Kimberlee Sweeney: My first divorce wasn't my marriage. It was my business.
Kimberlee Sweeney has seen what tears relationships apart, not just in marriages. As New Zealand’s first divorce coach, she also works with business partners, co-founders, and leadership teams to stop breakdowns before they happen.In this episode, we dive into the psychology of founder dynamics: the unspoken expectations, emotional blind spots, and behavioural patterns that can quietly destroy a great business. From prenups for partnerships to navigating resentment when roles aren’t equal, Kimberlee offers a roadmap for conflict prevention, repair, and clarity, especially when the stakes are high.Whether you're in a co-founder relationship, planning an exit, or leading a team through friction, this conversation will change the way you think about trust, alignment, and emotional due diligence.
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Kaz Staples: $15 cereal; Impossible they said! I built the category and my empire.
Kaz Staples didn’t set out to build an iconic food brand—she just wanted to make honest muesli. But over 25 years, she turned Pure Delish into a household name. Along the way, she faced near-collapse during the GFC, fought through burnout, and rebuilt a business on gut instinct and grit.In this episode, we explore what it really takes to lead through chaos, the emotional cost of carrying a company on your back, and what happens when you finally walk away. Whether you’re building something or wondering how to let go, Kaz’s story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and the power of staying true to your values.
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John Bolton: At 32 I walked from a $60B portfolio. Into nothing.
John Bolton (JB) walked away from managing a $60 billion portfolio at the onset of the Global Financial Crisis, betting everything—his house, savings, and future—on a dream. His journey with Squirrel wasn’t just about creating a successful mortgage and lending business; it was about embracing uncertainty, surviving near-bankruptcy, and building resilience through relentless innovation.In this episode, JB candidly shares why naivety can be an entrepreneur’s greatest asset, the critical importance of timing and capital strategy, and how stepping aside from leadership allowed his company to scale. Whether you're navigating your own startup journey or considering what comes next, JB's insights provide an authentic roadmap to taking bold risks and transforming challenges into lasting success.
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Ryan Sanders: $34M in revenue. Slashed by 94% overnight.
Ryan Sanders didn’t exit because the business was broken—he left because he was ready.After building one of Aotearoa’s most iconic tourism brands, he walked away on his own terms, in the middle of a pandemic.In this episode, we unpack the emotional terrain of stepping back while the business is still thriving, the quiet toll of staying too long, and the unspoken identity crisis that comes with no longer being “the founder.”Whether you’re thinking about selling or just asking yourself what comes next, this is the conversation you didn’t know you needed.Follow me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrieDownload my e-book, "The Exit Factor: Sell your company for a life-changing sum" and sign up to receive the Business Growth Journal fortnightly: https://www.joshcomrie.com/the-exit-factor
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AJ Wilderland: Block my company sale? I'll find a better deal!
AJ Wildland co-founded one of the coolest tech companies to come out of NZ AND helped revolutionise DJing globally. From bootstrapping Serato with a groundbreaking algorithm to navigating a $100M exit and stepping into the political arena, AJ’s journey is as bold as his beliefs.In this episode, we explore how a bass guitarist’s personal pain point became a global solution, why selling Serato wasn’t just about the payday, and what happens when a tech founder decides to fix the country instead of another product. Whether you're a founder, creative, or voter this conversation is equal parts insight, inspiration, and provocation.Follow me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrieDownload my e-book, "The Exit Factor: Sell your company for a life-changing sum" and sign up to receive the Business Growth Journal fortnightly: https://www.joshcomrie.com/the-exit-factor
About 2 Commas: The $multi-million exit show with Josh Comrie
Welcome to 2 Commas: The $multi-million exit showI've spent over two decades helping founders scale their businesses and achieve successful, multimillion-dollar exits. I've also achieved this myself on multiple occasions. With my experience as an entrepreneur, advisor, and investor, I’ve had the privilege of guiding companies through the highs and lows of business growth and exit strategies.Each episode will bring you the previously untold stories of entrepreneurs who have successfully scaled and exited their businesses for seven-figure (2 comma's) plus returns. You’ll hear more about the journeys, challenges, and pivotal moments that led to these transformative exits. My goal is to inform and inspire founders who are looking to scale their ventures to seven, eight or nine figures and beyond.Follow me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joshcomrieDownload my e-book, "The Exit Factor" and sign up to receive the Business Growth Journal weekly: https://www.joshcomrie.com/the-exit-factor
New Zealand