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Listen "Less Than 1%: Changing the Story of Women and Exits with Carrie Kerpen"
Episode Synopsis
Selling your business won’t save you if you’re not ready for what comes after, and most founders aren’t.
Less than 1% of women founders successfully exit their businesses. That story is changing, and Carrie Kerpen is leading the movement.
In this episode of Your Next, I sit down with Carrie Kerpen, founder of The Whisper Group and a successful agency exit veteran, to explore how women are rewriting the rules of business, building companies designed to sell, and creating exits that unlock freedom, legacy, and purpose.
We go deep into the reality of life after a big sale: the loss of identity, the challenges of integration, and the path to reclaiming power on your own terms. If you’ve ever wondered what happens after the wire hits, this conversation will change how you think about exits.
Press play now, and step into the conversation that could redefine how you see your next chapter.
[00:00 – 12:00] The Agency and the Exit
Carrie’s journey from co-founding Likable to an 8-figure exit
How Built to Sell became her roadmap to acquisition
Why do women approach exits differently than men
[12:01 – 20:00] Life After the Sale
The emotional crash that follows even a successful exit
The reality of working for “the mothership” after selling
Why community and support matter most post-exit
[20:01 – 25:00] The 3 Ds + B Every Founder Faces
The 3 Ds that threaten every founder: Divorce, Death, and Disability, plus the B: Burnout
Why lump sums bring more fear than freedom if you’re not prepared
How The Whisper Group equips women for the full journey, not just the transaction
[25:01 – End] Building a Sellable Business and Lasting Legacy
The three biggest mistakes that kill value
Carrie’s WHISPER framework for creating a sellable business
Why legacy is built through resilience, profit, and purpose
Key Quotes:
“Nobody was really speaking to them in a way that matters.” - Carrie Kerpen
“Women-owned businesses, fully female-founded businesses, account for fewer than 1% of total exits.” - Carrie Kerpen
Connect with Carrie!
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carriekerpen
Website: carriekerpen.com/
Ready for your next chapter?
Start Your Assessment Now 👉 https://theexitparadox.com/assessment
Leave a Review + Help Others Achieve a Great Legacy
If you found this episode valuable, leave us a review and share it with someone who wants to expand their business growth.
Your Next is more than a podcast—it’s a community that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and ages, united by a shared passion for personal growth and achieving excellence.
🎧 Explore our previous episodes or learn more about our mission at https://exittoexcellence.com. Your next chapter starts here!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Less than 1% of women founders successfully exit their businesses. That story is changing, and Carrie Kerpen is leading the movement.
In this episode of Your Next, I sit down with Carrie Kerpen, founder of The Whisper Group and a successful agency exit veteran, to explore how women are rewriting the rules of business, building companies designed to sell, and creating exits that unlock freedom, legacy, and purpose.
We go deep into the reality of life after a big sale: the loss of identity, the challenges of integration, and the path to reclaiming power on your own terms. If you’ve ever wondered what happens after the wire hits, this conversation will change how you think about exits.
Press play now, and step into the conversation that could redefine how you see your next chapter.
[00:00 – 12:00] The Agency and the Exit
Carrie’s journey from co-founding Likable to an 8-figure exit
How Built to Sell became her roadmap to acquisition
Why do women approach exits differently than men
[12:01 – 20:00] Life After the Sale
The emotional crash that follows even a successful exit
The reality of working for “the mothership” after selling
Why community and support matter most post-exit
[20:01 – 25:00] The 3 Ds + B Every Founder Faces
The 3 Ds that threaten every founder: Divorce, Death, and Disability, plus the B: Burnout
Why lump sums bring more fear than freedom if you’re not prepared
How The Whisper Group equips women for the full journey, not just the transaction
[25:01 – End] Building a Sellable Business and Lasting Legacy
The three biggest mistakes that kill value
Carrie’s WHISPER framework for creating a sellable business
Why legacy is built through resilience, profit, and purpose
Key Quotes:
“Nobody was really speaking to them in a way that matters.” - Carrie Kerpen
“Women-owned businesses, fully female-founded businesses, account for fewer than 1% of total exits.” - Carrie Kerpen
Connect with Carrie!
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carriekerpen
Website: carriekerpen.com/
Ready for your next chapter?
Start Your Assessment Now 👉 https://theexitparadox.com/assessment
Leave a Review + Help Others Achieve a Great Legacy
If you found this episode valuable, leave us a review and share it with someone who wants to expand their business growth.
Your Next is more than a podcast—it’s a community that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and ages, united by a shared passion for personal growth and achieving excellence.
🎧 Explore our previous episodes or learn more about our mission at https://exittoexcellence.com. Your next chapter starts here!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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