William Bell, Chief Sales Officer at Chief Outsiders and Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Accelerate Consulting, discusses the critical strategies for successfully selling a business. He shares his expert advice for founders, covering everything from maximizing valuation to navigating the intense due diligence process. Discover the common "tricks" sellers attempt, such as manipulating pipelines with non-binding letters of intent, and why honesty is always the best policy to avoid derailing...
Jul 23, 2025•40 min•Ep. 35
Joanna Lohman is a globally recognized keynote speaker, sports diplomat, mental performance coach, and a former professional soccer player for the Washington Spirit. Joanna shares her powerful journey from the pitch to the podium, offering insights into her transition from elite athlete to transformational speaker and coach. Joanna dives deep into the pursuit of potential, the power of authenticity, and the dangers of early sports specialization for kids. She reflects on the mentors and meaningf...
Jul 16, 2025•33 min•Ep. 34
What does it take, not just financially, but emotionally and strategically, to sell the company you built from the ground up? Kelly Stratton, President and Founder of Quire, a cloud-based platform transforming technical report writing. As a seasoned environmental engineer and advocate for Agile development, Kelly shares her journey through the successful sale of her company and the lessons learned along the way. She emphasizes the value of assembling a specialized M&A team—accountants, legal...
Jul 09, 2025•40 min•Ep. 33
In this episode of Built To Finish, host Steven sits down with James Hall, CEO of Enate, to explore his impressive track record in the advanced technology sector and his strategic approach to successful business exits. James takes us through his entrepreneurial journey—starting with the founding of Gen Four in 2012, its acquisition by Accenture in 2017, and his current leadership role at Innate. He dives into the critical components of building a business with a clear exit in mind, including the...
Jul 02, 2025•41 min•Ep. 32
Damon Lembi, a two-time bestselling author, podcast host, and the founder and CEO of Learnit, shares his perspective on leadership and decision-making. He discusses the central concept from his book, "The Learn It All Leader," which contrasts "learn-it-alls" who are humble and open to new ideas, with "know-it-alls" who are stuck in their ways. A key decision highlighted in his career was the acquisition of a local competitor right before COVID, a move that proved to be highly successful. The con...
Jun 25, 2025•37 min•Ep. 31
Former professional football player and inspirational figure Mike Pawlawski shares his journey from overcoming cystic fibrosis to becoming a world champion quarterback. Mike discusses his success in building companies, his work as a TV producer and broadcaster, and his role as a keynote speaker and high-performance coach. He emphasizes the importance of persistence, adaptation, and the interplay between psychology and physiology in achieving greatness. Mike also recounts a harrowing encounter wi...
Jun 18, 2025•52 min•Ep. 30
Is your business truly ready for the AI revolution, or will it be left behind? In this episode of Built To Finish, we sit down with Armando Viteri, a seasoned executive with over 25 years in enterprise computing and a co-founder of multiple successful companies. Join us as Armando unpacks the profound ways Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the landscape for software companies and businesses at large. Discover how AI is revolutionizing internal processes, supercharging productivity, and cataly...
Jun 11, 2025•48 min•Ep. 29
Jon Giganti, a seasoned sales professional, former division one collegiate athlete, and author of the USA Today bestseller 'With Intention.' John shares his journey of writing the book, rooted in his early experiences with motivational literature and his struggles with performance in sports and sales. He discusses the concept of living with intentionality, overcoming obstacles, and managing 'intention deficit disorder,' a term introduced by Dr. Russell Barkley. The conversation also covers produ...
Jun 04, 2025•41 min•Ep. 28
Ready to scale your business and make a real impact? Discover how a healthcare leader built a massive company and is now disrupting medical technology! Michael Cetta, a physician and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in emergency medicine, shares his journey from leading MEP, an emergency medicine group that grew to 10 locations and 300 clinicians, to merging with US Acute Care Solutions. He discusses the strategies used during the exit process, the importance of partner alignment, a...
May 28, 2025•34 min•Ep. 27
What’s it really like to record a podcast from Mount Everest Base Camp in Tibet, China? 🏔️ Join Steven Pivnik, host of the Built to Finish Podcast, as he takes you behind the scenes of his mountaineering journey—answering YOUR questions from 17,000 feet up! In this high-altitude episode, Steven reveals: ✔️ His future adventure goals and climbing bucket list ✔️ The latest gear upgrades and how he packs for Everest ✔️ Acclimatization strategies that actually work ✔️ What it’s like working with gu...
May 21, 2025•24 min•Ep. 25
Louise McEvoy, a motivational speaker, Everest Summitter, and the Vice President of US Channel Sales at Trend Micro, shares her inspiring 20-year journey to summiting Mount Everest, detailing the challenges, rigorous training, and mountaineering experiences that shaped her path. She also discusses the importance of preparedness and the risks associated with high-altitude climbing, including close encounters with avalanches and witnessing fatalities. Shifting to her professional role, Louise expl...
May 14, 2025•41 min•Ep. 24
Jenn Drummond, a world record holder for being the first female to climb the second-highest summits on each of the seven continents, including K2. Jenn is also an international speaker, author of 'Break Proof,' host of the 'Seek Your Summit' podcast, and the founder of Clearwater Wealth Management. She shares her experiences of surviving a near-fatal car accident, which reshaped her perspective on fear and personal limitations, prompting her pursuit of monumental goals. Jenn discusses key moment...
May 07, 2025•37 min•Ep. 23
Lee Coulter, the Global Head of Transformation at Chazey Partners, shares his extensive experience in leading enterprise transformations and exiting startups. Lee's discussion provides a deep dive into strategies for company exits, focusing on cap table cleanup, maintaining detailed documentation, and the significance of having a coach during the process. He also addresses the challenges posed by poorly documented equity agreements, emphasizing the necessity of transparency and regular 'closing ...
Apr 30, 2025•50 min•Ep. 22
What are the key ingredients of a successful business exit? Marcus Wagner, financial expert and advisor, shares invaluable insights on positioning a business for long-term growth, making it attractive for acquisition, and executing a seamless exit strategy. He breaks down the importance of building sustainable revenue streams, hiring top-tier leadership ahead of time, and staying ahead with proactive due diligence. He also provides expert guidance for entrepreneurs looking to maximize their comp...
Apr 23, 2025•41 min•Ep. 21
What truly makes a brand unforgettable—its visuals, its message, or the emotions it evokes? Sienna Roman is an award-winning business owner and designer and co-host of the podcast Process Makes Purpose. She discusses what makes a strong brand, the importance of consistency, and the elements that contribute to a compelling brand. Sienna shares her views on the strategic nature of branding and the impact of visual representation. She provides examples of successful and unsuccessful rebrands by maj...
Apr 16, 2025•37 min•Ep. 20
Scott 'Kid' Poteet, a former combat fighter pilot turned astronaut shares his inspiring journey from struggling with motion sickness and fear of heights as a child to becoming a fighter pilot and eventually fulfilling his dream of flying on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. He also discusses his passion for endurance sports, having completed 16 Ironman triathlons, including the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. Scott details his unique educational path through an outdoor education program, the...
Apr 09, 2025•52 min•Ep. 19
Curious about scaling a tech startup, planning an exit strategy, managing remote teams, and growing a business? Kieron James is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in launching and scaling successful tech startups. Kieron shares valuable insights on exit strategies, emphasizing the importance of planning for an exit from day one and keeping organized records for a smooth due diligence process. The conversation also covers the challenges of evolving leadership teams as compan...
Apr 02, 2025•32 min•Ep. 18
As a CEO, how important is it to have a deep, comprehensive understanding of every aspect of your business, and how does that impact decision-making? Frank Gazzillo, a serial entrepreneur and CEO of Accurate Neuromonitoring, discusses his journey from chiropractor to successful business owner, having built and scaled multiple companies. Frank shares his experience selling his business to a private equity firm, emphasizing the importance of transparency, preparation, and a deep understanding of y...
Mar 26, 2025•36 min•Ep. 17
How can leadership, strategy, and adaptability shape both business transformations and film production? Nick Wilkinson, President of SNL Film and expert CEO discusses his career, transitioning from leading IT and private equity firms to a CEO role in a private company. Nick shares valuable insights on managing company transformations, navigating the sales process, and leading teams effectively. He also touches on his pivot to the entertainment industry, where he writes and produces films like De...
Mar 19, 2025•52 min•Ep. 16
How can entrepreneurs and authors balance the demands of business growth and personal development while maintaining focus and productivity? Nick Hutchison, founder and CEO of the rapidly growing seven-figure marketing agency BookThinkers, joins host Steven Pivnick. Nick, also the host of the top-rated podcast BookThinkers: Life-Changing Books , shares his insights into combining entrepreneurship with personal growth. He discusses his experiences with SMART goals, overcoming business failures (in...
Mar 12, 2025•39 min•Ep. 15
What are the key strategies for navigating global market expansion and company acquisitions? Mark Garland, shares his extensive experience in global market expansion and supply chain solutions. Mark discusses his leadership roles at companies such as 4R Systems, Capgemini, and Accenture, highlighting the strategic decisions and challenges he faced. He explains the process of navigating a company sale during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering insights on maintaining operational focus, the value of g...
Mar 05, 2025•41 min•Ep. 14
Curious about how to build a successful business and prepare for a profitable exit? Tom Bonney shares his 30+ years of experience in the business world, from his early days as a CPA at Deloitte to founding two successful firms: Polaris Consulting and CMF Associates. Tom offers invaluable insights into the key principles of building a thriving business, including the importance of staying market-focused, aligning with the right partners, and learning from initial mistakes. He shares strategies fo...
Feb 26, 2025•32 min•Ep. 13
Jon Gilman, founder and former CEO of Clear Software, discusses his journey from founding his company to its acquisition by Microsoft in 2021. He elaborates on the challenges he faced, including the intense stress of managing and eventually selling his startup. Jon emphasizes the importance of having multiple potential buyers at the negotiation table and recounts the bittersweet moments when deals fell through. He highlights the transformation and stability his team experienced post-acquisition,...
Feb 19, 2025•30 min•Ep. 12
Ever wondered what it takes to build a successful SaaS company, scale it to new heights, and ultimately navigate the complexities of selling? In this episode, Steven Pivnik interviews Mike Saldi, founder and CEO of SCLogic, and shares insights from his 28-year journey in logistics and facility software. Mike discusses his reasons for selling SCLogic, emphasizing the impact of age and the relentless drive to grow. He stresses the importance of company culture, equity distribution, and open commun...
Feb 12, 2025•37 min•Ep. 11
In this episode of Built to Finish, executive coach Pamela Singleton draws on over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience to share strategies for guiding businesses through key growth phases and successful exits. She covers the importance of a strong business model, recurring revenue, and a skilled executive team. Pamela also emphasizes the need for confidentiality during the sales process, effective cap table management, and the complexities of earnouts. The conversation delves into the emotion...
Feb 05, 2025•30 min•Ep. 10
Mark Kennedy, Partner at Red Strategy Group LLC, and a seasoned entrepreneur and advisor with over 25 years of experience, shares his journey from founding nine companies to selling his technology firm, Crown Partners, to Publicis Group. Crown Partners was named Strategic Acquisition of the Year in 2014 by the Mergers and Acquisitions Association. Mark discusses the key strategies that fueled his success, the importance of strategic partnerships, and the value of a strong executive leadership te...
Jan 29, 2025•49 min•Ep. 9
Mark Peters, a seasoned pilot with over 30 years of experience in both military and commercial aviation, reflects on his career journey, beginning with his training and instructor roles in the U.S. Air Force, and spanning his extensive tenure at FedEx, where he flew a variety of aircraft before retiring in 2022. He shares insights into the life of a FedEx pilot, discussing the unique challenges of night flying and the efficiency of the hub-and-spoke system. Mark also recalls memorable moments fr...
Jan 22, 2025•46 min•Ep. 8
In this episode of Built to Finish, host, Steven Pivnik, interviews Tim Ash, a leading online marketer, keynote speaker, and author of Unleash Your Primal Brain . The discussion delves into Tim's background in cognitive science and AI, his insights into evolutionary psychology, and how these concepts apply to marketing, decision-making, and human behavior. Tim highlights the importance of habits, explains the brain's focus on survival over happiness, and discusses the ethical use of fear in pers...
Jan 15, 2025•24 min•Ep. 7
In this episode, host, Steven Pivnik, sits down with Mike Reilly, the legendary voice of Ironman, who has spent over 30 years inspiring athletes worldwide. From announcing over 215 Ironman races to coining the iconic phrase "You are an Ironman," Mike shares the stories behind these moments and the lasting impact they've had on the endurance sports community. He also opens up about his bestselling book Finding My Voice , which highlights powerful Ironman stories, and his role as Chief Motivation ...
Jan 08, 2025•38 min•Ep. 6
In this week’s episode of Built to Finish, Steven Pivnik talks with Leo Fox, CEO and Founder of Vector Consulting Incorporated. Leo shares his journey from the intelligence community to founding Tenacity Solutions, a cybersecurity company that grew to nearly 200 employees before being sold. The conversation covers key business lessons, including the importance of hiring the right people, having a supportive peer group, and maintaining family involvement. They also explore the emotional and strat...
Jan 02, 2025•30 min•Ep. 5
