The Exit Whisperer

#46 - Coco Sellman (Allumé Home Care)

She built a company from scratch to serve medically fragile children — and sold it for double her valuation.
In this powerful and emotional episode, Coco Sellman shares the full story behind founding her home healthcare agency inspired by her stepdaughter, scaling it to $7M in just 18 months, surviving the pandemic, navigating investors and partnerships, negotiating a merger, and finally landing the perfect exit with a major children’s hospital.
 
From starting without funding to surviving impossible cash flow gaps and sitting across from private equity in a room full of men — Coco breaks down what it really takes to exit on your terms. If you’re building with purpose but want a serious business outcome… this one is a must-listen.
 
2:34 Starting a Home Health Care Agency  
4:47 Spotting Big Market Opportunities in Health Care  
6:50 Building a Strong and Scalable Home Health Agency  
9:01 Why Proof of Concept Matters in This Industry  
10:36 Delivering Specialized Care for Fragile Patients  
12:11 How They Hire and Retain Exceptional Nurses  
14:01 The Decision to Bring On Investors  
18:10 Shifting Growth Strategies During the Pandemic  
19:56 Merging With Competitors to Stay Competitive  
22:01 Breaking Down How the Merger Was Structured  
24:01 The Major Challenges They Faced During the Merger  
27:22 Why Choosing the Right Partner Is Everything  
30:02 Winning a Medicaid Rate Increase  
32:13 Interest From Connecticut Children’s Hospital  
34:04 What Private Duty Nursing Really Involves  
35:38 Why Autonomy Matters So Much in Business  
39:32 The Role of Advocacy in Healthcare Pricing  

#45 - Ali von Paris (Route One Apparel)

In this episode of The Exit Whisperer, we sit down with Ali von Paris, founder of Route One Apparel, a Maryland-themed clothing company that went from a viral college T-shirt idea to a self-funded powerhouse. Ali dives into the early hustle of building a business from scratch, learning e-commerce when it was still the wild west, scaling to 4,000+ SKUs, and eventually navigating the emotional and strategic complexities of selling her business.
 
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to exit a company you built from the ground up—or how to scale a community-rooted brand into a full-blown movement—this one’s for you.
 
2:12 How a Viral T-Shirt Sparked Ally’s Journey  
5:00 Launching Her Business With $12,000 in First-Day Sales  
6:51 Balancing College Life With Entrepreneurship  
9:30 Hiring Her First Employee and Building a Team  
13:15 Community Excitement and Deep Brand Connection  
14:50 Lessons Learned From Early Business Inefficiencies  
17:10 Why Finding the Right Office Space Matters  
18:50 Testing Market Interest Before Launching New Products  
21:00 Hitting Her Financial Stability Goals  
25:00 Figuring Out Who She Is Beyond the Business  
30:00 The Decision to Sell Her Company  
31:57 Exploring Options for Preserving Her Business Legacy  
34:01 Learning to Embrace a Life of Leisure  
36:00 Shifting From Productivity to Genuine Joy  
39:04 Discovering Her Personal Identity Beyond Entrepreneurship  

#44 - Michelle Wahler (Beyond Yoga)

In this episode of The Exit Whisperer, Michelle Wahler shares the incredible 18-year journey of building Beyond Yoga—a body-positive, female-founded activewear brand that made comfort, inclusivity, and authenticity its mission from day one. From hand-illustrated T-shirts to a strategic, self-funded apparel company acquired by Levi Strauss & Co., Michelle unpacks every twist in her story: childhood influences, bootstrapping struggles, wholesale wins, emotional negotiations, and her mindset shift post-exit.
 
Whether you’re scaling your first business or considering your final chapter, this is a masterclass in leading with values and building a brand people love.
 
0:18 Michelle Sells Her Company  
2:01 Introducing Michelle’s Story  
3:40 Where Michelle’s Entrepreneurial Spark Came From  
5:47 Launching Her First Business, Unsweetened  
8:14 Building and Leading Beyond Yoga  
10:13 How Childhood Experiences Shaped Her Drive  
13:50 How An Investment Changed Everything  
17:00 Why Wholesale Partners Were Critical  
19:01 Building Relationships With the Early Sales Team  
20:37 A True Commitment to Real Women’s Bodies  
23:01 Why Fit and Fabric Quality Matter Most  
27:27 New Colors Coming for Their Signature Dye  
29:39 Exploring a Potential Partnership With the CFO  
32:30 Choosing Steady Growth Over Short-Term Profit  
35:06 Why Avoiding Excess Inventory Is Essential  
36:58 Teamwork That Got Them Through Tough Negotiations  
39:34 Aligning Brand Values With the Right Partners  
41:46 Navigating the Transition Out of the CEO Role  
44:40 Embracing a New Chapter in Life  

#43 - Jennifer Vazquez (3x Exits)

Carrie sits down with Jennifer Vazquez, a single mother who overcame bankruptcy and the failure of her first business to build and sell a series of successful childcare centers.
 
Jennifer shares her journey of acquiring, scaling, and eventually selling three childcare centers for double their valuation. She discusses key strategies such as seller financing, and the benefits of buying existing businesses over starting from scratch.
 
Jennifer also delves into her transition from running childcare centers to her current role as an EOS coach, helping other entrepreneurs achieve success. Her story is filled with persistence, grit, and invaluable insights for anyone navigating the entrepreneurial landscape.
 
 
2:20 Why Buying an Existing Business Can Be a Smart Move  
5:29 Seller Financing Explained in Simple Terms  
7:11 Negotiating Back Rent With the Landlord  
9:01 Searching for Strong Standalone Business Opportunities  
10:50 Acquiring the Building Through a REIT  
13:12 Taking Bold Risks by Expanding to Multiple Locations  
15:14 Using EOS to Run and Scale the Business  
17:44 Why She Decided to Sell After Major Success  
19:53 Hitting Their Best Year Ever in 2021  
24:11 Keeping Quality High All the Way to Closing  
26:22 How EOS Coaching Transforms Businesses  
28:00 Shifting From Day-to-Day Operator to Visionary  
30:02 The Big Advantages of Buying an Existing Business  

#42 - Miren Oca (Ocaquatics Swim School)

Miren Oca, the founder of Ocaquatics Swim School, a successful swim school business she started at 22 years old after becoming pregnant in college. Miren shares her inspiring journey from teaching swimming lessons to building a business with 165 employees, 5 locations, and 6,500 weekly swimming lessons.
She discusses her focus on environmental and social responsibility, becoming a certified B Corporation, and the unique exit strategy she implemented using an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), ensuring her business’s legacy and continuing benefits for her employees.
 
Miren explains the challenges and successes in setting up the EOT, why it was the best choice for preserving her company’s values, and the profound satisfaction she has experienced through this exit route.
 
2:10 Miren Oka Shares the Vision Behind Her Employee Trust  
3:01 Starting a Business at Just 19 Years Old  
5:02 How Books Helped Miren Become an Entrepreneur  
5:47 Miren’s Passion for Life-Saving, Purpose-Driven Work  
6:20 The Journey to Building an Indoor Pool  
6:57 Teaching 6,500 Swimming Lessons Every Week  
7:34 Prioritizing Team Growth, Happiness, and Stability  
11:08 Employees Returning as Co-Owners  
12:41 Exploring Different Employee Ownership Models  
14:30 Discovering the Employee Ownership Trust Structure  
15:01 How Co-Owners Earn Their Shares Through Time  
16:57 Why She Chose Seller Financing for the Transition  
18:01 Teaching Employees to Think Like Owners  
19:15 Building a True Culture of Ownership  
20:38 The Joy of Transitioning to Employee Ownership  
21:59 Why Young Team Members Matter So Much  
23:41 The Big Benefits of Seller Financing  
24:29 Other Options for Transitioning a Business  
25:39 Creating an Inspiring Legacy for Future Generations  

#41 - Susan Latremoille (The Latremoille Group)

Carrie introduces Susan Latremoille, founder of Next Chapter Lifestyle Advisors. Susan shares her journey from building a successful financial advisory practice to selling it at a premium valuation.
 
With over 40 years of experience, Susan transitioned from Merrill Lynch to entrepreneurship, ultimately exiting her company in 2019. She discusses the importance of trust and team development in her business, as well as the process of preparing for and executing a successful exit.
 
She also works with financial advisors to enhance their client relationships beyond just financial planning.
 
 
2:20 Susan’s Path Into Financial Services  
5:51 Moving Into an Independent Financial Practice  
6:49 Shifting to Strategic, High-Level Board Meetings  
8:00 Why Independent Investment Choices Matter  
9:36 Building Client Trust From the Ground Up  
12:14 Preparing Entrepreneurs for Business Succession  
13:20 How to Find the Right Successor  
14:05 Why the Age Gap Matters in Succession Planning  
16:01 Transitioning Clients Smoothly to New Leadership  
18:24 Formalizing a Seamless Business Transition Process  
20:10 Why So Many Business Owners Regret Their Sale  
20:50 Starting Next Chapter Lifestyle Advisors  
24:09 The Importance of Personal Planning Before an Exit  
26:00 How to Connect With Next Chapter Advisors  
 
 

#40 - Susan Apgood (News Generation)

At just 26, Susan took a leap — launching News Generation with the backing of her family and a single client’s nudge. What followed was a two-decade journey building a niche agency in radio media relations, where she prioritized culture, steady growth, and real relationships. In this episode, she opens up about the real emotions behind selling a business, why she started thinking about exiting around age 50, and how she navigated the unexpected curveball of selling during a pandemic. Susan also shares what really mattered in the deal (spoiler: it wasn’t just the money), why her office space and team were non-negotiables, and how she’s now using her experience to guide other women founders.
 
This is a story about knowing your worth, leaving with integrity, and designing what’s next — on your own terms.
 
2:31 How She Launched the News Generation Agency  
5:51 Making Smart Decisions About Hiring and Equity  
7:44 Why She Only Needed $14,530 for the First 90 Days  
9:59 How Those First 90 Days Became Her Catapult to Success  
12:24 Selling the Business in 2020 After Major Growth  
14:23 The Emotional Low Point Before the Sale  
16:09 The First Acquisition Approach Back in 2018  
19:01 Gaining Confidence by Testing Her Market Value  
21:27 Why She Decided to Skip Using a Broker  
23:00 Signing All the Paperwork in the Middle of COVID  
25:00 Celebrating the Sale With a Meaningful Dinner  
28:26 The Acquisition, Rebrand, and Name Change  
31:37 Teaching and Empowering Women in Leadership  

#39 - Michele Hecken (Alpha Translations)

She Was Told “You Can’t Be a Good Mom and Build a Company” — So She Proved Them Wrong
 
Michele discusses her successful career as an entrepreneur who managed to maintain a work-life balance while building and eventually selling her global translation business.
 
In an engaging conversation with Carrie, Michele shares insights from her journey, including the initial struggles, the importance of offloading responsibilities, and the process of scaling. She emphasizes the significance of setting personal and business goals, handling the transition after a business exit, and finding new purposes.
 
The episode provides valuable advice for women entrepreneurs on preparing for an exit and determining their worth outside their business.
 
1:58 Finding a Healthy Balance Between Work and Life  
5:08 The Moment She Realized She’d Been “Fired” From Her Own Life  
7:02 Understanding That *You* Are Often the Biggest Roadblock  
10:14 Why Every Founder Must Build Repeatable Engines  
12:40 The Struggle of Managing Freelance Availability  
15:30 The Real Reasons She Considered Selling Her Business  
18:49 Transitioning Out of Tech Into New Opportunities  
20:20 How Mindset Shapes Business Growth  
22:01 Why the M&A Market Is Tough for Small Businesses  
25:12 Exploring Identity, Freedom, and What Comes Next  
27:30 Choosing Your Own Value—Not What Others Assign  
29:01 Encouragement to Name Your Number and Own Your Exit  

#38 - Kelly Parker (Send Ribbon)

Kelly shares her story, from her early days of recognizing her entrepreneurial spirit to the founding of her company, Send Ribbon.
 
She discusses her tech startup background, the challenges of personalized corporate gifting, and how her experience inspired her business idea.
 
She shares insights into her strategic methods for launching the business, overcoming financial constraints, and the pivotal moments that led to the company's growth. Kelly also details her personal life sacrifices, the importance of networking, and her eventual acquihire by Urban Stems during the pandemic. 
 
 
1:01 Kelly’s Path to Becoming an Entrepreneur  
5:55 Taking Big Risks in the Startup World  
8:34 Managing Money Through Early Startup Struggles  
10:51 Cutting Costs to Keep the Business Alive  
13:03 Lessons Learned From Buyers at Ralph Lauren  
15:02 Launching the Business Just in Time for Mother’s Day  
17:51 Prioritizing Customer Needs Over Vanity Metrics  
20:10 Reconnecting With the Founder of UrbanStems  
22:03 The First Conversation That Sparked an Acquisition  
24:08 The Email That Confirmed UrbanStems’ Interest  
26:12 Moving to DoorDash to Build Community  
28:01 What an Acquihire Really Looks Like  
31:48 How the DoorDash IPO Shaped the Experience  
33:40 Why Resources Matter So Much in an Acquihire  
37:00 The Emotional Challenge of Letting Go of Ownership  
38:38 The Regrets That Can Come After Selling  
40:50 Long-Term Career Paths After an Acquihire  
42:21 Spending the Holidays With the People Who Matter  
 

#37 - Anne Mahlum (SolidCore)

Anne Mahlum, the founder of SolidCore, shares her journey from being a waitress in North Dakota to negotiating a major company sale.
 
Anne shares her incredible story of founding SolidCore with $175,000 of her own savings after initially working
in nonprofits and creating a running club for a homeless shelter. She discusses the challenges she faced, including navigating contentious business relationships and securing funding, while highlighting the importance of an unwavering belief in oneself.
 
Discover how Anne turned her passion for fitness and community building into a $100 million success story, the strategic decisions she made during the COVID-19 pandemic, and her ultimate exit strategy.
 
Anne also sheds light on her financial philosophy, the impact of her upbringing, and the significance of achieving a nine-figure exit.
 
 
00:33 Introducing Anne Mahlum: From Waitress to Entrepreneur
4:54 The Power of Believing in Yourself  
7:00 Stepping Into the Next Chapter of Her Life  
10:06 Overcoming Deep Self-Doubt as an Entrepreneur  
11:52 Navigating a Tough Relationship With a Business Partner  
14:00 Becoming Intentional With Every Spending Decision  
15:57 Scaling From 6 to 25 Studios  
18:00 Why Control Is Everything in Dealmaking  
19:36 Expanding at Lightning Speed to 50 Studios  
22:59 A CEO’s True Risk Tolerance in a Crisis  
25:00 Negotiating With Landlords to Keep the Business Alive  
27:00 Expanding Into Red States During the Pandemic  
28:38 Promoting Brian to CEO  
30:37 How She Achieved a $100 Million Exit  
32:54 Why Rewarding Employees Matters More Than Ever  
34:33 The Case for Not Starving Founders  
36:20 Seeing Money as a Trophy for Value Creation  
39:31 Aligning Your Skills With the Right Opportunities