The Exit Whisperer

Your “dream exit” is probably a math problem you haven’t done yet. Gigi Lee Chang built Plum Organics to a reported nine-figure exit to Campbell Soup Company — then tells the part founders don’t talk about: dilution, losing control, and why the headline is rarely what hits your bank account.In this episode, Carrie Kerpen sits down with Gigi Lee Chang to unpack the real trade: raising money to go faster… and watching the cap table quietly decide what you “walk away with.” We talk about the pouch pivot that changed the category, the behind-the-scenes reality of board power, and the uncomfortable truth that “entrepreneur” became a status badge — not a job description.02:52 Meet Gigi Lee Chang04:17 The Idea Behind Plum Organics07:26 Early Challenges Building The Brand10:39 The Pouch That Changed The Category22:07 The Shift To Plum As The Core Brand22:55 Looking Back On The Decision25:01 When Gigi Lost Control Of The Company25:48 How Investors Actually Think28:15 Selling Plum Organics To Campbell’s29:20 Life After The Acquisition30:32 Entrepreneur Vs Small Business Owner41:18 What Gigi Is Building Now

The first offer was three times too low — and Stacy Stahl almost walked away. Instead, she did something most founders never do, and it changed the entire deal. In this episode, Carrie sits down with Stacy Stahl (founder of How He Asked — yes, the “Gossip Girl of proposals” — acquired by The Knot) to break down the part founders don’t post: the lowball, the power move, and the moment you realize your business is only worth what you’re willing to sell it for.01:09 Meet Stacy Stahl02:37 The Idea That Started How He Asked03:34 Going Viral Before “Going Viral” Was A Thing05:32 How The Knot Came Into The Picture09:38 The Lowball Offer, The Counter, And The Power Shift16:04 Why She Started Her Second Company Anyway20:06 When The Easy Path Disappears20:45 Jumping From Digital To Product — On Purpose22:57 Building A Business During COVID23:49 The Pivot That Changed Everything24:57 Breaking Into The Promotional Products World26:59 Running A Business Without Burning Out29:31 Why Simple, Profitable Businesses Win32:01 Building Success And Bringing Others With Her

Kendra Bracken Ferguson built companies that invented the creator economy before Instagram and TikTok — and she tells the part founders unusually hide: when the shiny acquisition stops working, the earn-out math gets ugly, and you have to choose between protecting your title or protecting your team…We get into trust as a system (including her very controversial co-founder test), buying a company back, building BrainTrust into a studio + fund backing Black beauty & wellness founders, and why corporate partners suddenly got nervous about “Black founder” the second it became inconvenient.01:36 Meet Kendra Bracken Ferguson: Builder, Operator, Dealmaker02:22 The Thanksgiving Idea That Sparked Digital Brand Architects04:03 How DBA Helped Invent The Creator Economy Before Instagram07:04 Knowing When To Walk Away—And Start Over08:10 Why “Trust” Became The Non-Negotiable Business Principle14:20 Inside The CAA Acquisition18:36 When The Deal Looks Good—But The Reality Doesn’t20:52 The Moment Everything Had To Change21:20 Redefining Failure: Pivots, Pressure, And Perspective22:41 Journaling, Self-Awareness, And Founder Survival Tools24:32 Rebuilding With Intention: The Real BrainTrust Vision25:12 From Agency To Studio To Fund26:39 Corporate Partnerships, Power Dynamics, And Hard Truths29:57 New Ventures, New Partners, And Building With Exit In Mind35:39 From Hustle To Harmony: Success, Sleep, And The Next Chapter

In this solo episode, Carrie pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build an exit strategy for women founders—from choosing the right co-founder to expanding into brokerage without chasing growth for growth’s sake. She explains why so many women struggle with confidence during the exit process and how mindset, timing, and preparation directly impact business valuation.You’ll also hear how the Whisper Group is evolving—from advisory to brokerage—and why selectivity is a competitive advantage when helping women navigate how to sell a company. If you’re building with an exit in mind or questioning whether you’re truly prepared for selling a business, this conversation will reshape how you think about female entrepreneurship and women founders exits.00:00 Season 6 begins: why this chapter is different00:43 The rise of women-owned businesses and the movement behind it01:28 A major announcement: bringing on a co-founder01:56 What actually matters when choosing the right co-founder03:06 New upgrades, merch, and what’s evolving this season03:23 Why we’re prioritizing in-person podcast conversations03:43 Expanding into brokerage — with intention and restraint05:12 The hidden cost of growth: expenses and pressure05:41 Letting go of scarcity thinking while scaling06:56 Why I’m genuinely excited about what’s ahead

In this episode, Nicole opens up about the hardest year of her life, balancing motherhood, money, and a messy business breakup, and how she found the strength to start over and build something entirely her own. 2:02 Nicole’s Journey Into Wealth Management   5:37 Transitioning Into An Independent Advisory Firm   6:27 Stepping Fully Into The Independent World   7:34 Building A Niche Focused On Professional Athletes   8:10 Supporting Exonerees With Their Financial Needs   10:50 Considering Leaving The Firm For Personal Reasons   12:33 Learning To Parent A Special Needs Child   14:00 Concerns Over A Partner’s Financial Decisions   17:40 Realizing It Was Time To Leave The Partnership   18:40 Embracing Full Independence In Her Business   20:00 Clients Rallying Behind Her During The Transition   21:40 Negotiating Exit Terms With Her Business Partner   24:28 Selling A Portion Of The Business   25:07 Acquiring Additional Wealth Management Firms   27:54 Lessons Learned From Business Partnerships   29:50 The Importance Of Strong Financial Planning