring advisors who understand our worth and fight for it. If you're a woman entrepreneur planning an exit, know this: a successful exit is possible, and helping you achieve it is my goal! What's a great way to learn more about building a successful exit and closing the Exit Gap? Join me in December at the Your Exit Plan conference! Get your ticket here: https://lnkd.in/edcQchc9 Let’s close the Exit Gap, one exit at a time!

Are you in Miami this Wednesday? This is a 1-day exit prep intensive hosted by Tom Shipley and DealCon M&A Summit that should be great. I have a couple of last minute openings, and space is limited. If you're thinking about selling your company and you're in the Miami area, this is a must attend. Plus, I'll be there! Message me for a special opportunity if this sounds like you!

Major major congrats on this epic milestone Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton!

For anyone in my network who needs a brand refresh- take these ladies up on this brilliant offer