Join the event

Exec Connect Presents: Built To Sell vs Built To Live

30th September 2026

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, 30th September 2026

Time: 10:00 am

Location: Online

Part of the exclusive two-part series: Scale. Succession. Exit.

Most businesses are built around the founder. The problem? Buyers don't invest in founders — they invest in businesses that can thrive without them.

This session, led by Fred Warner, Founder of 7Q, explores why many otherwise successful businesses fall short of the valuation, succession plan or exit their owners expected — and what leaders need to do years before a transaction becomes a reality.

Drawing on real-world experience helping founders, shareholders and leadership teams navigate growth, transformation and successful exits, Fred will share the practical insights and hard lessons that separate businesses that achieve outstanding exits from those that don't.

What we'll cover:

• The moment a founder becomes the growth bottleneck
• Why "good management teams" often fail buyer scrutiny
• The hidden risks that reduce valuation multiples
• Succession planning that actually works
• Building a business that can operate without the owner
• Protecting both financial value and business legacy

You'll leave with:

• A clear understanding of what makes a business genuinely exit-ready
• Insight into why many exits fail before they even reach market
• The ability to identify the risks quietly reducing your enterprise value
• Practical actions you can take now to increase your business's attractiveness

This session is designed for founders, CEOs, Managing Directors and shareholders who are serious about building long-term value — whether exit is two years away or ten.