LAURIE BARKMAN

As founder of The Business Transition Sherpa, Laurie Barkman, CEPA, is an M&A Advisor and former CEO of a $100M revenue company with a successful exit. Having guided over 50 founders through complex transitions, she created the BUILT By Design™ framework to bridge the gap between advisors and business owners. Laurie helps advisors gain immediate relevance by adopting a buyer’s perspective and prioritizing the business outcomes owners value today, well before a future exit. 

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Led a $100M business through a successful acquisition. Bringing firsthand CEO experience to helping owners navigate value growth, succession, and business transitions.

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Author of The Business Transition Handbook and host of Succession Stories Podcast. Translating exit planning and M&A expertise into practical guidance for business owners and advisors through a top-ranked podcast, book, and national speaking platform.

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Advanced exit planning adoption among business owners and advisors. Advised 50+ founders on strategic transitions and multi-million-dollar exits, and developed BUILT By Design™ to help CEPA financial advisors put the Value Acceleration Methodology into practice and engage owners well before a transaction.

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Laurie Barkman, MBA, CEPA®, CM&AA, is a business transition and value growth advisor, author, and nationally recognized speaker. As founder of The Business Transition Sherpa®, she helps business owners build transferable value and navigate complex ownership transitions. A former CEO who led a $100M business through acquisition, Laurie brings a buyer’s lens and firsthand leadership experience to exit planning. She is the author of The Business Transition Handbook, host of the award-winning Succession Stories podcast, and creator of BUILT By Design™, which equips CEPA financial advisors to engage business owners in value growth and transition conversations years before an exit.

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As founder of The Business Transition Sherpa, Laurie Barkman, CEPA, is an M&A Advisor and former CEO of a $100M revenue company with a successful exit. Having guided over 50 founders through complex transitions, she created the BUILT By Design™ framework to bridge the gap between advisors and business owners. Laurie helps advisors gain immediate relevance by adopting a buyer’s perspective and prioritizing the business outcomes owners value today, well before a future exit. 

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Led a $100M business through a successful acquisition. Bringing firsthand CEO experience to helping owners navigate value growth, succession, and business transitions.

---

Author of The Business Transition Handbook and host of Succession Stories Podcast. Translating exit planning and M&A expertise into practical guidance for business owners and advisors through a top-ranked podcast, book, and national speaking platform.

---

Advanced exit planning adoption among business owners and advisors. Advised 50+ founders on strategic transitions and multi-million-dollar exits, and developed BUILT By Design™ to help CEPA financial advisors put the Value Acceleration Methodology into practice and engage owners well before a transaction.

---

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Laurie Barkman, MBA, CEPA®, CM&AA, is a business transition and value growth advisor, author, and nationally recognized speaker. As founder of The Business Transition Sherpa®, she helps business owners build transferable value and navigate complex ownership transitions. A former CEO who led a $100M business through acquisition, Laurie brings a buyer’s lens and firsthand leadership experience to exit planning. She is the author of The Business Transition Handbook, host of the award-winning Succession Stories podcast, and creator of BUILT By Design™, which equips CEPA financial advisors to engage business owners in value growth and transition conversations years before an exit.

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