Democratising Value: BizEquity, EMG and the Future of Founders with Michael Carter S2 (EP16)
Release Date: 12/18/2025
Inside Case Western’s Center for Family Business with Laura Bonnet (EP 20)
Finish Big 2.0 w/ Mark Dorman
In Episode 20 of the Finish Big Podcast, host Mark Dorman welcomes Laura Bonnet, Founding Director of the Center for Family Business at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. Established in 2023, the Center for Family Business was created to connect and equip multi-generational family enterprises to build stronger legacies. Laura brings a powerful blend of strategy, corporate leadership, and advisory experience to the role — having held executive positions at American Greetings and advisory roles at McKinsey & Company, as well as experience with General...
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How to Exit with Satisfaction: A Founder’s Playbook with Robert “Bob” Hothem S2 (EP 19)
Finish Big 2.0 w/ Mark Dorman
In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, Host Mark Dorman sits down with longtime friend and exit strategist Robert “Bob” Hothem, founder of Exit with Satisfaction. After building one of the largest TAB (The Alternative Board) franchises in the world — growing to 68 members and seven boards — Bob strategically exited his own business and launched a new venture focused on helping owners prepare emotionally and strategically for their exit. Mark and Bob discuss: Self-limiting beliefs The emotional side of entrepreneurship Why most owners wait too long to start exit planning ...
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Paying it Forward with Rick Scruggs S2 (EP 18)
Finish Big 2.0 w/ Mark Dorman
In Episode 18 of the Finish Big Podcast, host Mark Dorman welcomes financial services veteran Rick Scruggs, founder of Financial Designs in Lynchburg, Virginia. Rick’s journey into financial planning was shaped by tragedy. When his father passed away unexpectedly just days before ERISA legislation would have secured a lifelong pension for his mother, Rick experienced firsthand the importance of financial preparedness. That defining moment ignited a lifelong mission: helping business owners protect what they build. Since founding Financial Designs in 1983, Rick has worked with over 100...
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From Bombay to a $200M Business & a Successful Exit with Dee Vaidya S2 (EP 17)
Finish Big 2.0 w/ Mark Dorman
In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, Host Mark Dorman sits down with serial entrepreneur Dee Vaidya. Born in Bombay and raised in Pune, Dee’s journey spans continents, industries, and decades — from rubber and plastics to electronics, Dell manufacturing, geospatial intelligence, and building a $50M+ government contractor before a successful exit. From starting with just $5,000 and a dream in Mary’s family home, to winning a $200M global geospatial intelligence contract for the U.S. government, Dee’s story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and long-term thinking. This...
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Democratising Value: BizEquity, EMG and the Future of Founders with Michael Carter S2 (EP16)
Finish Big 2.0 w/ Mark Dorman
In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, host Mark Dorman sits down with Michael Carter — serial entrepreneur, venture investor and founder of BizEquity, and now founder & CEO of Entrepreneurs Management Group (). Michael has built platforms used by hundreds of thousands of businesses, created large shareholder value, and now aims to democratise entrepreneurship with an AI-driven roadmap and founders’ co-pilot. Mark and Michael discuss: BizEquity origin — why business valuation needed democratising and the early insight that launched BizEquity. Democratisation — making knowledge...
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From Private Equity to Pickles: The Entrepreneurial Leap with Pat Viancourt S2 (EP 15)
Finish Big 2.0 w/ Mark Dorman
In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, host Mark Dorman sits down with food industry executive and entrepreneur Pat Viancourt, owner and CEO of Herman Pickle Company in Garrettsville, Ohio. With decades of leadership experience across Seagram, Nestlé Waters, Hospitality Mints, Paragon Foods, and multiple private-equity-backed businesses, Pat shares how he went from corporate CPG and private equity to owning a family-built pickle company with both beloved legacy brands and major national partnerships. For listeners thinking about buying a business, exiting corporate life, or scaling a...
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Creating Shared Success: Inside the Ohio Employee Ownership Center with Chris Cooper S2 (EP 14)
Finish Big 2.0 w/ Mark Dorman
In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, host Mark Dorman sits down with Chris Cooper, Director of the Ohio Employee Ownership Center (OEOC) at Kent State University. For over 25 years, Chris has helped business owners across Ohio explore the power of employee ownership — guiding them through successful transitions, building strong ownership cultures, and creating legacies that last. Mark and Chris discuss: The OEOC Mission – How the Ohio Employee Ownership Center helps business owners transition their companies to employee ownership. The Human Impact – Real stories of employees who...
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What is the “Fredo” effect- and how might it impact your Family Business? S2 (EP13)
Finish Big 2.0 w/ Mark Dorman
In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, Host Mark Dorman sits down with Professor Kimberly Eddleston of Northeastern University and Cornell University’s Smith Family Business Initiative. Professor Edelston is one of the world’s leading scholars in family business and entrepreneurship—ranked among the top 2% of scientists by Stanford University and recognized by Family Capital as one of the world’s Top 25 Family Enterprise Academics. Mark and Kim discuss: The Fredo Effect – What it means, how it appears in real family businesses, and why it’s so hard to talk about. Family...
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Community over Competition-Inside the NTMA Movement With Roger Atkins (EP 12) S2
Finish Big 2.0 w/ Mark Dorman
In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, host Mark Dorman sits down with Roger Atkins, President of the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA). Roger shares his remarkable journey—from sweeping floors in his father’s Houston machine shop to leading a national organisation of over 1,000 small and medium-sized manufacturers. Mark and Roger discuss:: Manufacturing Roots: Growing up in the shop, discovering purpose, and falling in love with the craft. Resilience in Business: Navigating oil downturns, 9/11, and economic uncertainty while keeping businesses alive. Community...
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Part 2 - The use of Employee Ownership Trusts (EOT’s) in Business Succession Planning With Corey Rosen (EP 11) S2
Finish Big 2.0 w/ Mark Dorman
In this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, host Mark Dorman welcomes back Corey Rosen, founder of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), for Part 2 of their conversation on alternative ownership structures—specifically, the Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). Following their earlier discussion on Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), Mark and Corey explore how EOTs differ, their origins, and why some business owners may choose them over ESOPs. They cover the practical, cultural, and philosophical factors driving this emerging succession strategy in the U.S. Mark and Corey discuss: ...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Finish Big Podcast, host Mark Dorman sits down with Michael Carter — serial entrepreneur, venture investor and founder of BizEquity, and now founder & CEO of Entrepreneurs Management Group (EMG.AI).
Michael has built platforms used by hundreds of thousands of businesses, created large shareholder value, and now aims to democratise entrepreneurship with an AI-driven roadmap and founders’ co-pilot.
Mark and Michael discuss:
BizEquity origin — why business valuation needed democratising and the early insight that launched BizEquity.
Democratisation — making knowledge faster, cheaper and more accessible for entrepreneurs.
EMG.ai & the Roadmap — the 73-step Entrepreneurs Roadmap and the vision to be a coach/agent for founders.
Digital Agents — what an entrepreneur’s agent is, how it’s built on LLMs and why every company will want one.
Who EMG serves — solopreneurs, first-time founders and early-stage teams that lack VC networks.
Monetisation & product path — free entry via Ben (the agent), moving to pro/agent subscriptions and community.
Mission Capitalist Club — a non-partisan crew, think-tank for entrepreneurs, and community experiments.
Big picture — entrepreneurship as the new athletic profession: coaching, repeatable playbooks and scaled mentorship via AI.
Connect with Mark Dorman:
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(330)-416-9271
About the Guest:
Michael (Mike) Carter is a serial entrepreneur and founder of BizEquity (the world’s largest online business valuation platform) and now Entrepreneurs Management Group (EMG.AI). Mike has helped platforms used by c.400,000 businesses, created substantial shareholder value, and now focuses on building tools (roadmaps + AI agents) that democratise entrepreneurship — giving founders an accessible coach, playbook and business brain. He also founded the Mission Capitalist Club, a philanthropic, apolitical entrepreneurs’ community in Philadelphia.