Ab Emam shares how WDG evolved from a single website project for a friend into a full-scale, midmarket agency he deliberately built for sale. He breaks down why founders should plan years before they initiate a transaction, why hiring the right business banker can dramatically change your multiple, and why leadership teams need to keep their eye on the ball long after receiving the letter of intent. Ab also speaks candidly about the identity shift that founders can experience after closing and the importance of putting a strong operator in place. This episode is a practical, founder-to-founder look at selling with intention and keeping your head in the game until the ink is dry.

In this episode of Branching Out, Elizabeth Shea sits down with Jim Datovech, former CEO of LKC Technologies, to explore the long road from acquiring a medical device company to refining the product and orchestrating a successful exit. Jim shares how a deal that died at the last minute unexpectedly validated the company’s scalability and paved the way for a stronger deal months later. He offers candid insights on disciplined spending, legal preparedness, the importance of marketing to suitors, and why founders must align their expectations with market reality. This episode is a must-listen for leaders looking for practical advice to navigate a highly regulated industry.

In this episode of Branching Out, Elizabeth Shea sits down with Andrew Sherman, senior partner at Brown Rudnick, for a candid look at how deals really get priced, structured, and won. Andrew explains why M&A is cyclical, the differences between strategic and financial buyers, why sellers must perform reverse due diligence on buyers, and how to surface the “gold bars in the attic” — the intangible value drivers that buyers won’t pay for unless you point them out. He also unpacks common gotchas like PPP/EIDL distortions, rollover equity, earnouts, and under-capitalized “buyers” who look legit until it’s time to close. The bottom line: don’t just prepare your business — prepare your story, your expectations, and your deal team.