The Exit Gap and Exit Readiness: How Women Founders Build Sellable Businesses скачать в хорошем качестве

The Exit Gap and Exit Readiness: How Women Founders Build Sellable Businesses

Most women founders do not think their business is “exit-worthy.” This episode examines that belief and reveals what building a sellable business makes possible. In this episode of Women I Want You to Know by Andrea L. Johnston™ Podcast, host Andrea L. Johnston sits down with Carrie Kerpen, CEO of The Whisper Group and former founder of Likeable Media, for a candid conversation about exits, value creation and what it really means to build a business that lasts. Carrie shares her journey from co-founding Likeable Media at the dawn of social media to intentionally reshaping the company into a sellable asset years later. As the market matured and competition intensified, she faced the same inflection points many women entrepreneurs and women business owners encounter: rapid early growth, operational strain, founder dependence and the shift from execution to strategic leadership. This conversation explores why so many female founders underestimate the exit potential of their businesses, how lifestyle-driven companies can still become powerful vehicles for wealth creation and why “sellable” is often a healthier and more sustainable goal than “for sale.” Carrie also reflects on the loneliness of the exit process, the importance of peer community and how building toward exit readiness can create freedom long before a transaction ever occurs. In this episode, Carrie shares: Why many women founders do not see their business as exit-worthy How to build a sellable business without planning to sell right away The difference between growth at all costs and sustainable business growth Why profitability, client diversification and IP protection matter How exit readiness improves day-to-day operations and leadership clarity Why exits do not have to be massive to be meaningful How to think about businesses as chapters rather than endpoints Why community, mentorship and peer support matter during the exit journey This episode offers grounded insight for women leaders, female founders and business owners navigating growth, burnout, decision fatigue and the transition from doer to CEO mindset. Watch now to learn why building a sellable business can unlock more confidence, autonomy and long-term value. 00:00 Why most women underestimate exit potential 02:40 Carrie Kerpen’s journey building Likeable Media 06:15 Early growth, market timing and scaling challenges 10:30 Why growth at all costs often backfires 14:20 Shifting from execution to strategic leadership 18:10 What makes a business sellable 22:45 Profitability, diversification and IP protection 27:30 The loneliness of exits and the role of community 31:50 Exit readiness as freedom, not pressure 36:10 Businesses as chapters, not endpoints 40:20 What founders should focus on now Links & Resources Learn more about The Whisper Group https://www.wearethewhispergroup.com/ Connect with Carrie Kerpen on LinkedIn   / carriekerpen   Read Carrie's WIWYTK feature on LinkedIn