The Exit Whisperer

Women-owned businesses capture just 0.8% of the total exit value in the US. Carrie Kerpen is here to change that, through sharing the stories of women who have broken through and sold their businesses. Having sold her own business for 8-figures in 2021, Carrie knows what it takes to build a sellable brand. She also knows that the experience can be different for women than it is for men because she has personally interviewed hundreds of exited female founders. New Episode Every Tuesday!

The Exit Whisperer is a business podcast hosted by Carrie Kerpen, with 98 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Carrie Kerpen hosts The Exit Whisperer, a business show with 98 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #95

  #95 - Sharon Thony (SLT Consulting (SLTC))

  Sep 29, 202619 minS9

  Sharon Thony Lee sold SLT Consulting to Fiverr just two years after starting the agency and spent the next five years operating it inside the public company. Then she realized something she hadn't considered before: she could buy it back. Sharon shares what it took to become an owner again, how she's running SLTC differently this time, and why she's already building toward another potential exit. This episode is sponsored by Luminary , a global professional community where founders, investors, and professionals come together to learn, connect, and grow. Use code WHISPER10 for 10% off your first 12 months of membership at www.weareluminary.com. 1:09 - Welcome Back & Recap 2:12 - SLTC's Origin & Sale to Fiverr 3:14 - Realizing She Could Buy It Back 9:55 - The Back-of-the-Napkin Moment 13:20 - Running SLTC Differently 15:39 - The Future & Next Exit Plan

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  Episode #94

  #94 - Cate Luzio (Luminary)

  Sep 22, 202640 minS8

  Cate Luzio joins Carrie Kerpen to break down how founders can use acquisitions to grow. She shares what buyers actually look for, why profit matters more than potential, and how to evaluate whether a company is truly worth acquiring. This episode is sponsored by Luminary, a global professional community where founders, investors, and professionals come together to learn, connect, and grow. Use code WHISPER10 for 10% off your first 12 months of membership at www.weareluminary.com. 2:32 - Leaving Corporate America6:01 - Building the Original Business Plan9:11 - Bootstrapping vs. Raising Funds15:20 - Building the Partner Network & COVID Pivot18:39 - Surviving COVID & Digital Membership21:28 - First Acquisition: Declare27:02 - Sourcing Acquisitions Through Luminary Members30:40 - Deal Structuring & Lessons From Failed Deals35:22 - Exit Planning Philosophy38:04 - Advice for Women Entrepreneurs & Closing

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  Episode #93

  #93 - Bridget Firtle (Owney’s Rum)

  Sep 15, 202621 minS8

  Bridget Firtle joins Carrie Kerpen to share how she built Owney’s Rum, sold it, stepped away, and bought the brand back. This conversation is about identity, timing, founder instinct, and what changes when you get the chance to build again with more experience and a bigger vision. This episode is sponsored by Luminary , a global professional community where founders, investors, and professionals come together to learn, connect, and grow. Use code WHISPER10 for 10% off your first 12 months of membership at www.weareluminary.com . 2:20 - The Buyback Story Begins 4:36 - Untangling Identity from Owney’s 6:26 - How the Deal Came Together 12:18 - 20s vs. 40s: Building With More Wisdom 16:11 - Building Beyond Owney’s: The Bigger Vision 17:50 - Lessons Learned & What's Next

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  Episode #92

  #92 - Sharon Gillenwater (Boardroom Insiders)

  Sep 8, 202625 minS8

  Carrie Kerpen sits down with Sharon Gillenwater to unpack how she went from a $25 million exit to trying to buy back the company she sold and deciding to rebuild from scratch. This episode is sponsored by Luminary , a global professional community where founders, investors, and professionals come together to learn, connect, and grow. Use code WHISPER10 for 10% off your first 12 months of membership at www.weareluminary.com . 1:05 - From TikTok Fame to Shutdown 1:58 - Trying to Buy the Company Back 7:30 - No Non-Compete, Deciding to Rebuild 9:33 - Customer Demand Forces the Decision 13:55 - Funding the Restart 18:06 - Building with AI, Then and Now 22:50 - What Winning Looks Like This Time 23:46 - Thinking About the Next Exit

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  Episode #91

  #91 - Lauren Luckey (The Luckey Capital Group)

  Aug 18, 202636 minS7

  Lauren Luckey shares how she went from military service and a near-CIA career to building and acquiring 16 businesses. This episode demystifies buying a business, challenges the online fantasy of “easy” acquisition entrepreneurship, and shows what it really takes to build wealth through grit, timing, and smart capital deployment. This episode is sponsored by The Luckey Capital Group. The Luckey Capital Group helps small business owners access smart, practical capital when they need it most. Learn more at www.theluckeycapitalgroup.com . 2:24 - Lauren's Military Career 9:45 - Leaving the Army & CIA Rejection 17:05 - First Business: Buying a Dry Cleaner for $1 15:27 – Going All In: Selling Everything & Living in the Store 17:43 – Scaling to 16 Businesses 24:14 - The Fire: Losing $2.7 Million 28:22 - Being a Woman Is a Strategic Advantage 32:27 - The Luckey Capital Group: Filling the Gap for Small Businesses

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