Alternative Exit
Alternative Exit is a dedicated to educating small business owners about the possibilities, benefits, and challenges of transitioning to an employee ownership model.
There are over 200m SMEs with an owner who will be retiring in the next 10 years, many of which will never find a buyer for their business, forcing them to close their doors.
There is an alternative. This show will explore various the different forms of employee ownership and best practices for successful transitions.
Each episode features interviews with experts in employee ownership, business owners who have made the transition, and consultants who facilitate these changes.
Alternative Exit
Alternative Exit #12 | Building Stronger Companies Through Cooperative Transitions with Rob Brown
Episode Summary:
In this episode of The Alternative Exit Podcast, host Andy Farquharson sits down with Rob Brown, Director of Business Ownership Solutions at the Cooperative Development Institute (CDI), to discuss the transformative power of employee ownership. Rob shares insights into how transitioning businesses to employee-owned cooperatives not only benefits employees but also builds stronger communities and ensures business continuity.
From sharing real-world examples to outlining CDI’s comprehensive transition support, Rob explains the key factors that make employee-owned companies thrive. Tune in to hear Rob’s expert take on why employee ownership is more than just a financial decision—it’s a path to lasting legacy and stability.
Key Takeaways:
- The mindset shift required for employees to see themselves as owners.
- Open-book management to create a culture of trust and engagement.
- The financial and interpersonal benefits of employee-owned cooperatives.
- The transition with CDI’s “soup-to-nuts” approach to support and training.
- The process of turning employees into credible, bankable buyers.
Resources Mentioned:
- Democracy at Work Institute - https://institute.coop/
- The Great Game of Business - https://www.greatgame.com/
About Rob Brown:
Rob Brown is the director of Business Ownership Solutions at the Cooperative Development Institute. He is a nationally recognized expert in the field of cooperative ownership transitions and transaction development, and has assisted dozens of companies to explore, assess, structure and execute worker cooperative conversions.
Rob has developed extensive programs of education, training, coaching and technical assistance for boards, management and members in new worker-owned cooperatives, and leads programs at the local, regional, and national level to educate and advise business owners on the exit planning process and options.
Connect with Corey Rosen:
- Website - https://cdi.coop/
Connect with Andy Farquhason:
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyfarquharson/
- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/andyfarq
- Website - https://abettermonday.me/
- Email - andy@abettermonday.me