ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.
Listen "Regret Proof Your Business Part 2 - David Shavzin & Maria Forbes"
Episode Synopsis
What if your team, not your revenue, is the key to a successful business exit?
In Part 2 of the Regret-Proof series, Jerome Myers and Maria Forbes of Stratis Human Capital Solutions explore how people issues like misalignment, legacy hires, and founder-dependence quietly drain business value.
Learn how to turn your workforce into your strongest asset, whether you’re years from selling or fielding offers now.
[00:00 – 04:30] Why Human Capital Is the Missing Link in Exit Planning
Human capital is a strategic value driver, not just HR
Buyers assess workforce strength, leadership alignment, and role clarity
Growth and exit readiness should be aligned and simultaneous
[04:30 – 08:30] Alignment: The First People Challenge
“Cloning yourself” limits innovation and scalability
Misalignment hinders synergy, efficiency, and growth
True alignment means matching instincts and strengths to roles
[08:30 – 13:30] Hiring Habits: Staff vs. Stakeholders
Staff support the owner's goals; stakeholders co-own company growth
Stakeholder teams drive autonomy, performance, and purpose
Hiring habits must evolve to boost retention and enterprise value
[13:30 – 18:00] Growth Bottlenecks: Managing Alone Won’t Scale
Top-down leadership reduces agility and resilience
Distributed leadership unlocks execution and team potential
Role mapping supports clarity, development, and onboarding
[18:00 – 26:00] Regret-Proofing Through People Strategy
Outdated systems and poor onboarding weaken enterprise value
A healthy, independent, connected workforce attracts buyers
Start early to ensure your exit results in pride, not regret
Key Quotes:
“Alignment is a value driver. When you’re in good alignment, a potential buyer can see that.” — Maria Forbes
“If you’re calling them staff, then they are your supporters. If you’re calling them your team, then they’re stakeholders in the growth of your company.”— Maria Forbes
Connect with David!
Website: https://getonthevaluetrack.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidshavzin/
Connect with Maria!
Website: https://firepowerteams.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariacforbes/
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
In Part 2 of the Regret-Proof series, Jerome Myers and Maria Forbes of Stratis Human Capital Solutions explore how people issues like misalignment, legacy hires, and founder-dependence quietly drain business value.
Learn how to turn your workforce into your strongest asset, whether you’re years from selling or fielding offers now.
[00:00 – 04:30] Why Human Capital Is the Missing Link in Exit Planning
Human capital is a strategic value driver, not just HR
Buyers assess workforce strength, leadership alignment, and role clarity
Growth and exit readiness should be aligned and simultaneous
[04:30 – 08:30] Alignment: The First People Challenge
“Cloning yourself” limits innovation and scalability
Misalignment hinders synergy, efficiency, and growth
True alignment means matching instincts and strengths to roles
[08:30 – 13:30] Hiring Habits: Staff vs. Stakeholders
Staff support the owner's goals; stakeholders co-own company growth
Stakeholder teams drive autonomy, performance, and purpose
Hiring habits must evolve to boost retention and enterprise value
[13:30 – 18:00] Growth Bottlenecks: Managing Alone Won’t Scale
Top-down leadership reduces agility and resilience
Distributed leadership unlocks execution and team potential
Role mapping supports clarity, development, and onboarding
[18:00 – 26:00] Regret-Proofing Through People Strategy
Outdated systems and poor onboarding weaken enterprise value
A healthy, independent, connected workforce attracts buyers
Start early to ensure your exit results in pride, not regret
Key Quotes:
“Alignment is a value driver. When you’re in good alignment, a potential buyer can see that.” — Maria Forbes
“If you’re calling them staff, then they are your supporters. If you’re calling them your team, then they’re stakeholders in the growth of your company.”— Maria Forbes
Connect with David!
Website: https://getonthevaluetrack.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidshavzin/
Connect with Maria!
Website: https://firepowerteams.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariacforbes/
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
In God we trust