Book
Laurie Barkman
to Speak
Laurie has appeared on hundreds of podcasts, webinars, and stages, sharing her expertise in leadership, M&A, and business growth.
Straight Talk for Firm Owners Who Want Growth Without Running Yourself Ragged
As The Business Transition Sherpa®, Laurie delivers insight-rich talks that help firm owners escape bottleneck mode and lead with vision. She draws from her experience as a $100M CEO, M&A advisor, and Carnegie Mellon educator to guide audiences through the high-stakes decisions of growth, leadership, and transition.
From engineering operational freedom to preparing for a successful exit, Laurie brings strategic clarity and frameworks owners can act on immediately.
She’s a sought-after speaker for
Industry associations (AEC, technical, professional services)
Wealth management and financial services events
Peer advisory groups (Vistage, EO)
Banking and M&A events
Praise from Leaders Like You
Delivers outstanding presentations. She brought real energy and insight and meaningful discussion that will carry forward. We were especially grateful for the clarity, relevance, and authenticity you brought to our conversation. Your practical takeaways and the way you challenged the room to think differently had an impact.
William Edgar
Vistage Chair
Blends practical advice with real-world examples made the material relatable and immediately applicable. Her articulate delivery and focus on driving value and preparing for 'what’s next' resonated deeply with our members. The workshop was a call to action for business leaders to make critical decisions for long-term success. I highly recommend Laurie and this presentation!
Curt Davis
Vistage Chair
Real Results
from Owners
Like You
Laurie educated and informed my CEO members about the life cycle of a business, helped non-owners understand how to create/build value, thwart complacency, innovate, and position a business for sale. Her style was engaging, down-to-earth, and she met the group exactly were they were!
Claudia WilliamsPresident, The Human Zone LLC
Laurie Barkman delivers engaging, actionable insights that help entrepreneurs move beyond ‘who’s next’ to creating lasting value through early succession planning.
Tara GerekAssistant Director, Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence
Laurie Barkman delivered an insightful and engaging session that deeply resonated with business owners and advisors. Her ability to connect the emotional and strategic sides of preparing for a business sale brought tremendous clarity to a complex topic. Her practical guidance and genuine approach made a lasting impact on everyone in the room.
Ghislain GouraigePartner, NewEdge Wealth
About Laurie
Laurie Barkman, MBA, CM&AA
Speaker. Author. Advisor. Podcast Host.
Laurie Barkman is a former CEO who successfully led a $100 million company to acquisition by a Fortune 50 company, and now she helps AEC firm owners do the same. As a strategic advisor, author, and educator at Carnegie Mellon University, she guides business owners in growing, scaling, and transitioning with confidence.
Her signature speaking style seamlessly blends credibility with candor, making complex topics such as business valuation, succession planning, and owner dependency feel clear and actionable.
What Leaders Are Saying
Like most things in business, planning is #1 priority. It’s important to also map out exit strategy, consider impact on personal values, and work towards these goals.
Christian Carr
FSG
I believe succession planning is important and it’s never too soon to start.
Andrew Hess
Production Products Inc.
This is information that all business owners need early in the life of the company.
ANTON BIZZELL
The Bizzell Group
Signature
Talks & Workshops
From conference keynotes to executive roundtables, her sessions deliver strategy with substance. Every talk is tailored to the audience, grounded in case studies, and driven by results.
Signature Talks & Workshops
Tailored to each audience. Grounded in case studies. Focused on results.
Signature Keynotes
How to Avoid Exit Regrets
The emotional and practical roadmap for leaving on your terms
The Freedom Factor
How to stop being the bottleneck and build a firm that runs without you
From Growth to Legacy
Increase enterprise value and create a transition-ready business
What’s Your Business Really Worth?
Demystifying valuation and how to increase it—starting now
Interactive Workshops
Designing Your 2IC & Management Structure
The B.U.I.L.T. Method™ for Growth, Value, and Freedom
Strategic Succession Planning for Owner-Dependent Firms
The Business Owner’s Playbook for a Successful Transition
Speaking Appearances
Podcast
Interviews
Book Laurie for
Your Podcast
From podcast hosts to business media, she brings sharp insight, candid stories, and zero fluff to the mic.
The #1 Mistake AEC Firm Owners Make Before Exit
How to Increase Business Value Without Working More Hours
Reclaiming Time and Control as a Founder
What Owner Dependency Really Costs You
M&A Lessons from the Trenches
Launch of The Endgame Entrepreneurship™ Masterclass Empowers Business Owners for Successful Exits
Succession Stories Podcast Wins Communicator Excellence Award
Maximizing Value: The Key to Your Best Business Exit
Launch of The Endgame Entrepreneurship™ Masterclass Empowers Business Owners for Successful Exits
Succession Stories Podcast Wins Communicator Excellence Award
Maximizing Value: The Key to Your Best Business Exit
If you’re planning a conference, retreat,
industry event, or podcast and want an expert
who brings strategy, warmth, and a voice of
authority—let’s talk.
Follow
Laurie Barkman
You don’t have to choose between growing your business and getting your life back.
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