Alternative Exit

Episode Summary: For today's episode of The Alternative Exit Podcast, Andy Farquharson is joined by Beth Spong, CEO of Dean's Beans Organic Coffee. She had a career working in a non-profit and a respected leader in employee ownership. In this episode, she shared her journey working with Dean's Beans Organic Coffee and how she helped the company on its transition from being a founder-led company to...

Episode Summary: For today's episode of The Alternative Exit Podcast, Andy Farquharson is joined by Alex Moss, a pioneer in the field of employee ownership and is currently the president of Praxis Consulting Group. Alex has decades of experience advising employee-owned companies and mission-driven organizations. He served in leadership roles on the boards of multiple ESOPs and has been a key advoc...

Episode Summary: In this episode of The Alternative Exit Podcast , Andy Farquharson is joined by Alison Lingane, a dedicated social entrepreneur who spent her career leveraging the business. She co-founded a non-profit called Project Equity, which promotes employee ownership. She shared her journey with Project Equity and her transition to focus on expanding investment capital for employee ownersh...

Episode Summary: In this episode of The Alternative Exit Podcast , Andy Farquharson interviews Drew Mousetis, the Executive Director of Tandem Centre for Shared Business Success. Drew shares his experience working in Cargas and how the company helped him become an expert in direct employee ownership. He shared the benefits of direct employee ownership and the powerful impact of keeping businesses...

Episode Summary: In this episode of The Alternative Exit Podcast , host Andy Farquharson sits down with Rob Brown, Director of Business Ownership Solutions at the Cooperative Development Institute (CDI), to discuss the transformative power of employee ownership. Rob shares insights into how transitioning businesses to employee-owned cooperatives not only benefits employees but also builds stronger...

Episode Summary: In this episode of The Alternative Exit Podcast , Andy Farquharson hosts Maureen Conway, Vice President at the Aspen Institute and Executive Director of its Economic Opportunities Program. Together, they delve into the transformative potential of employee ownership, discussing how it addresses economic inequality, enhances job quality, and fosters long-term business competitivenes...

In this episode of The Alternative Exit Podcast , Andy Farquharson sits down with Matt Hancock, a consultant at Praxis Consulting Group and co-founder of Chicago Tech Academy, to explore how organizations can create thriving ownership cultures. Matt shares his journey from Italy’s cooperative economy to working with U.S. employee-owned companies, offering invaluable insights into how leaders can f...

Episode Summary: In this episode of The Alternative Exit Podcast , Andy Farquharson interviews Simon Morton, founder of Eyeful Presentations and author of Employee Ownership: A Guide to Transitioning from Boss to Benefactor . Simon shares his journey of transitioning his company to employee ownership after nearly two decades, highlighting the challenges, successes, and deeply personal motivations...

Episode Summary: In this episode of The Alternative Exit Podcast , Andy Farquharson interviews Chris Budd, founder of the Eternal Business Consultancy, to explore how employee ownership trusts (EOTs) can help business owners preserve their legacy and build enduring organizations. Chris shares his journey from business owner to employee ownership advocate, emphasizing the importance of planning, pr...

Episode Summary: In this engaging episode of The Alternative Exit Podcast , Andy Farquharson interviews Matt Cropp, Executive Director of the Vermont Employee Ownership Center, who sheds light on the far-reaching impact of employee ownership on businesses, communities, and individual wealth.  Matt shares stories from Vermont’s leading employee-owned companies, discussing the nuances of ESOPs versu...

Episode Summary: In this episode of The Alternative Exit Podcast, Andy sits down with Jon Shell, Chair of Social Capital Partners, to explore the transformative potential of employee ownership. Jon shares insights from his journey in advocacy and policy, recounting how he’s championed for Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) in Canada to address wealth inequality and business succession.  His experien...

Episode Summary: In this episode of The Alternative Exit Podcast, host Andy Farquharson talks with Derek Razo, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Common Trust, about the transformative role of Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) in helping business owners transition ownership to employees while preserving company legacy and culture.  Derek highlights the benefits of EOTs as an effective alternative t...

Episode Summary: In this episode of The Alternative Exit, Andy talks to Professor Ajay Bhalla, PhD, a Professor of Family Business at Bayes Business School and an expert in employee ownership. Ajay discusses the profound benefits and challenges of transitioning businesses to employee-owned models, drawing from both research and real-world examples, such as John Lewis and Make Architects.  He empha...

In this episode of The Alternative Exit, Andy sits down with James De le Vingne, CEO of the Employee Ownership Association in the UK, to discuss the rise of employee ownership as a viable business model for succession. James shares how the introduction of the Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) has transformed the landscape for SMEs, allowing businesses to become financially free while benefiting emplo...

Episode Summary: In this engaging episode of The Alternative Exit Podcast, host Andy interviews John Abrams, President and CEO of South Mountain Company, to explore the transformative power of employee ownership. John shares his company’s journey from a traditional business model to becoming an employee-owned cooperative, detailing the challenges, rewards, and cultural shifts involved.  Through pe...

In this insightful episode of Alternative Exit , Andy chats with Corey Rosen, the Founder of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), to discuss the transformative power of employee ownership.  Corey shares over 40 years of expertise, touching on the evolution of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), their role in enhancing employee engagement, and how they can be a practical and polit...