Gail Becker shares how she left corporate America, invested in an idea almost no manufacturer wanted to make, and built CAULIPOWER into a major frozen food brand. Years later, her exit brought the story full circle when the manufacturer that took a chance on her at the beginning became part of the deal.

This episode is sponsored by:

Luminary, a global professional community where founders, investors, and professionals come together to learn, connect, and grow. Use code WHISPER10 for 10% off your first 12 months of membership at www.weareluminary.com.

The Whisper Group helps women founders get exit-ready by connecting them with experienced exited entrepreneurs for the strategy, guidance, and support they need to prepare for a successful exit. Learn more at www.wearethewhispergroup.com.

2:40 - CAULIPOWER's Origin Story

4:57 - Taking the Leap

6:44 - Funding & Scaling Frozen Food

10:24 - Raising VC & Going into Walmart

13:06 - Cauliflower as a Movement1

5:57 - Finding a Manufacturer

18:53 - The Exit Story

24:49 - Post-Deal Feelings

27:42 - Advice for Founders

30:07 - Tuning Out the Noise

Carey Peters shares the story behind building Health Coach Institute to nine figures, taking on private equity, losing control, and navigating a final sale that didn't happen the way she expected. It's a candid conversation about ownership, investor dynamics, founder knowledge, and what Carey learned when things went sideways.

This episode is sponsored by Jessika Graham. Jessika Graham is an M&A attorney who works closely with female founders helping them understand the deal, protect their interests, and move through the sale process with clarity.

Connect with Jessika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgrahamesq/

2:12 - From Actress to Coach: An Unconventional Start

6:36 - Struggling as a Coach & Meeting Stacy

7:35 - Co-founding Holistic MBA

14:20 - Building Health Coach Institute (HCI)

17:14 - The Platform Play & Acquiring Schools

22:55 - Taking Private Equity: What Changed

32:24 - The Final Sale: When Things Go Sideways

38:42 - Reflections: Surrender, Growth & What's Next

M&A attorney Jessika Graham joins Carrie Kerpen to break down what founders need to know before an exit, from getting your contracts and IP in order to choosing the right attorney, understanding what you're signing, protecting your leverage, and why ChatGPT should never replace real legal counsel during a transaction.This episode is sponsored by Jessika Graham. Jessika Graham is an M&A attorney who works closely with female founders on the sell side, helping them understand the deal, protect their interests, and move through the sale process with clarity.

Connect with Jessika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgrahamesq/

2:23 - Jessica's Path Into Law3:00 - From Bankruptcy to Transactional Law5:56 - Finding Her Place in M&A8:14 - Championing Female Founders11:26 - What Makes or Breaks a Deal13:21 - Hiring the Right M&A Attorney16:06 - EBITDA & Educating on Instagram18:35 - ChatGPT in Legal20:36 - Privilege, Trust & Walking Through Documents21:50 - The Missing Link in Legal23:13 - Transparent Pricing24:55 - Final Advice for Female Founders