When Cultures Collide - Interview with Susan Apgood

In this episode of Branching Out, Susan Apgood, the former CEO of News Generation, shares candid insights about her journey selling her company in April 2020 in the midst of the COVID lockdown. She opens up about navigating a challenging broker relationship, unexpected cultural clashes between merging teams after the acquisition, and the emotional reality of watching a company you built change in ways you didn’t foresee. Susan also reflects on why due diligence, communication, and support networks—especially for women founders—are essential during an exit. Now a full-time professor at American University, she brings those lessons forward to empower the next generation of women business leaders.