Growth + Exit

About Growth + Exit

This is the Growth + Exit Podcast, where owners of privately held, middle-market companies talk about founding, scaling, and exiting their businesses successfully.

Publisher

Susan Kearney and Heather Bennett

Category

business · business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

17 Apr 2025

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

1 of 70 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   14 Oct 2026

   How Italian Clothing, Trolleys in New York, Personalized Songs, and a Jetski Led to 3 Exits

   Dave Pike is the Founder and former CEO of New York Trolley Company, an event transportation business serving New York City. A strategy and operations leader with 17 years of experience, Dave has built, scaled, and successfully sold three companies spanning apparel, transportation, and AI-powered personalized music. He is also the author of The New Startup and a mentor to early-stage founders through the Founder Institute. In this episode… Building a successful business is less about finding one perfect idea and more about testing, adapting, and knowing when to move on. Entrepreneurs who validate demand early, stay close to customers, and prepare for an eventual sale can make smarter decisions as they grow. What does it take to build, scale, and successfully exit multiple businesses? For serial entrepreneur and strategy and operations leader Dave Pike, the answer starts with testing an idea before investing too heavily in it. Across three successful businesses, that approach helped him learn what customers actually wanted, adjust his strategy, and grow with greater confidence instead of relying on assumptions. Dave carried that same mindset through each stage of entrepreneurship, using what he learned from the market to decide where to invest, when to adapt, and when it was time to sell. His experience proves that disciplined testing can become the foundation for smarter growth and stronger business decisions. In this episode of Growth + Exit, Heather Bennett talks with Dave Pike, Founder and former CEO of New York Trolley Company, about building, scaling, and selling businesses. Dave shares how to validate business ideas, identify the right customers, and prepare for a successful exit. He also discusses marketing lessons, due diligence, entrepreneurship, and the inspiration behind The New Startup.

2. 

   7 Oct 2026

   Family Business Owners: 12 Questions You Need To Answer

   Thomas William Deans, PhD, is a best-selling author and globally recognized expert on family business succession and intergenerational wealth transfer, helping families and business owners navigate ownership transitions and long-term wealth planning. He has delivered more than 2,000 keynote presentations worldwide. Dr. Deans is the author of Every Family's Business, Willing Wisdom, and The Happy Inheritor, books that guide families, advisors, and leaders through business exits, estate planning, and preserving family wealth. In this episode… Building and transitioning a business requires more than strong operations and financial performance. Owners should also consider how ownership, wealth, and leadership will evolve over time. What steps can business owners take to create a successful exit and prepare for the future? Family business succession and intergenerational wealth transfer expert Dr. Tom Deans explains that ownership succession and management succession are separate issues; preparing someone to run a company does not automatically mean they are prepared to own it. Business owners shouldn't simply give a company to the next generation, but instead have honest conversations about whether heirs are willing and able to invest their own capital and take on ownership responsibility. Dr. Deans also highlights the importance of family meetings and advisors in creating a plan that protects both the business and family wealth. Smooth transitions require clarity, preparation, and intentional decision-making. In this episode of Growth + Exit, Heather Bennett chats with Thomas William Deans, PhD, best-selling author and family business succession expert, about creating a business transition strategy. Dr. Deans discusses why owners should build with the end in mind, why the next generation must be prepared for ownership responsibility, and how thoughtful planning can protect family wealth. He also shares lessons from selling his own family business.

3. 

   30 Sept 2026

   How Entrepreneurs Can Build Scalable Companies That Last

   Todd Girvin is the Founder and CEO of Futuremakers Leadership Forge, a peer advisory and executive coaching community for leaders of innovative organizations. A former technology founder and CEO, he helps executives strengthen leadership, navigate complex decisions, and build healthier, more resilient companies. Todd previously co-founded Improving, a software development consulting firm, where he served as CEO, corporate board member, SVP, and Houston Branch President before exiting. In this episode… Scaling a business takes more than landing new customers or growing revenue. As teams expand, leaders must learn when to delegate, how to preserve company culture, and where acquisitions can accelerate growth. What helps entrepreneurs scale successfully without losing sight of the company's purpose? For serial entrepreneur and executive coach Todd Girvin, scaling with purpose starts with intentional leadership and continuous improvement. Building clear roles, setting expectations, gathering meaningful client feedback, and developing leaders internally can create the structure needed for sustainable growth. Todd also emphasizes cultural fit when pursuing acquisitions and encourages entrepreneurs to identify a clear north star that guides their decisions. These practices help business owners build stronger organizations while staying focused on where they want to go. In this episode of Growth + Exit, Susan Kearney talks with Todd Girvin, Founder and CEO of Futuremakers Leadership Forge, about scaling businesses through intentional leadership. Todd shares how to build accountability, use acquisitions for growth, and navigate a business exit. He also touches on executive coaching and finding a clear north star.

Inside a recent episode

2 Exits, 1 Mission: How Building Investor Relations Companies Created Mavericks

Published 9 Sept 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] And so, I mean, every single person that comes to me and vilifies private equity, I'm like, I'm not your girl. If you have a small business, You go find a strategic buyer who's funded by private equity, because that's the magic, right? And a small business is not going to go directly to a private equity firm. They're not going to buy them. But a strategic firm funded by private equity with these super lofty growth goals, and you will get a deal done that's clean and good in 90 days versus our first deal, which took almost a year to accomplish. Absolutely believable. Both both of those numbers that make a lot of sense. […]

Who has been a guest on Growth + Exit

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Tony Medrano
• Molly McCartan
• Newt Fowler
• Maggie Lord
• Ari Pirutinsky

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

3.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 17 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

34

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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