Built to Finish

What does it take, not just financially, but emotionally and strategically, to sell the company you built from the ground up? Kelly Stratton, President and Founder of Quire, a cloud-based platform transforming technical report writing. As a seasoned environmental engineer and advocate for Agile development, Kelly shares her journey through the successful sale of her company and the lessons learned...

In this episode of Built To Finish, host Steven sits down with James Hall, CEO of Enate, to explore his impressive track record in the advanced technology sector and his strategic approach to successful business exits. James takes us through his entrepreneurial journey—starting with the founding of Gen Four in 2012, its acquisition by Accenture in 2017, and his current leadership role at Innate. H...

Damon Lembi, a two-time bestselling author, podcast host, and the founder and CEO of Learnit, shares his perspective on leadership and decision-making. He discusses the central concept from his book, "The Learn It All Leader," which contrasts "learn-it-alls" who are humble and open to new ideas, with "know-it-alls" who are stuck in their ways. A key decision highlighted in his career was the acqui...

Former professional football player and inspirational figure Mike Pawlawski shares his journey from overcoming cystic fibrosis to becoming a world champion quarterback. Mike discusses his success in building companies, his work as a TV producer and broadcaster, and his role as a keynote speaker and high-performance coach. He emphasizes the importance of persistence, adaptation, and the interplay b...

Is your business truly ready for the AI revolution, or will it be left behind? In this episode of Built To Finish, we sit down with Armando Viteri, a seasoned executive with over 25 years in enterprise computing and a co-founder of multiple successful companies. Join us as Armando unpacks the profound ways Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the landscape for software companies and businesses at...

Jon Giganti, a seasoned sales professional, former division one collegiate athlete, and author of the USA Today bestseller 'With Intention.' John shares his journey of writing the book, rooted in his early experiences with motivational literature and his struggles with performance in sports and sales. He discusses the concept of living with intentionality, overcoming obstacles, and managing 'inten...

Ready to scale your business and make a real impact? Discover how a healthcare leader built a massive company and is now disrupting medical technology! Michael Cetta, a physician and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in emergency medicine, shares his journey from leading MEP, an emergency medicine group that grew to 10 locations and 300 clinicians, to merging with US Acute Care Solutio...

What's it really like to record a podcast from Mount Everest Base Camp in Tibet, China? 🏔️ Join Steven Pivnik, host of the Built to Finish Podcast, as he takes you behind the scenes of his mountaineering journey—answering YOUR questions from 17,000 feet up! In this high-altitude episode, Steven reveals: ✔️ His future adventure goals and climbing bucket list ✔️ The latest gear upgrades and how he p...

Louise McEvoy, a motivational speaker, Everest Summitter, and the Vice President of US Channel Sales at Trend Micro, shares her inspiring 20-year journey to summiting Mount Everest, detailing the challenges, rigorous training, and mountaineering experiences that shaped her path. She also discusses the importance of preparedness and the risks associated with high-altitude climbing, including close...

Jenn Drummond, a world record holder for being the first female to climb the second-highest summits on each of the seven continents, including K2. Jenn is also an international speaker, author of 'Break Proof,' host of the 'Seek Your Summit' podcast, and the founder of Clearwater Wealth Management.  She shares her experiences of surviving a near-fatal car accident, which reshaped her perspective o...

Lee Coulter, the Global Head of Transformation at Chazey Partners, shares his extensive experience in leading enterprise transformations and exiting startups. Lee's discussion provides a deep dive into strategies for company exits, focusing on cap table cleanup, maintaining detailed documentation, and the significance of having a coach during the process. He also addresses the challenges posed by...

What are the key ingredients of a successful business exit? Marcus Wagner, financial expert and advisor, shares invaluable insights on positioning a business for long-term growth, making it attractive for acquisition, and executing a seamless exit strategy. He breaks down the importance of building sustainable revenue streams, hiring top-tier leadership ahead of time, and staying ahead with proact...

What truly makes a brand unforgettable—its visuals, its message, or the emotions it evokes? Sienna Roman is an award-winning business owner and designer and co-host of the podcast Process Makes Purpose. She discusses what makes a strong brand, the importance of consistency, and the elements that contribute to a compelling brand.  Sienna shares her views on the strategic nature of branding and the...

Scott 'Kid' Poteet, a former combat fighter pilot turned astronaut shares his inspiring journey from struggling with motion sickness and fear of heights as a child to becoming a fighter pilot and eventually fulfilling his dream of flying on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.  He also discusses his passion for endurance sports, having completed 16 Ironman triathlons, including the Ironman World Championship...

Curious about scaling a tech startup, planning an exit strategy, managing remote teams, and growing a business? Kieron James is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in launching and scaling successful tech startups. Kieron shares valuable insights on exit strategies, emphasizing the importance of planning for an exit from day one and keeping organized records for a smooth due d...

As a CEO, how important is it to have a deep, comprehensive understanding of every aspect of your business, and how does that impact decision-making? Frank Gazzillo, a serial entrepreneur and CEO of Accurate Neuromonitoring, discusses his journey from chiropractor to successful business owner, having built and scaled multiple companies. Frank shares his experience selling his business to a private...

How can leadership, strategy, and adaptability shape both business transformations and film production? Nick Wilkinson, President of SNL Film and expert CEO discusses his career, transitioning from leading IT and private equity firms to a CEO role in a private company. Nick shares valuable insights on managing company transformations, navigating the sales process, and leading teams effectively. He...

How can entrepreneurs and authors balance the demands of business growth and personal development while maintaining focus and productivity? Nick Hutchison, founder and CEO of the rapidly growing seven-figure marketing agency BookThinkers, joins host Steven Pivnick. Nick, also the host of the top-rated podcast BookThinkers: Life-Changing Books , shares his insights into combining entrepreneurship w...

What are the key strategies for navigating global market expansion and company acquisitions?  Mark Garland, shares his extensive experience in global market expansion and supply chain solutions. Mark discusses his leadership roles at companies such as 4R Systems, Capgemini, and Accenture, highlighting the strategic decisions and challenges he faced. He explains the process of navigating a company...

Curious about how to build a successful business and prepare for a profitable exit? Tom Bonney shares his 30+ years of experience in the business world, from his early days as a CPA at Deloitte to founding two successful firms: Polaris Consulting and CMF Associates. Tom offers invaluable insights into the key principles of building a thriving business, including the importance of staying market-fo...

Jon Gilman, founder and former CEO of Clear Software, discusses his journey from founding his company to its acquisition by Microsoft in 2021. He elaborates on the challenges he faced, including the intense stress of managing and eventually selling his startup.  Jon emphasizes the importance of having multiple potential buyers at the negotiation table and recounts the bittersweet moments when deal...

Ever wondered what it takes to build a successful SaaS company, scale it to new heights, and ultimately navigate the complexities of selling?  In this episode, Steven Pivnik interviews Mike Saldi, founder and CEO of SCLogic, and shares insights from his 28-year journey in logistics and facility software. Mike discusses his reasons for selling SCLogic, emphasizing the impact of age and the relentle...

In this episode of Built to Finish, executive coach Pamela Singleton draws on over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience to share strategies for guiding businesses through key growth phases and successful exits. She covers the importance of a strong business model, recurring revenue, and a skilled executive team. Pamela also emphasizes the need for confidentiality during the sales process, effect...

Mark Kennedy, Partner at Red Strategy Group LLC, and a seasoned entrepreneur and advisor with over 25 years of experience, shares his journey from founding nine companies to selling his technology firm, Crown Partners, to Publicis Group. Crown Partners was named Strategic Acquisition of the Year in 2014 by the Mergers and Acquisitions Association. Mark discusses the key strategies that fueled his...

Mark Peters, a seasoned pilot with over 30 years of experience in both military and commercial aviation, reflects on his career journey, beginning with his training and instructor roles in the U.S. Air Force, and spanning his extensive tenure at FedEx, where he flew a variety of aircraft before retiring in 2022. He shares insights into the life of a FedEx pilot, discussing the unique challenges of...