Scale to Exit™ with Alejandra Santos

Not every exit looks like selling your company for millions — and not every founder wants that. In this solo episode, Alejandra Santos breaks down the different types of exits founders and business owners can pursue — from strategic sales and recapitalizations to management buyouts, family transitions, and simply stepping back from day-to-day operations. You’ll learn how to: 💡 Define what “exit”...

Serial entrepreneur turned VC, Justin Gray, joins Alejandra to unpack how he built LeadMD from a bedroom idea to $17M in revenue, exited at the top of the market, and why his operator-immersive VC model bets on singles, doubles, and triples, not unicorn lottery tickets. We get tactical on making revenue predictable, using equity to retain A-players, diagnosing a real pipeline (not hope), and knowi...

Every founder starts with a vision, but somewhere between the whiteboard and the workday, that vision gets lost in the noise of operations. In this episode, Alejandra Santos breaks down how to use the Balanced Scorecard to turn your vision and mission into a living, breathing strategy that guides every decision across your business. Discover how to align your leadership team, define what success a...

In this conversation, Amy shares how an “itchy” crisis during pregnancy led to the creation of a purpose-driven company with six locations, a private-label product line, and thousands of happy families. We cover the real costs of Amazon, why YouTube & micro-influencers are next, how to keep rent low while expanding, protecting culture when hiring, and what buyers look for when you’re planning...

Exit planning isn’t something you only think about when you’re ready to sell it’s something you build every single day through the choices you make about your team. In this solo episode of Scale to Exit, Alejandra Santos dives deep into why employees are one of the most important and overlooked multipliers of business value. From hiring and training to incentives, culture, and retention, every dec...

In this Scale to Exit episode, Alejandra Santos delves into a conversation with certified financial advisor and entrepreneur Tim Smith on how to preserve the big win well before a sale and long after the close. Tim unpacks the money misconceptions many owners bring from the boardroom to Wall Street, why liquidity beats “asset-rich but cash-poor,” and how to right-size risk without picking five “fa...

Scaling a business isn’t just about revenue, funding, or strategy—it’s about clearing the hidden blocks that keep you stuck. In this episode of Scale to Exit, Alejandra Santos breaks down the four biggest invisible barriers that prevent founders from growing and positioning their businesses for long-term success: mindset, leadership style, operations, and team. From shifting your mindset from oper...

On this episode of Scale to Exit, Alejandra sits down with Rachel Lasser, Founder & CEO of Lasser Consulting, a project delivery powerhouse serving companies from high-growth SMBs to $1B+ enterprises. Rachel breaks down why “great delivery” is the ultimate growth lever—and how even large organizations stall without the right checkpoints, communication cadence, and leadership follow-through. We...

On this solo episode Alejandra Santos shares how to incorporate exit strategy as business strategy for every day decision making. You will learn:  1-How to stop chasing new clients and instead nurture the ones you have 2- How to understand the value each client brings and how to make them come back for more.  3- How to set yourself free from the business by following these few strategies.    Aleja...

In this episode of Scale to Exit, host Alejandra Santos sits down with Caleb David, Commercial Director at Keller Williams and seasoned real estate broker, to explore the hidden side of business exits: your real estate. From negotiating leases to positioning properties for investors, Caleb shares how business owners can maximize value when selling both their company and their commercial assets. Bu...

Most business owners hit a ceiling not because the market isn’t there but because they’re stuck working in the business instead of building one that can run, scale, and eventually sell without them. In this solo episode of Scale to Exit, I break down the five critical shifts you need to make to scale smarter, leaner, and with less stress: From owner to investor mindset From overworked operator to...

In this conversation with leadership coach and mindset strategist Curtis McCullom, we explore the intersection of neuroscience, sales, and transformation. Curtis shares the core lessons he learned from personal development legends like Tony Robbins, Zig Ziglar, and Jim Rohn, and how he uses those principles to help leaders and business owners unlock their potential. We cover: Why most business and...

In this episode of Scale to Exit, I sit down with the brilliantly bold Colin McIntosh — a serial entrepreneur with an unforgettable sense of humor and a sharp sense of purpose. From launching the viral eucalyptus bedding brand Sheets & Giggles (which scaled to $1M/month in sales in just two years), to exiting a sustainability-focused startup Dirt Cheap Compost, and now building SheetsResume.co...

Are you wearing all the hats in your business: rainmaker, operator, decision-maker, and firefighter? If so, you’re not alone, but you are the bottleneck. In this solo episode of Scale to Exit, I dive into what I call the Owner’s Delegation Dilemma, why founders struggle to let go, how it stalls growth and exit potential, and what you can do about it. You’ll learn: The 4 hats that keep founders tra...

In this energizing episode of Scale to Exit, Alejandra sits down with Denise Aguilar, a global marketing strategist, startup advisor, and 2025 honoree of the 40 Under 40 award, to explore the real strategies that drive visibility, revenue, and long-term growth. As a first-generation Afro-Latina entrepreneur, Denise brings a rare combination of cultural intelligence and tech-forward thinking to eve...

In this episode of Scale to Exit, we’re joined by entrepreneur and investor Saul Cohen, who shares how founders can unlock growth by thinking beyond building and into buying. From navigating non-tech industries to funding acquisitions and preparing for an exit, Saul delivers actionable insight for founders at every stage. Whether you’re eyeing your first deal or laying the foundation for a sale ye...

In this episode of Scale to Exit, Alejandra sits down with Marshall to unpack the world of non-traditional lending, with a special focus on asset-based lending. Whether you're scaling, stabilizing, or preparing for an exit, understanding how to fund your business without giving up equity is a game-changer. We cover: What asset-based lending is (and what it's not) How to prepare your business for f...

In this solo episode, I dive into one of the most misunderstood but critical topics for any business owner: valuation. You might think your business is worth $5M, but is it really? I’m breaking down what drives business value, the most common gaps between perceived and actual worth, and how to identify the blind spots that are silently hurting your valuation. We’ll talk: ✅ What buyers really look...

In this episode of Scale to Exit, we sit down with Josh Dorfman, sustainability founder and investor, to unpack what it takes to scale mission-driven companies in the climate economy. Josh shares the behind-the-scenes journey of co-founding Planted, a vertically integrated, carbon-negative building materials company that raised a $2M seed round and scaled to a $15M Series A. Now operating under th...

In this episode of Scale to Exit, we sit down with beauty industry disruptor and serial entrepreneur Nicole Collins, a powerhouse behind brands like ipsy, YUME, and the revolutionary 213Deli. Nicole shares her journey from being a beauty-obsessed kid in L.A. to co-founding some of the most innovative beauty startups of the last decade. With deep expertise in brand building, influencer marketing, a...

What does going from rock bottom to an eight-figure business exit take? In this deeply inspiring episode, psychotherapist and bestselling author Joyce Marter shares her incredible journey from financial ruin to founding and scaling a mental health practice that sold for $8 million. She opens up about the mindset shifts that changed everything, the hidden link between mental wellness and financial...

What do great leaders, successful founders, and magnetic brands share? They master the art of the pivot, and they know how to tell their story. In this episode of Scale to Exit, Dr. Cheryl Robinson, an international speaker, Forbes contributor, and founder of Creative Renegade Media, shares the fundamental pillars of decisive leadership and why personal branding is no longer optional in today's bu...

Raising your first round with zero revenue? This episode is your roadmap. I’m breaking down what investors care about at the seed stage, how to justify your valuation without numbers, and the one mistake that could ruin your next round before it starts. Raising capital before you’ve made your first dollar? You're not alone, but you do need a smart strategy. In this solo episode, Alejandra breaks d...

What does it really mean to scale your business and wealth with intention? In this episode, Alejandra sits down with Harvard tax strategist and elite financial advisor Jeff Socha to unpack the mindset, strategy, and structure behind building a life and a business that thrives beyond your involvement. They dive deep into Jeff’s concept of the Freedom Threshold, the critical Five Pillars of Wealth M...

You don’t build a business to run it forever — you make it so someone wants to buy it. In this episode of Scale to Exit, we sit down with Jonathan Wilson, a licensed investment banker, M&A advisor, and founder of Dubb Value Creation, to discuss preparing for a successful business exit. We dive into: Why every founder needs an exit strategy (even if you’re not selling tomorrow) Jonathan’s journ...