Season 4 | Episode 8 | Build It to Be Worth Something

Send us Fan MailToday, Trudy Heins sits down with Jenni Erbel and Nina Forbes, two highly experienced businesswomen whose careers have spanned financial services, leadership, business ownership and ultimately successful business exits.What started as a conversation on Nina's driveway became a business they would build, grow and sell within five years. From the beginning, they had a number in mind and knew what they were working towards. That clarity shaped many of the decisions that followed.Together, Trudy, Jenni and Nina explore what it takes to build a business with real value beyond its owners. They discuss exit planning, cash flow, profitability, delegation, people, processes, culture and why understanding your numbers is a responsibility that can never simply be handed to someone else.They also unpack the importance of building for where you want the business to go, rather than only solving for what it needs today, and why knowing your own strengths may mean recognising that you don't have to be the CEO simply because you own the business.If you've ever wondered whether you're building a valuable business or simply creating another job for yourself, this conversation is full of lessons from two women who have built, grown, sold and ultimately created the freedom to choose what came next.Connect with Jenni Erbel and Nina ForbesJenni Erbel LinkedInNina Forbes LinkedInEpisode Highlights03:14 Jenni's journey from teaching to financial services, business ownership and retirement03:58 How a conversation on a driveway became their first business05:11 Why they had an exit strategy from the beginning07:35 Moving from technician to CEO09:33 Building towards a number and finding the right business mentor11:48 Why doing everything yourself limits business value13:03 Cash flow, growth and the numbers you need to watch15:15 Profit as the reward for taking the risk of business ownership16:11 The mistakes and learning experiences behind the success17:58 Knowing when an opportunity will derail your strategy18:47 People, profit and process20:01 Communication, culture and leading your team21:16 Why culture can trump strategy23:05 Building systems and structure for where the business is going25:13 Why growth requires a longer-term view27:00 Building the foundations for the business you ultimately want38:17 Knowing when it was time to step away40:15 Defining the end game and working backwards40:52 From sharing one desk to taking over the entire floor42:30 Backing yourself and creating options for the future43:24 Why bigger businesses don't mean fewer mistakes43:55 Season 4 Quickfire Questions45:28 Why sustainable growth means stopping doing everything yourself46:29 Knowing your numbers and measuring return on investment47:22 What to do when you've become the bottleneck48:32 Final thoughts and takeawaysBecome a Fempire Certified Business CoachIf you're an experienced businesswoman ready to turn your knowledge into a profitable coaching business, we'd love to have a conversation.Click here to learn moreFind a Fempire Certified Business CoachLooking for practical business support from a coach who understands the realities of business ownership?Find your coach hereJoin the Fempire AcademyAccess practical business resources, masterclasses, templates, playbooks and a supportive community of women building stronger, more profitable businesses.Join the AcademyConnect with FempireWebsiteFacebookInstagramLinkedInSupport the show