Poised for Exit
Poised for Exit
Julie Keyes
Welcome to the Poised for Exit podcast! Poised for Exit is an under 30-minute strategic planning guidance podcast for busy small business owners. Each week you’ll hear certified exit planning advisor, Julie Keyes, talk with a range of entrepreneurs and professionals about preparing your business for a future transition. Guests at every stage of company ownership will share their personal stories and lessons learned about topics such as the anatomy of the exit planning process, developing a growth strategy, how to sell on your terms, exit planning for women small business owners, handling business diversity, and how to sell a family business. Whether you’re planning an exit in the near future or not, this show will provide you with the same action-oriented content that Julie utilizes while consulting with Keyestrategies clients. Building an exit strategy can be overwhelming, especially with all the decisions and details you have to consider. “Poised for Exit” will simplify the process and help you unwrap the unknowns, giving you more confidence in your planning process. Previous episodes are available for download, so if you are new to our show, you can listen to them in any order that suits you. Join us each week for timely, relevant content that will surely impact your business exit outcome! Subscribe to our newsletter below to receive your weekly episode link and stay updated on new strategic planning content. Find “Poised for Exit” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, and others. Thank you to our Sponsors: Sunbelt Business Advisers and JAK CPA's. A special note of thanks to Tyler Keyes who produced the music for the “Poised for Exit” show.
Why Exit Plans Fail Without Great Execution
In this episode of Poised for Exit, Renee Russo, business coach, exit planner, and Exit Planning Institute's Exit Planner of the Year, shares why even the best exit plans can fall short without the right execution. Renee knows firsthand what it feels like to be trapped in a business you worked so hard to build. After navigating her own challenging entrepreneurial journey, she discovered how the right systems, leadership, and planning can give owners something they often set out to achieve in ...
Oct 15
31 min
How Marketing Strategy Drives Growth and Exit Readiness
In this episode of Poised for Exit, Lisa McEllistrem, CEO of Modern Foundation and President of EO Minnesota, shares how strategic marketing can drive business growth, strengthen company value, and help owners prepare for a successful exit. Lisa's journey into business ownership followed nearly two decades in the advertising industry and a personal experience that reshaped her priorities. She shares how those experiences led her to Modern Foundation, where she helps businesses connect their m...
Oct 8
40 min
The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Buying a Business
In this episode of Poised for Exit, Jaryd Krause, founder of Buying Online Businesses, shares how buying an existing business can open up new opportunities for entrepreneurs, whether they’re looking for a new venture or a faster way to grow a business they already own. Jaryd’s own path into business ownership started with a simple realization: instead of building something from scratch, why not buy a business that was already working? He shares how that decision led him to buy several online...
Oct 1
35 min
Business Owners Helping Business Owners: The 2026 Owners Forum
In this episode of Poised for Exit, Todd Krough, President of the EPI Twin Cities Chapter discusses why some of the most valuable insights for business owners can come from other owners who have already faced the decisions, challenges, and opportunities that come with preparing for what’s next. Todd shares how the Twin Cities Chapter has evolved over the past decade and why collaboration among business owners and their advisors is such an important part of successful exit planning. From build...
Sep 24
22 min
Post-Closing Surprises: What Business Owners Need to Know
In this episode of Poised for Exit, Andy Knutson of John A. Knutson & Co., PLLP and Zach Freeman of Christensen Group Insurance explore what can happen after a business transaction closes and why business owners and their advisors need to be prepared for issues that may surface after the deal is done. The conversation covers the post-closing process, including working capital true-ups, closing balance sheet adjustments, tax deadlines, and financial discrepancies that can affect both buyer...
Sep 17
38 min
From Uncertainty to Action: What the Latest Business Survey Reveals
In this episode of Poised for Exit, Peter Pluimer of Old National Bank shares insights from the bank’s latest State of Business Report and what business owners across the Midwest are saying about today’s opportunities, challenges, and economic uncertainty. The conversation explores how business owners are moving forward despite uncertainty, from investing in their workforce and accessing capital to addressing growing cybersecurity risks. Peter also discusses what he’s seeing in the lending en...
Sep 9
33 min
Inside the 2026 M&A Summit: What Business Owners Can Expect
In this episode of Poised for Exit, Andy Schwandt of True North Mergers & Acquisitions offers a preview of the 2026 M&A Summit, an annual event bringing together business owners and advisors for a day focused on preparing, positioning, and planning for successful business transitions. The conversation explores what attendees can expect from this year’s Summit, including discussions around owner readiness, mitigating risk, and understanding what can go wrong during a transaction. Andy ...
Sep 3
29 min
What a Father and Son Are Learning About Family Business Succession
In this episode of Poised for Exit, father-and-son team Joe Strazzeri and Sal Strazzeri of Strazzeri Mancini explore succession from a perspective they know both professionally and personally. After years of helping successful business owners and families navigate complex transitions, Joe is now applying many of those same lessons as Sal builds his role within the family firm. The conversation explores why successful succession planning requires more than getting the legal, financial, and tax...
Aug 27
43 min
The Hidden Complexities of Family Business Succession
In this episode of Poised for Exit, Amy Wirtz and Andrew Wirtz of Family & Business Success unpack what makes family business succession so complicated and why the biggest challenges often have very little to do with the numbers. Family relationships, ownership, leadership, and expectations around the next generation can all shape whether a transition moves forward smoothly or gets stuck. Amy and Andrew share what they see behind the scenes when families avoid important conversations, mak...
Aug 20
45 min
Is Your Business Bankable? What Lenders Want to See Before a Sale
In this episode of Poised for Exit, Bob Morse, VP Community Business Banker with MidCountry Bank, joins the show to discuss what lenders look for from business owners preparing for a sale and from buyers seeking financing for an acquisition. A business can be profitable and still create headaches when it comes time to finance a sale. Bob explains why owners should be talking with their banker long before a buyer appears, and what lenders are actually looking for when they evaluate the busines...
Aug 12
38 min
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