EP 334 Purpose, People, and the Art of Letting Go
The Cash Rich Exit Podcast
In part two of this insightful two-part conversation, host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell reconnects with Elizabeth Kilvert, founder of ‘The Unrefined Olive’, to go deeper into how she built, grew, and ultimately exited a purpose-driven business. Elizabeth shares her candid reflections on: Transitioning from founder to seller - and how she knew the timing was right. The emotional side of stepping away from a business built around community and values. How staying connected to purpose helped her navigate both growth and exit with integrity. What she learned about...
info_outline
EP333 From Olives to Ownership - Finding Purpose in Entrepreneurship
The Cash Rich Exit Podcast
In this episode, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell sits down with , the founder and owner of The Unrefined Olive, an award-winning olive-oil and balsamic tasting bar in Ottawa. Elizabeth shares how she transitioned from a career in environmental policy to running a thriving retail business rooted in quality, sustainability, and community connection. She and Colleen unpack the realities of small-business ownership - from managing risk and growth to understanding what a “cash-rich” exit looks like when your brand is deeply personal. Key Highlights From public service to...
info_outline
EP332 Unlocking Legacy and Liquidity - Exit Strategies for $5M-$50M Businesses
The Cash Rich Exit Podcast
💡 Episode Summary In this episode, host sits down with - Managing Director at Shaughnessy Group and a seasoned corporate finance and M&A expert. Karl brings decades of experience helping mid-sized, often family-owned Canadian businesses (with revenues between $5 million and $50 million) navigate their most important transition: the sale of their company. They explore what makes this “overlooked middle” of the market so unique, why selling isn’t like selling your house, and how strategic planning years in advance can unlock both legacy and liquidity. Karl also shares...
info_outline
EP331 Be the Owner, Not the Renter - Building Brands That Last
The Cash Rich Exit Podcast
In this episode of the Cash Rich Exit Podcast, Colleen O’Connell-Campbell welcomes Joanna Track, serial entrepreneur, strategist, and founder of Good Eggs & Co. Joanna has launched and exited multiple businesses - including Sweet Spot, eLuxe, and The Bullet - and now leads Good Eggs & Co., a consultancy focused on content and context marketing. Known for her candid, no-nonsense approach, Joanna shares what she’s learned about building brands with staying power, navigating exits, and avoiding common pitfalls that entrepreneurs face. Key Highlights: Redefining...
info_outline
EP330 Building, Selling, and Thriving Beyond Business
The Cash Rich Exit Podcast
Serial entrepreneur Ed Hansen joins host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell on the Cash Rich Exit Podcast to share his decades-long journey founding, scaling, and selling multiple businesses - including Hanson Lawn and Gardens and . In this episode, Ed reveals how mindset, adaptability, and a focus on relationships have shaped his entrepreneurial path. Key takeaways: The early entrepreneurial spark - from cutting grass to building a multi-million-dollar company. Buying vs. selling a business - why every transaction is unique and how to make sure both sides win Building for a future exit...
info_outline
EP 329 Strategic Partnerships and Real Estate Insights
The Cash Rich Exit Podcast
In this episode of The Cash Rich Exit Podcast, host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell sits down with Ashley Hopkins, President & CEO of Paradigm Commercial Group, and Sarah Vandenbelt, Broker of Record & Founder of Paradigm Commercial Real Estate. Together, they share how their unexpected journeys into real estate led to a powerful partnership under the Paradigm brand. We discuss: The winding career paths that brought them into real estate. Why building strategic partnerships and strong networks is critical in a male-dominated industry. How property management is more than...
info_outline
EP328 Intentionality, Identity, and the Exit Journey
The Cash Rich Exit Podcast
What happens when your exit strategy is about more than just money? In this episode, host Colleen O’Connell-Campbell talks to April Harbottle, a highly experienced M&A advisor and business transition specialist. April has spent years helping small and mid sized business owners unlock the value of their companies and transition successfully, whether through exits or by scaling with new partnerships. Together, they explore how values, identity, and leadership evolution shape the founder journey - especially when it's time to let go. 🔍 Key Highlights Start with an...
info_outline
EP327 Rethinking Succession - Why Employee Ownership Might Be your Legacy Move
The Cash Rich Exit Podcast
With over $2 trillion in business assets at stake and 91% of Canadian business owners without a succession plan, we’re facing a real crisis. In this episode, host chats with Charlie Iscoe, whose venture - CommonShares - is flipping the script on business exits. Charlie brings Wall Street investment experience and a mission to keep Canadian businesses local by transitioning ownership to employees. He explains how their model allows retiring owners to receive fair market value while protecting their teams and communities. If you’re a founder who says, “I’ll deal with it...
info_outline
EP326 Identity, Reinvention and Entrepreneurial Grit
The Cash Rich Exit Podcast
In this candid and energizing episode of ‘The Cash Rich Exit Podcast’, host sits down with author, educator, and tech entrepreneur . From academia to publishing to leading a fast-scaling SaaS platform, Lindy shares her story of transformation and what it really takes to walk away from one professional identity to build another. Together, they dig into what motivates bold career pivots, the value of knowing your numbers (and knowing your worth), and how to preserve optionality - especially as a woman founder in Canada. 🔑 Key Highlights Why letting go of sunk cost...
info_outline
EP325 A Scenic Exit - How Peter Deitz Turned an Eight-Year Journey into Shared Prosperity
The Cash Rich Exit Podcast
In this episode, host chats with Peter Deitz, social entrepreneur and founder of Canada’s first-ever employee ownership trust (EOT) transition at Grantbook. Peter shares how his scenic, eight-year exit journey created space for new ventures, empowered employees, and protected the company’s B Corp values. The episode is a roadmap for any founder looking to exit with both financial return and community impact. 🔑 Key Highlights The Long Game: Peter’s exit took 8 years - twice the time he spent actively running the business. He stayed in a governance role and planned a...
info_outlineHost: Colleen O’Connell-Campbell
Guest: Jennifer Williams, Founder of Firefly Insights
In part one of a three-part series, Colleen sits down with Jennifer Williams, a passionate advocate for employee ownership and founder of Firefly Insights. This episode explores how business owners can transition their companies to employees - preserving their legacy, values, and community roots - expanding their options beyond the default of private equity or selling to competitors.
Jennifer shares why employee ownership is gaining traction in Canada, how it can stabilize businesses post-exit, and why it’s not just a succession plan - it’s a cultural shift.
✨ Highlights and Time Stamps
1:45 - Why Jennifer left nonprofit work and fell in love with people-first business
5:30 - The Canadian exit landscape: Baby boomers and the private equity squeeze
10:10 - When ownership transitions go wrong (and what to do instead)
14:05 - How employee ownership compares to family succession
20:40 - Common emotional challenges for exiting founders
26:30 - Governance isn’t anarchy: Structuring roles and responsibilities
31:10 - The two-phase process of transitioning to employee ownership
38:50 - Best-fit industries and how to start the conversation
🟡 Fun, Frank Advice from Jennifer
“Even if your transition is 10+ years away, the seeds you plant now are what will bear fruit later. Start the conversation now.”
📣 Enjoyed this episode?
Leave a 5-star rating and short review on Apple Podcasts - it helps more self-made entrepreneurs like you find the show!
💼 Thinking about your own exit?
Book a complimentary 1:1 Wealth Gap Analysis with Colleen on LinkedIn or reach out via email to bridge the gap between business success and personal wealth 📩
We’ll map out a transition that aligns your business success with personal financial freedom.