Recently, I joined Donna Carlson for her LinkedIn LIVE series, The Whole CEO, alongside two incredible women—Shara Hubert, a business broker with Transworld, and Angela Wilson, a financial strategist and Whole Wealth Coach. The conversation focused on something most CEOs delay until it’s too late: exit planning.

I was honored to be part of this panel because too often, exit is treated like a transaction. But as I shared during the discussion, the smartest exits don’t start with a buyer—they start with a plan. A real strategy. One that connects financials, leadership, operations, and personal goals years before a sale is ever on the table.

Some of the highlights:

• Shara gave practical tips on how to prepare your business for the market—even if a sale is years away. One of her key points: too many owners think they can just list and sell. But buyers are savvy. They want transferable value, and that takes time to build.
• Angela emphasized the emotional side of transition—especially for founders. She reminded us that wealth isn’t just numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s about values, purpose, and what comes next after you step away from your business.
• I focused on alignment. As an exit planning advisor, I see so many businesses that are growing, but not growing in the right direction for a future exit. That misalignment—between operations, leadership, and personal goals—can cost owners millions or delay their transition indefinitely.

What I appreciated most about this conversation was how real it got. Exit planning isn’t just a financial exercise. It’s personal. It’s strategic. And it’s essential—even if you’re not ready to sell for another five years.

If you missed it, you can watch the full replay click here.