With over $2 trillion in business assets at stake and 91% of Canadian business owners without a succession plan, we’re facing a real crisis. In this episode, host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell chats with Charlie Iscoe, whose venture - CommonShares - is flipping the script on business exits. Charlie brings Wall Street investment experience and a mission to keep Canadian businesses local by transitioning ownership to employees. He explains how their model allows retiring owners to receive fair market...
Aug 12, 2025•25 min
In this candid and energizing episode of ‘The Cash Rich Exit Podcast’, host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell sits down with author, educator, and tech entrepreneur Dr. Lindy Ledohowski . From academia to publishing to leading a fast-scaling SaaS platform, Lindy shares her story of transformation and what it really takes to walk away from one professional identity to build another. Together, they dig into what motivates bold career pivots, the value of knowing your numbers (and knowing your worth), and...
Jul 29, 2025•1 hr 4 min
In this episode, host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell chats with Peter Deitz, social entrepreneur and founder of Canada’s first-ever employee ownership trust (EOT) transition at Grantbook. Peter shares how his scenic, eight-year exit journey created space for new ventures, empowered employees, and protected the company’s B Corp values. The episode is a roadmap for any founder looking to exit with both financial return and community impact. 🔑 Key Highlights The Long Game: Peter’s exit took 8 years - ...
Jul 15, 2025•34 min
In this final segment of a powerful three-part conversation, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell and Jennifer Williams explore the community-level impact of employee ownership for Canadian business owners - beyond the dollars and deal terms. If you're a founder who wants to leave behind more than just a net worth number, this episode offers compelling reasons to consider how your exit plan could strengthen your community, not just your portfolio. Key Highlights 💼 Employee-Owned Companies = Stability Dur...
Jul 01, 2025•20 min
In part two of this three-part series, Colleen welcomes back Jennifer Williams to explore the financial power behind Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs). This isn't just a values-based feel-good exit. EOTs now offer significant tax advantages that can rival, and even exceed, traditional business sale routes. From how to qualify for the new $10M lifetime capital gains exemption to why Canada introduced this legislation, Jennifer breaks it all down - plus, the importance of doing it right with guidan...
Jun 17, 2025•20 min
Host: Colleen O’Connell-Campbell Guest: Jennifer Williams, Founder of Firefly Insights In part one of a three-part series, Colleen sits down with Jennifer Williams , a passionate advocate for employee ownership and founder of Firefly Insights. This episode explores how business owners can transition their companies to employees - preserving their legacy, values, and community roots - expanding their options beyond the default of private equity or selling to competitors. Jennifer shares why emplo...
Jun 03, 2025•27 min
👋 at RBC Dominion Securities In this episode, host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor, sits down with Tiara LeTourneau , CEO of Rewrite Capital Advisors , and a pioneer in bringing Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) to Canada. Tiara explains how EOTs offer a compelling, tax-efficient option for business owners who want to protect their legacy, empower their employees, and still achieve full value in an exit - without selling to a third party or private equity. Tiara shares how she helped ...
May 20, 2025•37 min
Welcome back, Self Made Nation! In this episode, I reconnect with Brock Murray , co-founder of seoplus+, to explore a topic that’s fast becoming essential to business exit strategy: how to identify, measure, and maximize the value of your digital assets. Brock shares how seoplus+ developed a proprietary Digital Asset Valuation program designed to help business owners understand the true value of their online presence - think websites, social media, ad accounts, email lists, and more. Why does it...
May 06, 2025•27 min
In this episode, I sit down with seasoned M&A expert Eric Cardinal - a true connector in Canada’s investment and business exit ecosystem. With decades of experience in investment banking, private equity, and corporate finance, Eric shares how relationships, preparation, and AI-driven intelligence are reshaping the exit journey for business owners. We dig into the power of networks like the M&A Club, the practical benefits of using AI to prepare for due diligence, and the often-overlooked...
Apr 22, 2025•34 min
Ever wonder how businesses scale successfully - or why some promising companies unexpectedly falter? In this enlightening episode of ‘The Cash Rich Exit Podcast’, host Colleen sits down with Shady Abboud , CEO of Unloop Accounting and Founder of Storyline Financial. Shady specializes in helping businesses turn complex financial data into actionable insights that drive strategic growth and profitable exits. From identifying red flags in your cash flow to understanding the crucial difference betwe...
Apr 08, 2025•43 min
Taxes may not be the most exciting topic, but mastering tax planning is crucial for entrepreneurs aiming for a cash-rich business exit. In this insightful episode, host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell sits down with Mike Nazarov, a seasoned tax partner at KPMG Canada, to decode Canadian tax updates and share essential strategies for structuring your Canadian-controlled private corporation. Here's what you can expect from this episode: 🔑 Practical insights into the recent capital gains inclusion rate...
Mar 25, 2025•43 min
Welcome, Self-Made Nation! Today on The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, we talk about a crucial but often overlooked aspect of business ownership - estate planning. Colleen O’Connell-Campbell is joined by Erin Kelley , estate planning lawyer at Cooligan Yehia LLP, to discuss how business owners can secure their legacy for future generations. 🏢 Why estate planning matters for business owners – Your business is one of your biggest assets. Without a solid estate plan, succession can become complicated, co...
Mar 11, 2025•29 min
Welcome back to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast with me, your host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell . Today, we're spending time in the world of governance and leadership with Jennifer Mondoux , Managing Partner, CEO, and Founder of MondouxRollins Partners Inc. and the visionary behind Canada's Best Private Boards (also known as The Boardies). Jennifer has a rich background – she started in journalism and then moved into helping companies find the right leaders. She really understands how important good g...
Feb 25, 2025•35 min
Welcome back to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast! I’m your host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Katherine Cooligan, a distinguished family law specialist and founding partner at Cooligan Yehia, LLP. With over 30 years of experience in family law, Katherine shares critical insights on how business owners can safeguard their assets and plan for potential family law challenges - including separation, divorce, and intergenerational wealth transfers. 💡 What y...
Feb 11, 2025•34 min
Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast! I’m your host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell , Wealth Advisor. In this episode, I’m joined by Lois Graveline, founder and CEO of Harmonia Philanthropy, to explore the true value of charitable giving beyond tax savings. Lois brings over 30 years of experience in the charitable sector and is passionate about driving meaningful impact for both individuals and businesses. 🎙️ What you’ll learn in this episode: 🌟 Beyond Tax Benefits: How purposeful philanthropy ca...
Jan 28, 2025•39 min
Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast! I’m Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor and your host. Today, we’re joined by a seasoned entrepreneur, Marc Gingras, whose impressive journey spans startups, venture capital, and productivity innovation. Marc is the co-founder of Bloks and, in his own words, “student of entrepreneurship”, continually evolving and applying lessons from each stage of his career. 🎙️ What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 🛠️ The Evolution of Entrepreneurship: Marc shares c...
Jan 14, 2025•40 min
Join us on The Cash Rich Exit Podcast for a special roundup of the best "Fun, Frank Advice" shared by our incredible guests this year. I’m Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities and your host, guiding you - visionary leaders of the Self-Made Nation - through strategies for building, scaling, and planning your intentional cash-rich exit. In this celebratory episode, we reflect on the wisdom, inspiration, and actionable insights offered by our guests throughout the y...
Dec 31, 2024•23 min
Welcome back to ‘The Cash Rich Exit Podcast’! I’m your host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor. My guest today is Brad Ezard, a seasoned M&A expert and corporate lawyer with extensive experience in private equity, business restructuring, and transaction management. As a partner at Confederation M&A in Ottawa, Brad specializes in helping traditional and service-based businesses navigate the complexities of mergers and acquisitions. 🎙️ In this insightful episode, we discuss the u...
Dec 17, 2024•32 min
Welcome back to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast! I’m your host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, here to guide you, the Self-Made Nation, through the strategies and stories that lead to successful business exits. In this episode, I’m joined by Boris Petkovic, Director at Sampford Advisors Inc., a leading M&A advisory firm specializing in technology companies. We chat about the dynamic world of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the tech sector, with insights tailored to entrepreneurs and founders ai...
Dec 03, 2024•23 min
Welcome back to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast! I’m your host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor. In this episode, we wrap up our enlightening three-part series with leadership coach Eric Deschamps. We talk about one of the most personal aspects of an entrepreneurial exit: redefining identity and purpose beyond the business. 🌟 Rediscovering yourself After the Exit: We discuss the psychological impact of leaving behind the role of business owner and the challenge of finding a new sense of s...
Nov 19, 2024•26 min
Welcome back to ‘The Cash Rich Exit Podcast’! I’m your host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor. Today, we continue our conversation with Eric Deschamps, a leadership and business coach who talks about the often-overlooked issue of loneliness in leadership. Eric brings insights on how to navigate isolation, especially for those at the top who may feel the weight of leading, without a peer group to lean on. 🌟 Redefining Leadership Loneliness: Eric opens up about the reality of isolation ...
Nov 05, 2024•36 min
Welcome back to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast! I’m your host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor to business owners working towards a cash rich exit. In today’s episode, we kick off part one of a three-part conversation with business and leadership coach, Eric Deschamps. Eric brings a wealth of knowledge, sharing insights into maintaining work-life balance - though, as you'll hear, he prefers the term "work-life rhythm". 🎙 The Ebb and Flow of Life and Business: Eric talks to me about the i...
Oct 22, 2024•34 min
Welcome back to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast! I'm your host, Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor. In today’s episode, I sit down with Lily Bond, the inspiring young entrepreneur behind Spyce Girlz, who launched her business as a teenager and turned it into a thriving brand. As an entrepreneur in her 20’s, Lily has already faced immense challenges and learned how to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape, offering valuable insights for seasoned business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs alik...
Oct 08, 2024•28 min
Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, where we discuss the entrepreneurial journey from inception through to a successful exit. I’m Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, your host and Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities. Today, we're joined by Sheena Brady, the dynamic founder of tease , a company that’s redefining wellness with its unique tea and botanical-infused essentials. 🌿 From Hospitality to Health: Sheena shares her body of work from a decade-long career in hospitality to discovering the p...
Sep 24, 2024•43 min
Welcome (back) to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast! I'm Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, your host and Wealth Advisor, dedicated to guiding you, the Self Made Nation, through the pivotal transitions of your entrepreneurial journey. Today, I’m calling your attention to a topic that is perhaps not as talked about as it should be by Canadian CEOs, founders, and business owners: preparing for a future where selling your business might not be an option. It’s a reality that 91% of business owners over 55 are fac...
Sep 10, 2024•13 min
Hello, Self-Made Nation! I’m your host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor. As we wind up the summer, we’re rounding out our powerful book club series, where we’ve sailed through the investment strategies of some of the great financial minds. 📘 Retrospective Insights: In this series, we set out on a literary journey with Benjamin Graham's "The Intelligent Investor," then we travelled the unpredictable paths of Burton Malkiel's "A Random Walk Down Wall Street," and finally explored the in...
Aug 27, 2024•6 min
Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, I'm Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, your host and Wealth Advisor. On this podcast, we talk about the entrepreneurial journey, from the inception of a business idea through to a wealth-focused exit. Today marks our third and final episode in a ‘book club’ series focused on transformative investment philosophies, joined by Alicia Castellino, Senior Relationship Manager at Dimensional Fund Advisors. We read "Trillions" by Robin Wigglesworth, a book that chronicles...
Aug 13, 2024•28 min
Hello, Self Made Nation, and welcome back to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast. I’m your host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor. As we celebrate our 300th episode today - a true milestone - I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for joining me on this journey. Your engagement and feedback have transformed this podcast into a beacon for entrepreneurs aiming for a prosperous and intentional business exit. A Cash Rich Exit! For this milestone episode we continue our focus on inve...
Jul 30, 2024•34 min
Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, where we talk about the full spectrum of the entrepreneurial journey with a keen eye on successful, planned exits. I'm your host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, here to guide you through building a thriving business designed for a prosperous future. In today’s episode, I emphasize the importance of an investment philosophy as a cornerstone of financial success and stability. I'm joined by Alicia Castelino, Senior Relationship Manager of the Wealth Management G...
Jul 16, 2024•27 min
Welcome to The Cash Rich Exit Podcast! I’m your host, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell, here to guide ambitious entrepreneurs through the complexities of building a business designed for a prosperous and fulfilling exit. Today marks the beginning of a special series - our summer book club! 📚 The Summer's Reading List: Join me as we dive into three seminal books on investment that are cornerstone to any entrepreneur’s financial library. Whether you are a seasoned investor or just beginning to navigate...
Jul 02, 2024•5 min
