About
Michael Podolny
Michael Podolny has over 40 years of experience working with the owners of privately held
businesses. During this period he has filled numerous roles working with privately held
businesses including consultant, counselor, financier, investor, owner, and operator. This
breadth of experience allows him to quickly focus on what is critical in a private business
situation and understand the types of solutions that are realistic for resolving them. He
specializes in scaling down tools and processes used in larger businesses so they can be
effective and get results in smaller businesses.
Podolny’s career began in the world of financial transactions. During that period he completed
transactions with a cumulative value of over a half a billion US Dollars. Recognizing that
investment banking transactions only could resolve a small portion of business ownership
issues, he developed a proprietary method making use of Human Centered Design to assist
business owners with reconciling personal and business issues quickly and efficiently. Podolny is
the author of Make Your Business Serve You: The Business Owner’s Guide to Personal Wealth,
Self-Satisfaction and Peace of Mind, Shortcut To Security: Make Your Business Worth More to
Others so It Becomes Worth More to You.
The goal is to move beyond considering succession options to having a realistic plan & then begin taking action
Michael Podolny
A Practical Approach to Business Succession
Business succession is rarely a single decision. It involves understanding what you want from your business, evaluating the paths realistically available to you, making necessary trade-offs, and then turning those decisions into action.
Michael Podolny works with business owners to bring structure and clarity to that process. The starting point is not simply asking, “How do I exit my business?” It is determining the desired outcome and then evaluating which succession pathways realistically support that outcome.
The process considers the strengths and weaknesses of the business, staff capabilities, the requirements of potential succession paths, and the realities facing the owner and the business.
Our Mission
To increase the number of business owners who exit in style, feeling fully satisfied with
the outcome. While at the same time preserving business ownership in smaller cities
and communities thus promoting legacy, community involvement, and employee
engagement.
“
Our Vision
Promote alternative succession methodologies to corporate and private equity sales
that will allow business owners to fulfill both their personal goals and objectives, while allowing businesses to remain strong pillars of the communities in which they are
located.
“
WHO THIS APPROACH IS FOR
A transaction with insiders
Employee ownership
A special-purpose trust supporting charitable goals
Other alternative succession pathways
Traditional business sales have many qualified professionals available. Alternative transactions can require someone who understands how to help drive a less conventional deal toward completion.
Your Succession Doesn't Have to Start With All the Answers
It starts with getting clear about where you want to go.
If you’re beginning to think about succession or you already know it’s time to move from consideration to action start the conversation.