Download the Blog Summary & Contact Details:https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/podcast/Jacqui-Clarke-Built-to-sell/

Jacqui Clarke: Built to Sell? The Hard Truth About Business Exits & Legacy Wealth

Most businesses aren’t built to sell. Will yours survive without you?

In this episode, I sit down with Jacqui Clarke, one of Australia’s most sought-after personal and business wealth advisors. She shares a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how a 100-year-old family business navigated the complex journey of exiting for just under $200 million.

This conversation is essential for CEOs and business owners who are serious about making their business independent, maximising its value, and ensuring a smooth exit.

What You’ll Learn:

✅ Why most business exits fail – and how to avoid the common pitfalls.

✅ How to make your business ‘exit ready’ – even if you never plan to sell.

✅ The critical role of independent leadership & governance in business longevity.

✅ Managing family dynamics & decision-making in multi-generational businesses.

✅ The reality of due diligence – and how to survive the most intense phase of a sale.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 – Introduction to Jacqui Clarke

04:54 – A century-old business & the journey to a $200M exit

08:50 – The power of independent directors & strategic planning

16:25 – Preparing for sale: Challenges, strategies & hidden pitfalls

24:59 – Managing relationships, communication & legacy during the sale

33:42 – Legal complexities, contracts & employee considerations

42:45 – Establishing a family office & managing wealth post-sale

53:54 – #CriticalFewActions™ for CEOs preparing for exit

Sponsor:

The CEO Masterclass in Strategic Planning and Implementation

Want to ensure your business thrives—whether you stay or sell? Are you a business owner or CEO striving to elevate your business to new heights? But right now… you’re not hitting the targets or objectives your business needs to achieve.

Or maybe you’ve hit a roadblock you can’t move past—a major challenge with no clear solution; and there’s no one in your world you can talk to about it.

I get it. Running a business at the top level can feel like you’re isolated. You’re expected to have all the answers—but what if you don’t? The truth is, at our level, our role isn’t to have all the answers ourselves—it’s to find the right people who do. People who have faced these obstacles before and have the real-world experience to guide you and your team forward.

That’s why I created the CEO Masterclass—a 12-month, Deakin University MBA-accredited program designed exclusively for business owners and CEOs who are serious about transforming their businesses.

With 30+ years in business, working with hundreds of companies from $1 million to $100+ million turnover across three continents, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges leaders face—and I’ve helped them break through and achieve real results.

This isn’t another generic leadership course. It’s a highly focused, small-group program where you’ll work alongside your peers, on your business, break through barriers, and implement real-world strategies—not just to solve the problems holding your business back, but to accelerate your growth faster than you thought possible. Learn more at https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/ceo-masterclass/

Join the Conversation!

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