Succession Stories EP236: Stop Delegating. Start Offboarding, with Michèle Hecken, Author of The Art of Offboarding

Succession Stories EP236: Stop Delegating. Start Offboarding, with Michèle Hecken, Author of The Art of Offboarding

Succession Stories EP236: Stop Delegating. Start Offboarding, with Michèle Hecken, Author of The Art of OffboardingLaurie Barkman
Published on: 09/28/2026

Michèle Hecken built a global company, ran it 4–10 hours a week for 15 years, and sold it for 7x EBITDA — all cash. She joins Laurie Barkman to reveal why delegation fails and what offboarding actually means.

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Succession Stories EP235: Why Execution Beats Strategy Every Time with Patrick Thean

Succession Stories EP235: Why Execution Beats Strategy Every Time with Patrick Thean

Succession Stories EP235: Why Execution Beats Strategy Every Time with Patrick TheanLaurie Barkman
Published on: 08/10/2026

Most companies don't fail from bad strategy — they fail from poor execution. Patrick Thean joins Laurie Barkman to unpack what derails exits, why identity follows founders out the door, and how to build a business that doesn't need you.

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Succession Stories EP234: The State of Exit Planning in 2026 with Scott Snider

Succession Stories EP234: The State of Exit Planning in 2026 with Scott Snider

Succession Stories EP234: The State of Exit Planning in 2026 with Scott SniderLaurie Barkman
Published on: 07/27/2026

Exit strategy is business strategy. Scott Snider of the Exit Planning Institute returns to Succession Stories to share what's changed, what hasn't, and why the personal leg of the stool is still the weakest.

exit planningexit planning strategybusiness exit planningsuccession planningbusiness successionCEPAsuccession stories
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Succession Stories EP233: What It Really Takes to Build a Business Ready for Transition with Alan Bennett

Succession Stories EP233: What It Really Takes to Build a Business Ready for Transition with Alan Bennett

Succession Stories EP233: What It Really Takes to Build a Business Ready for Transition with Alan BennettLaurie Barkman
Published on: 07/13/2026

Three businesses. Three very different exits. Alan Bennett joins Laurie Barkman to share what went wrong, what he'd do differently, and why owner dependency is quietly killing your business value.

succession storiesbusiness exitexit planningbusiness exit planningretirement planningsuccession planningwealth management
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