How to Navigate Your Company's Sale and Exit with Carrie Kerpen, Founder of The Whisper Group

Dear FoundHer...

“I need to show other women how to do this,” says Carrie Kerpen, founder and CEO of The Whisper Group, as she reflects on the challenges of scaling, selling, and leading a business in a male-dominated industry. In this episode, she joins Lindsay Pinchuk to explore a critical but often overlooked topic: exit strategies for female entrepreneurs.

Carrie highlights the disparities in exit values for female-led companies, which inspired her to create The Whisper Group. Her advisory practice is dedicated to helping women-owned businesses prepare for successful exits, using a unique approach known as the Whisper Way. How can female entrepreneurs ensure they maximize their business’s value during negotiations? The Whisper Way provides the tools and strategies to achieve this.

The episode also explores the emotional aspects of selling a business. Carrie underscores the importance of taking your time, being vigilant for potential red flags, and conducting thorough due diligence. She and Lindsay discuss the importance of finding the right acquirer and the value of having an exit coach for support.

As Carrie shares her journey in building The Whisper Group, she reinforces her commitment to empowering women to achieve successful business exits. Join Lindsay and Carrie in this episode of Dear FoundHer… for valuable insights into the complexities of exit strategies, the preparation required, and the emotional journey of entrepreneurship for women.

Quotes

• “Overall, my exit was great—the acquirer was great. But the biggest thing I would have changed was calming myself. You really need an exit coach for that, and that’s what I hope we can provide for other female founders. People can tell you, ‘Slow down. It’s okay. It’s going to get done.’ If I had slowed down a bit, it would have turned out even better.” (17:45 | Carrie Kerpen)
• “The thing I wish most female founders knew is that the more money you’re able to figure out how to pull out, the more you’ll be worth at exit.” (20:56 | Carrie Kerpen)
• “It’s really mission-based, and I want this business to make a lot of money because I want to show women what can be done.” (42:39 | Carrie Kerpen)
• “Ideas are great, but executing on that idea is really important, and there’s no better demonstration of execution than a strong focus on generating revenue.” (49:01 | Carrie Kerpen)

Connect with Carrie Kerpen:

http://www.instagram.com/carriekerpen

Report on female founded exits: closetheexitgap.com

Join Lindsay's group mentorship, Marketing Made Simple for Small Business:

https://www.lindsaypinchuk.com/mmsfall2024

Subscribe to the Dear FoundHer... newsletter: https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/foundherfridays

Don't forget to follow Lindsay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaypinchuk

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

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