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The Art of Succession

The Art of Succession

By: Barrett Young | GWCPA
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 Stepping into the role of business owner is one of the most challenging endeavors you'll undertake. Buying that business from someone you already know amplifies the risk of mistakes. On The Art of Succession Podcast, you'll hear from entrepreneurs who've successfully transitioned from employee to owner by acquiring businesses from parents, former bosses, or co-founders. Together, we'll explore how they navigated the complex blend of emotions and strategic decisions required to honor the past while forging a new and vibrant future. Your host, Barrett Young, a fellow traveler in the succession story of a 75+ year CPA firm himself, invites his guests to reflect on the mindset shifts, challenges, and triumphs that have empowered them to build on their established foundations. Whether you're just starting out or already envisioning your own succession plan, you will find insights and actionable advice to guide your journey.2024 GW CPA LLP Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • The Succession Strategies for Founders to Scale Businesses and Let Go of Control with Doug Thorpe

    The Succession Strategies for Founders to Scale Businesses and Let Go of Control with Doug Thorpe
    Jan 6 2026
    The 30-Question Ownership Readiness Diagnostic. Identify your gaps in finance, leadership, and revenue creation before you take the leap. Get your score, get your plan. (It’s FREE!)👉 https://bit.ly/owner-shipmindset-scoreapp ------------------------------------------------Want to be a guest on our podcast? Apply and share your expertise with our audience at https://www.podmatch.com/member/artofsuccession ------------------------------------------------Welcome to The Art of Succession Podcast. Host Barrett Young talks with Doug Thorpe, President & CEO of HeadwayExec, LLC, about his journey from corporate banking to consulting and coaching. Doug shares how his experiences in the banking world led him to focus on leadership development and succession planning for small businesses. He discusses the importance of business owners evolving through key growth phases and the challenges they face in scaling up. Doug also highlights the significance of empowering leadership teams and preparing businesses for successful exits.Doug shares his journey from corporate banking to entrepreneurship and coaching. He talks about the challenges he faced in scaling businesses and the lessons he learned in leadership development and succession planning. Doug explains how business owners often struggle with transitioning through key growth stages and the importance of letting go of control to scale effectively. He discusses how empowering leadership teams and preparing businesses for successful exits can lead to long-term success. Doug’s experience highlights the value of thoughtful planning and adaptation in business growth.Key Takeaways:Doug’s path from corporate banking to coaching and entrepreneurship.How he learned to navigate business growth stages and the challenges of scaling.Why letting go of control is crucial for business owners to scale effectively.What Doug’s approach to leadership development and succession planning looks like.How he helps business owners prepare for successful exits and future growth.Here are a few quotes from the episode:"Cash is king, and you never have enough cash." - Doug Thorpe"What got you here won’t get you there." - Doug Thorpe"Exponential growth requires letting go of control." - Doug ThorpeJoin Doug Thorpe as he shares valuable insights on navigating business growth, scaling successfully, and the importance of leadership development. Learn how business owners can prepare for a smooth transition and exit while empowering their teams for long-term success.Episode Highlights[00:00] - Teaser[01:48] - Introducing guest Doug Thorpe[02:49] - Stages of business growth: startup to enterprise[07:11] - Doug's journey from banking to entrepreneurship[08:52] - Mother's influence and shift to consulting[11:46] - Coaching vs. consulting and virtual transition[15:04] - Evolution of business coaching demand[18:31] - Cash flow lessons and entrepreneurial mindset[23:25] - 2008 crash and shutting down the business[28:21] - Identity loss and career transition coaching[33:31] - Moving into leadership coaching[35:38] - Succession planning for business owners[37:08] - Leadership delegation challenges[41:08] - Engaging employees in succession talks[44:40] - ETA buyer alignment & investment thesis[50:47] - Personality fit in business acquisition[51:42] - Doug’s own succession plan[53:43] - Lightning round: quickfire questionsFOLLOW THE GUEST:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougthorpe/ Website: https://dougthorpe.com/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.dougthorpe.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/dougthorpe_com Facebook: https://facebook.com/headwayexec Instagram: https://instagram.com/dougthorpe_com YELP: https://www.yelp.com/biz/headwayexec-houston-4 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@dougthorpe Buy a Business: https://headwayexec.com FOLLOW THE HOST:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrettyoung Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gwcpa/ Website: https://gwcpas.com/ Email: bey@gwcpas.com FOLLOW THE PODCAST:Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-of-succession/id1742796896 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@gwcpas Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7uhogBxFKWAAetAbD8TVQR LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/art-of-succession-podcast/ Website: https://gwcpas.com/podcast
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    1 hr
  • The Shift from Hourly to Subscription to Build the Value and Modernize a CPA Firm

    The Shift from Hourly to Subscription to Build the Value and Modernize a CPA Firm
    Dec 16 2025
    The 30-Question Ownership Readiness Diagnostic. Identify your gaps in finance, leadership, and revenue creation before you take the leap. Get your score, get your plan. (It’s FREE!) 👉 https://bit.ly/owner-shipmindset-scoreapp—-------------------------------Want to be a guest on our podcast? Apply and share your expertise with our audience at https://www.podmatch.com/member/artofsuccession ------------------------------------------------Welcome to The Art of Succession Podcast. Host Barrett Young, a Tax and Marketing Partner at GWCPA, takes you through the firm’s ongoing succession journey. In this episode, Barrett reflects on key updates at GWCPA, including the growth of the team, the implementation of EOS, and the shift to subscription-based pricing. He shares insights on AI adoption, the firm's strategic plans, and how they are preparing for the future of tax preparation and business transition.Barrett isn’t just leading the firm; he’s committed to building a future where the next generation can thrive. His journey in public accounting has shaped his approach at GWCPA. By embracing new systems like EOS and focusing on innovation, he demonstrates how thoughtful planning and a forward-thinking mindset can create lasting value for both the firm’s team and clients.Barrett has spent years leading GWCPA with a focus on future growth and succession. By embracing tools like EOS and AI, he uses his experience to guide the firm through key transitions. His approach blends practical lessons on leadership, planning, and innovation, helping teams prepare for the future and build lasting success.Key Takeaways:- Barrett’s approach to building a future-ready firm. - How EOS and AI support growth and clarity.- The shift to subscription pricing and proactive planning.- Why simplifying processes is essential for success.- How Barrett’s leadership prepares the team for lasting impact.Additional Insights:- How EOS helps guide the firm’s long-term vision.- The impact of AI on improving efficiency and service.- Why shifting to subscription pricing supports growth.- How simplifying processes builds clarity for staff and clients.- The role of leadership in preparing for future success.Here are a few quotes from the episode:“We are building a firm that can grow beyond tax returns.” - Barrett Young“AI is not the future, it’s here now, and we need to be ready.” - Barrett Young“Clarity, innovation, and purpose are the foundation of our success.” - Barrett YoungJoin Barrett Young as he discusses how EOS, AI, and strategic planning are shaping the future of GWCPA. Learn how focusing on innovation, simplified processes, and strong leadership is helping the firm grow and succeed in the years ahead.Episode Highlights[00:00] - Teaser[01:46] - Season 3 Recap & Podcast Growth[03:00] - YouTube Growth & Season 3 Guest Highlights[07:34] - Key Mindset & Legacy Conversations[09:44] - Season 4 Preview: Booked Through June[11:26] - EOS Progress & Upcoming Strategic Retreat[13:39] - Tax Season 2026: Staffing & Capacity Plan[15:37] - Barrett Earns CEPA Certification[18:21] - Applying "Protect Phase" to Client Work[22:07] - Mission: Simplify for the Next Owner[28:00] - Inspired by Ron Baker & Membership Economy[30:31] - Vision: Proactive Advice, Smaller Client Base[34:30] - 2 Years of AI: Lessons & Urgency[38:25] - AI's Future & The Cloud Comparison[45:16] - Incremental Growth: The 20-Season Mindset[50:39] - YouTube Pivot: Employee-to-Owner FocusFOLLOW THE HOST:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrettyoung Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gwcpa/ Website: https://gwcpas.com/ Email: bey@gwcpas.com FOLLOW THE PODCAST:Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-of-succession/id1742796896 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@gwcpas Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7uhogBxFKWAAetAbD8TVQR LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/art-of-succession-podcast/ Website: https://gwcpas.com/podcast
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    55 mins
  • The Bootstrapped Growth for Podcasters to Succeed with Acquisitions and Systems with Alex Sanfilippo

    The Bootstrapped Growth for Podcasters to Succeed with Acquisitions and Systems with Alex Sanfilippo
    Dec 2 2025
    The 30-Question Ownership Readiness Diagnostic. Identify your gaps in finance, leadership, and revenue creation before you take the leap. Get your score, get your plan. (It’s FREE!)👉 https://bit.ly/ownership-mindset-scoreapp ------------------------------------------------Want to be a guest on our podcast? Apply and share your expertise with our audience at https://www.podmatch.com/member/artofsuccession ------------------------------------------------Welcome to The Art of Succession Podcast. Host Barrett Young talks with Alex Sanfilippo, Podcaster & Founder at PodMatch, a podcast guest matching platform that has helped thousands of podcasters connect with their ideal guests. Alex shares his journey from working in aerospace to building PodMatch from the ground up. He talks about the lessons learned from pivoting from a corporate career to full-time entrepreneurship, including his approach to scaling a business, making strategic acquisitions, and maintaining a people-first mentality.In this episode, Alex discusses the challenges of creating PodMatch, his approach to handling business growth, and how strategic decisions like acquiring competitors have allowed him to solidify credibility and expand his brand. They also explore the power of podcasting as a tool to build trust, authority, and lasting connections with audiences.Key Takeaways:Alex bootstrapped PodMatch to solve his personal pain point of finding the right podcast guests.He transitioned from aerospace corporate leadership to full-time entrepreneurship.Acquiring competitors helped establish trust and credibility in the podcasting space.He prioritizes user benefit over revenue, which has been crucial to his business’s success.Podcasting is a powerful tool for building trust, connection, and clarity in today’s digital world.Here are a few quotes from the episode:“You don’t need to know everything, just be willing to learn.” – Alex Sanfilippo“Turnaround isn’t about saving the day; it’s about moving forward.” – Alex Sanfilippo“Real change starts when you focus on people, not just profits.” – Alex SanfilippoJoin Alex Sanfilippo as he shares how his journey of overcoming failure and prioritizing people helped him grow PodMatch into a trusted platform, and how others can apply these principles to grow their own businesses with purpose and clarity.Want to connect with the perfect podcast guests? Check out PodMatch's free resourcesand get started today! 👉 https://podmatch.com/freeEpisode Highlights[00:00:00] - Teaser[00:02:19] - Alex's mission: demystifying entrepreneurship[00:04:54] - Alex's early entrepreneurial journey and corporate career[00:10:00] - The corporate turning point: Why Alex left his C-suite job[00:13:45] - Using a podcast to find his path, leading to PodMatch[00:16:00] - Identifying the universal pain point for podcasters[00:18:30] - The "dating app" inspiration for PodMatch[00:23:15] - How the PodMatch algorithm creates quality connections[00:26:35] - The first strategic acquisition and its strategic value[00:30:02] - Evaluating opportunities and the importance of saying "no"[00:33:42] - Acquiring "Podcasting Made Simple" to build community[00:38:13] - The lesson of consolidating brands for clarity[00:41:20] - The power and future of podcasting as a medium[00:44:50] - Why every business should consider podcasting[00:50:15] - The role of video in modern podcasting[00:53:40] - AI's role: A tool for enhancement, not replacement[00:58:20] - Core philosophy: Serving a specific "why"[00:59:35] - Lightning Round[01:03:18] - How to connect with Alex and get his free resourceFOLLOW THE GUEST:LinkedIn (Personal Profile): https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexsanfilippo/PodMatch (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/company/podmatch/PodMatch (Website): https://www.podmatch.com/member/alexFOLLOW THE HOST:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrettyoung Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gwcpa/ Website: https://gwcpas.com/ Email: bey@gwcpas.com FOLLOW THE PODCAST:Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-of-succession/id1742796896 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@gwcpas Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7uhogBxFKWAAetAbD8TVQR LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/art-of-succession-podcast/ Website: https://gwcpas.com/podcast
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    1 hr and 4 mins
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