Nick Bradley

Most founders build great businesses but leave millions on the table when they exit.

Why? You’ve been optimizing for revenue, not enterprise value.

By the time you’re ready to sell, the issues that destroy multiples are already baked in - and buyers see them immediately.

I install the operational infrastructure and growth systems that prepare founder-led businesses for 8-9 figure exits.

Not “exit prep” in your final six months. This is 12-36 month transformation work.

The 3 Exits Every Founder Must Complete:

1. Exit the Chaos - Build systems so the business runs on infrastructure, not heroics

2. Exit the Operations - Develop leadership so you’re CEO, not operator

3. Exit the Business - Sell for premium multiples

Most founders are still trapped in Exit #1 when they decide to sell.

My Background:

I spent 10 years as a Private Equity CEO and Operating Partner across 27 transactions totaling over $5 billion in exits. I’ve sat on both sides of the table - building businesses and evaluating them for acquisition.

I’m also the author of Exit for Millions, the #1 bestselling book on building businesses for premium exit.

How I Work:

It starts with a Strategic Consult - a half-day intensive where I show you what your business is worth today, what it could be worth tomorrow, what’s limiting your value, and the roadmap to exit for big multiples.

From there, we work together through a structured 1-3 year partnership where I install the operational infrastructure and growth systems that transform your business into an institutional-grade asset ready for premium exit.

Ready to find out what your business is worth?

DM me or email jenna@highvalueexit.com

CEO & Founder, Exit Specialist / Business Scale-Up Mentor

We Help Successful CEOs, Founders, & Entrepreneurs Build High Value, High-Impact, Exitable Businesses.

​Our passion is empowering growth-minded business owners to scale rapidly towards a high-value exit and ultimately, freedom.

That’s why we’ve developed exclusive masterminds, full-service partnerships, and dedicated support to accelerate your impact, and give you back the power and control you deserve.

Our Scale-to-Sale Methodology is the result of 60+ years of combined experience with private equity firms and business transactions, designed specifically for rapid scale toward financial independence.

In working with us, you will gain the focus, direction, and momentum to intentionally and consistently grow your company’s value…

Giving you the leverage and power you need to generate rapid, impressive growth, and with it, the freedom to live your life on your terms.

PE firms aren't geniuses. They just know something you don't.

How to turn $10M into $50M in 3-5 years while you're grinding for 15% growth.

After 12 years in PE, I'm going to give you their playbook.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻:

𝟭. 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵

Not just any growth. Predictable, repeatable, scalable growth through systems.

You know, the boring stuff founders avoid because it's not sexy.

𝟮. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

PE firms are ruthless about EBITDA. Cut waste. Optimize pricing.

A 3-point margin improvement on $20M = $600K added to valuation. That's real money, not vanity metrics.

𝟯. 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴

Strategic debt accelerates growth without diluting equity. PE uses leverage intelligently.

Most founders are terrified of debt. PE firms use it like rocket fuel.

𝟰. 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

This is where monster returns happen. I was part of a 12-acquisition roll-up that exited for $2B at 14x.

While you're obsessing over organic growth, someone's building an empire through M&A.

𝟱. 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

Move from 4x to 8x by becoming more attractive than competitors. Better systems. Stronger team. Lower risk.

Same business. Double the exit price.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀:

Most founders pull one lever: revenue.

PE firms pull all five simultaneously.

That's how they create 5x returns in 36 months while you're grinding for 15% annual growth.

You don't need to sell to PE to use this playbook.

Start pulling all five levers. Systematically.

That's how you build a business buyers fight over.

𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝟱 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀? 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁? 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄.

#FounderJourney #ExitPlanning #InvestorGradeBusiness #HighValueBusiness #PrivateEquity #BusinessExit

I help founders build investor-grade businesses that achieve 8-9 figure exits | Former Private Equity CEO & Operating Partner | Mentor & Board Advisor | $5B+ in Exits

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Callum Laing

I take companies public and run a $100m MAS regulated fund. 
I am a partner at the Unity Group, the founder of Global Investment Leaders Directive (GILD) for capital raisers.  And I run the Veblen Director Programme, for first time board members.  
Author of 'Boardroom Blueprint - Boost your career with a board seat in 60 days'
My exclusive network of UHNW individuals meet every quarter for lunch at the 'Captable' Singapore (coming to Dubai soon) 

Founder & former CEO / Chair of MBH Corporation PLC, an agglomeration of small, profitable companies from around the world.  Grew it to $180m in revenue.
Advisor to multiple public and private boards.  

Involved in more than 100 M&A transactions and $500m in shareholder value creation.

Best selling author of 3 other business books, I've published over 2500 interviews with Entrepreneurs and Investors around the world. EnterpriseZone.cc
Host of the daily 'CallumConnects' micro-podcast (top 5% worldwide, top 25 for entrepreneurs, 500+ episodes).

Previously served as Singapore High Commissioner to the World Business Angel Investment Forum, an Ambassador to DealGateway.com and on the Board of Advisors to Kinguin, a $100m turnover eGaming business.

The Agglomeration model helps small businesses to scale using publicly listed holding companies.

If you're interested in taking your business, investments or career to the next level, press the blue Follow button above.  

Author of: 
"Progressive Partnerships - The Future of Business" 
"Entrepreneurial Investing - Connecting sophisticated capital to talented small business"
"Boardroom Blueprint - Boost your career with a board seat in 60 days"
Co-author of:
"Agglomerate - Idea to IPO in 12 months"

Member

The Veblen Director Program is designed to get you that elusive first PLC Director position and to provide you with an enviable global network of other Directors that you can call on at will for the rest of your career.

Want To Get A Board Seat In Under 60 Days?

In today's workshop I'm bringing together 5 great people who joined Veblen Director Programme and used it to achieve incredible outcomes.

As you will see, it doesn't matter what your background is, or what you think is holding you back, if you understand the process and surround yourself with the right people you can seriously 'level up' your career by serving on the boards of other companies.

The audience on todays workshop are going to be sharing their key takeaways in the comments, so if you would like to get some free insights, just say hi in the comments so you get the notifications!  Then scroll through and connect with those sharing the most interesting comments.

And make sure you follow Veblen Director Programme so you don't miss future events.

You should also follow our fantastic guest speakers Nicki Allitt, Ashley Bird, Shelley-Ann Pieterse, James Rose & Ralph White

Successful Investor / Entrepreneur and M&A practitioner. I also help ambitious people to raise money, get board seats and take companies public.

My best productivity hack came from something I used to dread: long-haul flights.

Running a global business means you’re always “on.” There’s always a message, a meeting, or a family obligation pulling at your attention. Real downtime is rare.

Years ago I realised the one environment I couldn’t escape was business travel. And while I never enjoyed long-haul flights, I discovered they gave me something I couldn’t get anywhere else: uninterrupted deep work.

No WhatsApp messages. No email notifications. No Zoom calls. No clients, staff, or family competing for my attention. Just me, my laptop, and hours of clear space, with someone occasionally bringing food and coffee.

It turned into the perfect environment for writing my books and getting my best work done.

I admit this hack isn’t practical for most people. But it worked for me.
What’s the best hack you’ve found for doing deep work?

–
Send a connection request if you would like to get access to a bunch of free resources!

Most businesses are still hiring like it's 1995. I do it differently.

After nearly 20 years and hundreds of freelancer hires, I've completely abandoned traditional recruitment. 

Every single person on my team started as a freelancer. Here's the system that has worked incredibly successfully for me, hopefully it can work for you too:

The Attraction Phase:  
Don't post "$10/hour for admin work." Post "Virtual Assistant role - $10,000" i.e. the amount you would pay them if they work for you for a year.  And even if it is your least favourite job, take the time to make it sound interesting.  Will you give them training?  Will there be other opportunities if they are good?

They have choices, you need to sell the opportunity, not just try and buy time.

The Filter:
(Be Ruthless) Your role here isn't to give someone their first break. Look for:
$10,000+ already earned on platform
90%+ ratings or 4-5 stars
Clear effort in their application

Skip the lengthy interviews. Pick 3-5 candidates and give each a paid trial task ($50 is fine). Different tasks, similar complexity. You're testing responsiveness, communication, and results.

Try and guess who will deliver the best work.  In 20 years, I’ve never guessed right.

The Reality Check:
The best proposal rarely delivers the best work. For example, many many people (outside of sales and marketing!) often undersell themselves but over-deliver on results. Stay open-minded.

The Smart Scaling: 
Found 2-3 good people? Hire them all on short contracts. Some will fit your culture, others won't. That's fine - end contracts that don't work, expand roles for those that do.

I've had $10/hour VAs grow into company directors because I could see their actual performance, not just their CV.

Why this beats traditional hiring:
Past performance doesn't predict future fit with your team
Personal circumstances change
Company culture fit is impossible to assess in interviews
Short-term contracts let you scale up or down without drama
The labour market is shifting toward freelancing whether you adapt or not. Smart businesses are already there.
What's worked (or failed) in your freelancer hiring experience?


Send a connection request if you would like to get access to a bunch of free resources!

When a deal looks terrible, maybe you’re looking at it from the wrong angle.
I once looked at buying a $1bn fund where the manager was earning $30m a year.

For holding money in a bank.

My first reaction? This guy's a genius salesman or these families are getting fleeced.

Turns out I was asking the wrong question entirely.

The question wasn't "What's he doing with their money?"

The real question was "What problem is he actually solving?"

Those 10 families, $100m each, didn't want alpha. They wanted certainty. 

They'd explicitly told him: make money if you can, but never lose money.

He'd started with a strategy getting 8-9% safely. When that stopped looking safe, he moved it to a bank getting 4-5%. Families got 1-2% after his fees.
And they were happy.

Because he solved the actual problem. Peace of mind on $1bn has a price tag. Apparently it's $30m a year.

Here's what I learnt: When something looks like a terrible deal from the outside, you're probably measuring the wrong thing.

You're valuing what you would want. Not what they actually need.

Most of us are so busy judging other people's choices through our own lens that we miss what's actually being bought and sold.

The families weren't buying returns. They were buying sleep.

What looks overpriced to you might be solving a problem you don't have.
(And yes, I know in real terms they were losing money to inflation, but it wasn’t critical to them with this particular cash allocation).


–
Send me a connection request if you would like to know about the regular events I hold for UHNW individuals or would like other free assets.

Perfect leaders are forgettable. Authentic leaders are unforgettable.

I’ve interviewed over 2,500 Leaders over the past 15 years on EnterpriseZone, in this series I’ll share some of my learnings.

"I am brilliant and imperfect."

Trina Kennedy RSW, BAHSA's belief transformed her entire approach to leadership. Instead of chasing perfectionism as a measure of worth, she stepped into authentic self-expression.

"This shift liberated me to take risks, share my story authentically, and focus on the impact of my work rather than chasing unattainable standards."

The pattern shows up across every successful leader I've interviewed:

Moyo O.: "I've witnessed the power of vision and alignment... These moments reminded me that belief, clarity, and preparation can open doors beyond your wildest imagination."

Dr Darren Chua openly discusses his stroke: "My own struggles have shaped my passion for guiding others toward better health and performance."

Barbara Hales, M.D. admits her early mistake: "For years, I believed that doing good work would naturally lead to recognition, referrals, and opportunities. But I had an 'if I build it, they will come' mentality."

This connects perfectly to building genuine Authority in the CARES framework for getting ahead:
Connections
Authority
Reach
Equity
Service

 - people don't follow perfect leaders, they follow leaders who've overcome challenges they recognise.

Your vulnerabilities aren't weaknesses to hide. They're connection points that make your expertise credible.

What struggle have you overcome that could help others facing the same challenge?

–
Send a connection request if you would like to get access to a bunch of free resources!

You know that moment when you hit retirement and think "finally, freedom" ... only to realise you're not done yet?

That's exactly where Leon Rubinstein found himself.

After decades scaling high-tech startups across borders and managing a corporate VC fund for Xerox Europe, he had the experience. He had the expertise. But retirement? That felt like sitting on the sidelines.

Then he discovered something most executives miss: board work isn't consulting with a different title.

Here's what Leon learned (and what most first-time directors get wrong):
The "Nose In, Fingers Out" principle You're not there to do the work. You're there to help CEOs see what they can't see from the trenches. Strategic altitude beats operational involvement every time.

You don't need all the answers. Your job? Ask better questions. Point to blind spots. Then leverage your network to bring in the real experts. Value comes from connections, not just knowledge.

Industry expertise is overrated When Leon was offered a board seat in an industry he knew nothing about, he asked "why would you want me?" The response? "Why not." Fresh perspective often beats insider thinking.

Knowledge without action is just theory. You can read every book on board governance (including my Boardroom Blueprint!). But real progress happens through community. The accountability. The introductions. The spark that comes from meeting people across continents and industries who push you forward.

Leon's now building his board portfolio in Portugal, using everything he learned about intentional networking to open new doors.

Your experience has value beyond your last job title. The question is whether you'll deploy it.

What's stopping you from pursuing board opportunities? Is it clarity on the role, access to the right networks, or something else entirely?

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Nick Bradley

Callum Laing

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Callum Laing

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