Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Closing the Exit Gap with Carrie Kerpen

In this new episode our discussion revolves around the imperative to close the exit gap that women face in business, wherein they capture a mere 0.8% of exit value. I have the distinct honor of hosting Carrie Kerpen, a trailblazing entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of the Whisper Group, which specializes in exit readiness for women-owned businesses. Throughout our discussion, we delve into the transformative journey of women entrepreneurs, emphasizing the necessity of cultivating confidence alongside competence. Carrie elucidates her own experiences of building and selling her agency, highlighting the profound insights gained from her journey in navigating the complexities of business exits. As we explore the nuances of leadership and the unique challenges faced by women in the entrepreneurial sphere, we illuminate pathways for women to scale their ventures and achieve financial independence.Our Guest This Week:Today we have a SUCCESS SORCERESS in our midst!  Carrie Kerpen is the Founder and CEO of The Whisper Group, the premier exit-readiness advisory firm dedicated exclusively to women-owned businesses. A trailblazing entrepreneur, Carrie built and sold one of the world's first social media agencies, turning a lifestyle business into a life-changing eight-figure asset. Through her work, her bestselling books — Work It!(which was featured in the #WisdomOfWomen Book Club) and her latest, The Whisper Way — and her podcast The Exit Whisperer, Carrie is on a mission to close the staggering exit gap, where women capture only 0.8% of exit value. Her visionary leadership empowers women founders to scale with purpose and exit with prosperity, reshaping the future of wealth for women. Carrie’s voice is bold, definitive, and rooted in a fierce belief: that women deserve to build companies that create freedom, impact, and generational wealth.Takeaways:A significant exit gap exists where women-owned businesses capture only 0.8% of total exit value, highlighting systemic inequalities. Carrie's journey illustrates how personal challenges can lead to professional growth and transformative business success. The Whisper Group aims to empower women entrepreneurs by providing resources and community support for business growth and exits. Both hosts stress the importance of confidence over mere competence in pursuing business opportunities and leadership roles. The conversation revolves around actionable strategies for women to build scalable businesses that can be sold for substantial value. Chapters:05:06 Defining Moments: Shaping the Future11:33 Transitioning into Leadership: From Wedding Planner to CEO13:42 The Exit Gap and Women's Entrepreneurship19:54 Understanding the Exit Gap for Women Entrepreneurs30:01 Understanding Valuation: The Key Metrics for Success31:58 Navigating the Emotional Challenges of Selling a Company39:04 The Whisper Way: A New Chapter for Women EntrepreneursBurning Questions Answered:Why do women capture only 0.8% of exit value—and how do we fix it?What makes a business actually sellable?Can women create life-changing wealth without building billion-dollar unicorns?How do you know when it’s time to sell your company—and what happens next?Favorite Quotes:“For every $100 spent on acquiring companies, women-owned businesses earn just 1 cent. That’s what we’re here to change.”“Revenue is vanity. Profit is sanity.”“The idea that I could sell my business meant I could stop being afraid.”GUEST OFFERS & CONTACT INFORMATION:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriekerpen/  LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thewhispergroup/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearethewhispergroup/? Website: https://www.wearethewhispergroup.com/ Email: [email protected] Wisper Way – the book:  thewhisperway.com The Whisper Way Exit Readiness Program: https://www.wearethewhispergroup.com/the-whisper-way-exit-readiness-programBuy/Sell a Business: https://www.wearethewhispergroup.com/buy-sell-a-businessThe Whisper Collective:  https://www.wearethewhispergroup.com/the-whisper-collectiveFollow the #WisdomOfWomen show for more inspiring stories and insights from trailblazing women founders, investors, and experts in growth and prosperity.YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/yja3w7nhSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/4tak8ajk Amazon Prime: https://tinyurl.com/366syddj Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/bdhananz RSS Feed: https://feeds.captivate.fm/womengetfunded/ Coco Sellman, the host of #WisdomOfWomen, believes business is a force for good, especially with visionary women at the helm. With over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience, she has launched five companies and guided over 500 startups. As Founder & CEO of A Force for Good, Coco supports purpose-driven women founders in unlocking exponential growth and prosperity. Her recent venture, Allumé Home Care, reached eight-figure revenues and seven-figure profits in just four years before a successful exit in 2024. A venture investor and board director, Coco’s upcoming book, *A Force for Good*, reveals a roadmap for women to lead high-impact, high-growth companies.Learn more about A Force for Good:Website: https://aforceforgood.biz/ Are Your GROWING or PLATEAUING? https://aforceforgood.biz/quiz/FFG Tool of the Week: https://aforceforgood.biz/weekly-tool/ The Book:  https://aforceforgood.biz/book/ Growth Accelerator: https://aforceforgood.biz/accelerator/