From Founder-Dependent to Future-Ready: Laurie Barkman on Business Transitions

What if the ultimate measure of a successful business is whether it can thrive without its founder? In this episode of The Strategic Business Influencer, Paige Velasquez Budde sits down with Laurie Barkman, entrepreneur, advisor, author, and former CEO who has spent her career helping business owners build companies that create both enterprise value and personal freedom. After leading a $100 million transportation and logistics company through acquisition by a Fortune 50 organization, Laurie launched her own firm to help founders navigate one of the most important, and often overlooked, business challenges: reducing owner dependency and preparing for transition long before it's necessary. In this conversation, Laurie shares: Why many founders unintentionally become the biggest bottleneck in their business The difference between building a lifestyle business and building transferable value What serving on and reporting to a board taught her about accountability and leadership How entrepreneurs can recognize when they've become trapped inside the business they created The framework she uses to help founders unlock growth, build stronger teams, and create more options for the future Laurie also opens up about her own entrepreneurial journey, including launching her business later in life, navigating major career transitions, and why she believes founders deserve more choice and confidence when planning what comes next. Whether you're building for growth, preparing for succession, or simply trying to create a business that gives you more freedom, this episode offers practical wisdom from someone who has lived every stage of the journey. Because the strongest businesses aren't built around one person. They're built to endure beyond them. To learn more about Laurie, visit: https://lauriebarkman.me/services