Laurie Barkman, The Business Transition Sherpa™

Business Transition Expert

Award-winning speaker and author, Laurie Barkman puts a spotlight on the most important questions you may be avoiding about business transition. She inspires CEOs and business owners to take action today to avoid succession regrets tomorrow. There are no right or wrong answers to these questions other than ignoring them, and later wishing you had taken action when time was on your side.

Check out her presentations below to see if Laurie would be a good fit for your organization.

Cornell College of Business recommends Laurie Barkman
Twelve Mavens recommends Laurie Barkman
Vistage recommends Laurie Barkman
Brick & Wonder recommends Laurie Barkman
Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business recommends Laurie Barkman
Entrepreneurs' Organization recommends Laurie Barkman
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"Laurie Barkman's presentation to our community helped clarify what business owners need to consider before, during and after their big exit. I highly recommend her talk to every business owner."

– Jeff Davis, Chairman & Founder at Twelve Mavens

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"Laurie Barkman's presentation to our community helped clarify what business owners need to consider before, during and after their big exit. I highly recommend her talk to every business owner."

– Jeff Davis, Chairman & Founder at Twelve Mavens

Workshop:
“How to Transition Your Company on Your Terms”

Every business faces these questions and decisions.

100% of business owners will leave their company one day, but few have planned for that transition. This workshop is designed for business owners and CEOs to help plan an exit within the next 5 to 10 years. In this interactive session, Laurie provides real-life examples and hands-on tools to help you approach value building and exit planning as part of your entrepreneurial journey. You’ll discover how to avoid top succession pitfalls and create more valuable exit options.

Duration: 3 hours

Ideal For: Off-site meetings and conferences for CEO and Executive Groups or Associations

Outputs and takeaways include:

  • How readiness, attractiveness, and transferability creates lasting power for your business to the next generation or to yield a higher valuation
  • How strategies for growth, innovation, and acquisitions relate to the corporate lifecycle
  • How to reverse engineer value growth by learning buyers’ motivations and which drivers should be a priority to make your company more valuable
  • Why formalizing a Strategic Transition Plan incorporating business, personal, and financial goals helps avoid transition pitfalls and create more successful exit options in the future
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A topic that is very important to most business owners. Laurie was engaging, enthusiastic, and covered a wide range of subjects with good data and ideas.

– Joe Sziabowski, Hardaway|Sziabowski Architects

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A topic that is very important to most business owners. Laurie was engaging, enthusiastic, and covered a wide range of subjects with good data and ideas.

– Joe Sziabowski, Hardaway|Sziabowski Architects

Keynote:

“How to Avoid Exit Regrets”

Emotional and practical aspects of business transition

This session covers an often-overlooked aspect of selling a business: Regret.

One year after the sale, many business owners regret their decision.

Most sessions about exit planning focus on preparing the business for a more valuable exit. It can be even more important to prepare personally for life after selling. There can be difficulty not knowing what to do after a business transition.

This session is best for business owners considering next steps in their entrepreneurial journey who want to explore the practical and emotional aspects of transition.

We will discuss several aspects that can lead to regret and strategies to have a transition on your own terms– without regrets.

Duration: 30 minutes to 1 hour

Ideal For: A keynote presentation for conferences or industry events

Outputs and takeaways include:

  • How to pre-plan for a business transition
  • Explore personal dynamics that can lead to regrets 
  • Four key drivers that influence successful transitions
  • Proactive steps you can take to ensure you are helping, not hurting your company’s value
  • Finding balanced objectivity to influence positive financial and emotional outcomes of a sale process
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The information Laurie presented addressed burning questions that I've wrestled with over the years.

Anton Bizzell, Bizell US

 

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The information Laurie presented addressed burning questions that I've wrestled with over the years.

– Anton Bizzell, Bizzell US

Connect with Laurie

Fill out the form to book Laurie Barkman for your next event.

The Business Transition Handbook” is available for bulk ordering. 

The Business Transition Handbook

How to Avoid Succession Pitfalls and Create Valuable Exit Options

The Business Transition Handbook

Consider this: 100 percent of owners will leave their business one day. But few are prepared. Are you? Read The Business Transition Handbook to master the mindset, strategies, and tactics you need to unlock your financial freedom in your exit.

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This book is a master class in how to proactively approach business transition. Laurie’s straight talk, illustrative stories, and clear insights will motivate you to take the next step in your personal and business journey to prepare for the next phase of your life.

John Warrillow, best-selling author of The Built to Sell trilogy, and founder of The Value Builder System™

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This book is a master class in how to proactively approach business transition. Laurie’s straight talk, illustrative stories, and clear insights will motivate you to take the next step in your personal and business journey to prepare for the next phase of your life.

John Warrillow, best-selling author of The Built to Sell trilogy, and founder of The Value Builder System™

The Business Transition Handbook