The Growth + Exit
Podcast
Expert Advice for Middle Market Business Owners on Growing, De-Risking, and Exiting Their Business
Latest Episodes
In this episode of Growth + Exit, Heather Bennett sits down with Tim Padgett, Founder of Pepper Group, to discuss building and evolving a marketing business. Tim shares his journey from job loss to entrepreneurship, how team culture and hiring shaped his company’s growth, and his perspective on the future of marketing in an AI-driven environment.
In this episode of Growth + Exit, Susan Kearney and Heather Bennett look back on their first year of the podcast. They share early-stage business challenges and near-death moments, stories of accidental entrepreneurs, and how founders expand their impact through leadership, policy, and strategic decision-making.
In this episode of Growth + Exit, Heather Bennett talks with Scott Markman, Founder and President of MonogramGroup, to discuss building and scaling a brand-driven business. Scott shares his early entrepreneurial journey, how he entered private equity, and why branding is a critical lever for value creation.
In this episode of Growth + Exit, Susan Kearney talks with Jim Fitzgerald, Co-founder and CEO of Paycile, about entrepreneurship and scaling businesses. Jim shares his approach to decisive action and learning from failure, how culture supports teams through challenges, and his advice on preparing early for a smooth business exit.
Welcome to the Growth + Exit Podcast, where business owners, CEOs, and industry experts share the inside story of how they’ve grown, strengthened, and successfully exited their companies.
Hosted by Newport Managing Directors Heather Bennett and Susan Kearney, each episode offers candid conversations and practical insights tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of mid-market, privately held businesses.
New episodes drop twice a month.
Meet Your Hosts
Heather Bennett
Managing Director, Newport LLC
Corporate leader turned growth strategist, Heather brings 20+ years of experience managing $100MM brands, advising CEOs and entrepreneurs, and helping businesses scale through innovation, marketing, and executive development.
Susan Kearney
Managing Director, Newport LLC
A serial entrepreneur, growth expert, and digital innovator, Susan has founded, built, and sold several businesses; partnered successfully with both VC and PE investors; and participated in both buy and sell-side transactions. She leverages this expertise to help business owners scale and exit their companies successfully.
