#19 - Sharon Lee Thony (SLT Consulting)

In this episode of 'The Exit Whisperer,' host Carrie Kerpen interviews entrepreneur Sharon Lee Thony about her inspiring journey from a corporate job to founding and scaling SLT Consulting, which she eventually sold to Fiverr.   Sharon shares practical steps for transitioning from a side hustle to a thriving agency, challenges in balancing family obligations, and the significance of building a supportive network of freelancers.   The discussion includes insights on mindset shifts, strategic decisions, and maintaining company vision post-acquisition. Key topics cover entrepreneurship, women in business, digital marketing, and strategies for building, scaling, and selling a business.   Sharon also reflects on her role in launching Fiverr Agencies and her future plans as an advisor and angel investor.    
1:14 Sharon’s Journey to Selling Her Agency to Fiverr  
4:53 Leaving Corporate Life for Freelancing  
6:45 A Consultant’s Perspective on the Freelance Shift  
9:32 Planning Freelance Income vs. Full-Time Pay  
11:05 Moving from Freelancer to Business Owner  
13:00 Building a Collective of Expert Freelancers  
15:15 Using Teaching as a Client Attraction Strategy  
18:50 Fiverr as a Sandbox for Business Growth  
21:39 How COVID Transformed Digital Marketing  
24:00 What’s Ahead for Fiverr’s Future  
25:43 The Rise of Agency Owners Looking to Sell  
27:20 Why So Few Women Exit Their Businesses  
30:34 Keeping Autonomy After Being Acquired  
32:05 Extracting Value the Right Way at Fiverr  
34:00 Creating Jobs and Opportunities Through Business  
36:20 Sharing Knowledge After an Acquisition