“Simply treating people with respect, with dignity and agency, has been really counterculture and I hope that that becomes a more infectious and attractive way to work.” - Brea Starmer

Host Laurie Barkman interviews Brea Starmer, Founder and CEO of Lions and Tigers. Brea shares her experience of turning a layoff into a successful business, her passion for empowering careers for women and mothers, and the unique approach of intrapreneurship. The discussion covers Brea's personal journey, the challenges she faced, the importance of values in business, and the exciting future of the industry.

Takeaways:

• Hire support staff early on, such as operations and HR personnel, to allow you to focus on strategic areas like business development and leadership.

• Recognize the different stages of your business and life. Sometimes you’ll be optimized for growth and wealth, while at other times, the focus may shift to health and personal well-being.

• Maintain an active presence on professional networks such as LinkedIn to share your journey, connect with other entrepreneurs, and attract potential clients and employees.

• Concentrate on tasks that only you can do and delegate others. This ensures you are working on the most impactful areas of the business.

✨📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook: https://btsherpa.com/book

📣 Write a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/successionstories

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/breastarmer/

“The really great exciting thing about entrepreneurship is even if you don't know from a young age that's the route you want to go, it's never too late to get there.” - Jaclyn Beatty

Show host Laurie Barkman interviews Jaclyn Beatty, a seasoned sales professional and Owner/Principal Consultant of Geared for Growth at Sales Xceleration. Jaclyn shares her non-traditional journey to entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of the entrepreneurial gene and the belief that entrepreneurs can be made, not just born.

They discuss the challenges of transitioning from a corporate sales leader to an entrepreneurial role and the benefits of the fractional sales industry. Jaclyn also provides advice to aspiring entrepreneurs and reflects on her career pivots from clinical dietitian to corporate sales leader.

Takeaways:

~Don't hesitate to pursue your entrepreneurial dreams sooner rather than later. If you feel ready, take the plunge and trust your instincts.

~Be willing to accept help and advice from others, whether it’s through peer groups, mentors, or industry experts. You don't have to be an expert in every area of your business.

~Don’t be afraid to pivot from one industry to another if you feel drawn to it. Skills are often transferable, and a fresh perspective can lead to new opportunities.

~Learn to manage wearing multiple hats in your business. Prioritize and balance client deliverables with business development and operational tasks.

✨📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook: https://btsherpa.com/book

📣 Write a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/successionstories

“I'm guilty of having always had the feeling of being proud, but not satisfied with my accomplishments. Once I get to one goal, I’m ready to move on to the next.” - Harry Haywood

Host Laurie Barkman chats with Harry Haywood, President of HBS Solutions Inc. Harry shares insights on the importance of resilience, creativity, and overcoming criticism. With over 15 years of experience, he discusses the challenges of managing growth, building a strong leadership team, and the significance of time management. Harry also delves into his passion for energy efficiency and the evolving industry standards. Listeners will gain valuable advice on prioritization, goal tracking, and balancing business with personal life.

Takeaways:

~Learn to maximize your productivity by valuing your time more, especially if you don’t have many personal responsibilities early in your entrepreneurial journey.

~Don’t try to handle everything yourself. Document processes, assign responsibilities, and ensure checks and balances are in place. This helps in managing growth more efficiently.

~Use a systematic approach to track progress towards goals in various aspects of your life, not just business-related but also personal, physical, and spiritual.

~Implement systems and processes to manage the complexities of business operations. Utilize third-party or customized tools to align the team and streamline workflows.

✨📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook: https://btsherpa.com/book

📣 Write a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/successionstories

“The fundamental things are being incredibly optimistic, having the confidence to believe that not only is your idea a good idea, but that you can actually pull it off, and you have to have thick skin.” - Jessica Kenyon

Host Laurie Barkman interviews Jessica Kenyon, CEO of The Conafay Group. Jessica shares her thoughts on key entrepreneurial traits like optimism, confidence, and resilience.

The discussion covers her unconventional journey to leadership, having a background in archeology and a family of virologists, and how she transitioned into the government relations sector.

She also talks about the challenges of succession and leadership transition, emphasizing the importance of trusting your instincts and believing in your own decisions.

✨📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook: https://btsherpa.com/book

📣 Write a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/successionstories

Connect with Jessica Kenyon:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-kenyon-4557028-conafay/

Website: https://conafaygroup.com/

“Have the confidence to say, "I believe in my mission and my purpose, and no matter what is in front of me, I will overcome those obstacles.” - Dr. Harry Cohen

Host Laurie Barkman interviews Harry Cohen, President and CEO of Sunny Owl Productions and author of “Be the Sun, Not the Salt.”

Learn the essential traits that differentiate entrepreneurs— like the ability to tolerate risk and navigate ambiguity, and the significance of instilling an entrepreneurial culture in both large corporations and family-owned businesses by having positive energy in your leadership.

Catch Harry's advice how to foster kindness both in oneself and towards others.

Takeaways:

• To succeed, entrepreneurs must tolerate risk, ambiguity, and difficulty. Cultivate a belief in your mission and purpose, and maintain confidence that you will overcome obstacles.

• Aim to create a positive impact on those around you. Be the "sun" not the "salt" by fostering psychological safety and making people feel valued and motivated.

• Use rituals and positive self-talk to maintain a confident and optimistic mindset before key moments, like giving presentations or meeting with clients.

• Whether in a corporate or family-owned business, cultivating a supportive and innovative culture is crucial. Encourage risk-taking and learning from failures rather than punishing them.

✨📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook: https://btsherpa.com/book

📣 Write a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/successionstories

Connect with Harry Cohen:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-cohen-2594841/

Welcome to The Entrepreneur Gene! Host Laurie Barkman dives into the fascinating world of aerospace with Aleksandra Bogunovic, CEO of AeroThreads. Aleks turned her passion for sewing and fabrication into a thriving business that creates thermal blankets for spacecraft with materials that literally go to space!

In this episode, we explore:

• Importance of grit in business.

• Aleks’ journey from working with NASA to founding AeroThreads.

• Challenges of leading a growing team in a rapidly evolving aerospace industry.

• Insights on maintaining company culture while scaling.

• Intersection of creativity and engineering in developing innovative solutions.

Aleks shares her personal story, the influence of her immigrant family, and how her background in arts and finance shaped her entrepreneurial path.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or simply curious about the aerospace industry, this episode is packed with inspiration and valuable insights!

Quote of the Show: “ Learn to trust your gut, even if you don't understand it.” - Aleksandra Bogunovic
_________________________________________________________________

This Show is Sponsored by The Business Transition Sherpa® 100 percent of owners will leave their business one day. But few are prepared. Are you?

Get your copy of the Amazon best-selling book by nationally recognized expert, Laurie Barkman that reveals how to build business value and plan for succession, transition, or selling the business on your terms....what every entrepreneur needs to know.

✨📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook here: https://btsherpa.com/book _________________________________________________________________

Connect with Laurie Barkman:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriebarkman/
Website: https://thebusinesstransitionsherpa.com/

Connect with Aleks:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aleksandra-bogunovic-49493228/
AeroThreads: https://www.aerothreads.com/contact

You might have a buyer lined up — but that doesn’t mean your exit is guaranteed.

In this episode of Succession Stories, host Laurie Barkman sits down with Jim Carlisle , mergers and acquisitions attorney and chair of the National Growth and Exit Planning Group at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP. With decades of experience guiding business owners through transitions, Jim shares insider insights into why even well-prepared exits can fall apart — and what you can do to avoid common pitfalls - and why it's never too soon to start planning ahead.

This conversation is essential for entrepreneurs who want to ensure their hard work pays off, both financially and personally, when it’s time to move on.

"If you don't like how the table is set… overturn the table."
— Jim Carlisle

Jim shares how this powerful mindset — borrowed from House of Cards — has shaped his approach to business deals and problem-solving. When things aren’t working, he encourages leaders to rethink, reinvent, and reset the rules — then march forward with confidence.

• Email: Jim.carlisle@dinsmore.com

• Mobile phone: 412-855-4333

✨📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook here: https://btsherpa.com/book

This Show Is Sponsored by The Business Transition Sherpa®

📣 Write a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/successionstories

More Resources:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriebarkman/

Website: https://thebusinesstransitionsherpa.com/

Book: https://btsherpa.com/book

Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBusinessTransitionSherpa

• Entrepreneurs should look for gaps in the market and opportunities where they can provide unique solutions.
• When making strategic decisions, consult with your team. Their excitement and input can guide you toward the best opportunity to pursue next.
• Have a vision for where you want your business to go in the next few years. Although long-term plans can change, having a direction helps in making aligned decisions.
• Offering resources like a workbook or a guide, as Julie does with the seven steps to write a book, can help others and establish you as an authority in your field.

• “When somebody says, ‘That doesn't sound like a good idea.' I better go find out’.” - Julie Broad

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliebroad/
• Website: https://booklaunchers.com/
• Book Link: https://juliebroad.com/books/

✨📖 Get your FREE digital copy of The Business Transition Handbook: https://btsherpa.com/book

📣 Write a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/successionstories

YouTube: