Podcast appearances and mentions of mark sims

You think you're building a company that's ready for investment or acquisition. Your revenue is growing. Customers are happy. The future looks promising. But what if the very things you're overlooking are quietly destroying your valuation?   In this episode of WholeCEO with Lisa G., Lisa sits down with operator and transformation expert Mark Sims to reveal the hidden factors that separate companies that command premium valuations from those that struggle to get deals across the finish line.   You'll discover: ·        Why founders often misunderstand what buyers are truly evaluating. ·        The subtle warning signs that a deal is beginning to unravel during diligence. ·        The operational weaknesses that create concern even when growth looks impressive. ·        How technology debt and outdated systems can significantly impact enterprise value. ·        What successful post-acquisition integrations have in common—and why others fail. ·        The first areas Mark would audit if a company plans to exit within the next three years. ·        The risks leadership teams unintentionally create without realizing it. ·        Why AI is rapidly becoming part of the diligence conversation and changing buyer expectations. ·        The one thing founders should stop obsessing over and the one thing they should prioritize to maximize value. ·        The advice Mark repeatedly gives CEOs preparing for growth, investment, or a future exit.   This isn't just a conversation about selling a company. It's a masterclass on building an organization that is operationally strong, scalable, and attractive to investors long before a deal is on the table.

Selling your company can look like "the big win." The check clears. The headlines sound nice. Maybe someone even posts a tasteful LinkedIn announcement with way too many gratitude emojis. Then comes the hard part: contracts, systems, data, cyber risk, SOPs, people, processes, and the tiny little question that can wreck a deal: Can this business actually run without you? In this episode of The Liquid Lunch Project Podcast, Matt sits down with Mark Sims, Managing Principal of Technology Solutions at ConsultMSG, to talk about what business owners need to fix before private equity shows up with a checkbook. Yes, they talk about what happens after a private equity deal closes. New boss. New board. New systems. New rules. Weird vibes in the Monday meeting. But the bigger warning is this: if your business is held together by handshake deals, tribal knowledge, messy data, and "Judy knows where that file is," you may not get the valuation, speed, or smooth transition you were hoping for. Mark breaks down how technology, clean data, documented processes, AI, cybersecurity, and basic operational discipline can protect company value before a sale…or quietly drain it when buyers start looking under the hood.  

June 7, 2026 AM Service

May 24, 2026 AM Service

From experiencing an acquisition early in his career when the AT&T division he worked for was sold to a UK private equity firm, to time at $4 billion Scotts Miracle-Gro where the company created what it called the Integration Factory, Mark Sims shares 25 years of insights on why post-deal integration often determines whether M&A deals succeed or fall short, and why integration planning has to start during due diligence. In this episode of the DealQuest Podcast, host Corey Kupfer sits down with Mark Sims, managing principal of technology solutions at Consult MSG. Mark applies 25 years of experience in strategy, M&A, and information technology across consumer products, retail, manufacturing, and private equity. He has held roles as CEO, Head of Strategy, and CIO, and now leads the technology solutions practice at a firm built around helping middle market PE-backed companies transact, transition, and transform. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: You'll discover why post-deal integration often determines whether M&A deals succeed or fall short, why integration planning needs to start during due diligence, and what founders selling to private equity should expect when they suddenly have a boss after decades of being the boss. Mark also explains why companies trying to implement AI keep wanting to start at step five before doing the foundational data work. MARK'S JOURNEY: Mark wanted to be an architect as a kid but pursued engineering instead, earning his bachelor's and master's in Industrial Engineering. He started his career in consulting working with Fortune 500 clients, then spent about 15 years at Scotts Miracle-Gro working in corporate M&A at the $4 billion company. About three years ago he moved into the PE advisory space full time. Mark also completed the Advanced Management Program at The Wharton School. THE INTEGRATION ARCHITECT: Mark has lived all three sides of the typical PE deal. Early in his career, he watched a UK private equity firm take over the small AT&T division he worked for, eventually moving headquarters from Cleveland to Houston where the new CEO lived. At Scotts Miracle-Gro, he worked on corporate M&A and was part of the team that created what it called the Integration Factory to snap acquired businesses into the mothership. Today he advises PE-backed middle market companies on building the integration capacity their acquisition pace demands. FOR MORE ON THIS EPISODE: https://www.coreykupfer.com/blog/marksims FOR MORE ON MARK SIMS: Website: https://consultmsg.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjsims/ FOR MORE ON COREY KUPFER: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykupfer/ https://www.coreykupfer.com/ Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker. He has more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker. He is deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is also the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast. Get deal-ready with the DealQuest Podcast with Corey Kupfer, where like-minded entrepreneurs and business leaders converge, share insights and challenges, and success stories. Equip yourself with the tools, resources, and support necessary to navigate the complex yet rewarding world of dealmaking. Dive into the world of deal-driven growth today! Episode Highlights with Timestamps [00:01:00] - Introduction to Mark Sims and his background [00:05:25] - Mark's career arc across public companies, Scotts Miracle-Gro, and PE advisory [00:08:54] - The founder who gets a giant check and discovers they now have a boss [00:17:32] - Why decisive integration protects the people you actually want to keep [00:22:37] - The Integration Factory at Scotts Miracle-Gro [00:29:21] - From PE to public market readiness and the standardization push [00:33:35] - Why companies want to start AI at step five before doing steps one through four [00:40:08] - What freedom means and the ability to pursue interests Guest Bio: Mark Sims is managing principal of technology solutions at Consult MSG. He applies 25 years of experience in strategy, M&A, and information technology across consumer products, retail, manufacturing, and private equity. He has held roles as CEO, Head of Strategy, and CIO, and spent about 15 years at Scotts Miracle-Gro before moving into PE advisory three years ago. Mark holds a bachelor's and master's in Industrial Engineering and completed the Advanced Management Program at The Wharton School. Host Bio: Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker with more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast. Show Description: Do you want your business to grow faster? The DealQuest Podcast with Corey Kupfer reveals how successful entrepreneurs and business leaders use strategic deals to accelerate growth. From large mergers and acquisitions to capital raising, joint ventures, strategic alliances, real estate deals, and more, this show discusses the full spectrum of deal-driven growth strategies. Get the confidence to pursue deals that will help your company scale faster. Related Episodes: Episode 337 - Jonathan Gardner on why M&A deals fail because of culture and IT systems Episode 324 - Sejal Lakhani-Bhatt on why tech due diligence determines what you're actually buying Episode 350 - Tom Dillon on understanding business valuation and exit planning realities Episode 366 - Jodi Hume on founder exits and the emotional journey behind major business decisions Keywords/Tags: post-deal integration, M&A integration strategy, private equity portfolio companies, Scotts Miracle-Gro integration factory, founder selling to PE, middle market M&A advisory, technology integration after acquisition, ERP implementation, integration during due diligence, culture integration M&A, PE to public market readiness, AI implementation for businesses, AI policy for companies, Consult MSG, transact transition transform, corporate development integration, people money systems, PE-backed middle market, post-acquisition integration, deal-driven growth

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Most entrepreneurs build their companies without thinking about the day someone might buy them.That's a huge mistake.Mark Sims joins Neil to break down the 5 Cs framework used by buyers and private equity firms to evaluate businesses. From competitive positioning to clean financials, from cash conversion cycles to operational capability, this conversation explains what actually drives valuation when a buyer looks at your company. If you want to build a business that sells, not just a job that pays you, this episode shows what serious buyers look for and why so many companies fail during due diligence.In This Episode, We Cover✅ The 5 Cs Framework for Business Value Mark breaks down the five factors buyers evaluate when looking at a company: competitive positioning, capability, cash conversion cycle, clean financials, and concentration risk. These elements determine how attractive a business is to investors and acquirers.✅ Competitive Positioning and Pricing Power Where your company sits in the market matters. Businesses with clear differentiation gain pricing power, stronger margins, and protection from commoditization.✅ Why Owner-Operator Businesses Struggle to Sell If the entire business depends on the founder, buyers see risk. Companies with documented systems, capable teams, and operational structure become far more attractive acquisition targets.

Send me feedback!Libertarian candidate Mark Sims joins me to discuss his run for US Senate (Texas).Mark Sims's WebsiteX/TwitterSUPPORT THE SHOWGet a 10% discount by using the code LibertyDad at Black Guns Matter shop.OR, use the referral linkFIND ME ELSEWHERELinktreeSupport the show

December 28, 2025 AM Service

October 26, 2025 AM Service

Thanks to AI and the work of researcher Mark Sims, we now can reproduce the former head of the Canadian UFO investigation from 1950-1954, reading from the Top Secret memo he produced after conversations with United States officials through the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC.The key part of the memo was the confirmation that flying saucers existed and it was the most highly classified subject in the United States. (In other written testimony, Smith confirmed that the American officials (NOT USAF) had tons of hardware, but that it might as well be in the 4th dimension, as no one would ever see it.The second most important subject in the memo was the fact that American officials believed mental phenomena were connected to the saucer. This fact is still being ignored by the UFO community as they prepare to spend another 80 years cataloging lights in the sky to prove a nuts and bolts phenomena (which it may not be) to skeptics.Smith made sure his extensive files survived his death in 1962 so I will be doing more podcasts on his discoveries down the road.Grant Cameron websitewww.presidentialufo.org

This extremely unusual show starts with tech entrepreneur Mark Sims describing in the clearest possible terms what it is actually to share one’s body with another entity–not possession, but sharing, that is to say, the classic Communion experience. Then they move on to a discussion of a video the two of them made in 2012 during the Harmonic Convergence. In this video, Whitley describes a completely unique vision of disclosure. As he speaks, some sort of white substance gradually surrounds his face. So far, it has not been explained as a known phenomenon by any of the video experts we have consulted. Audio users are urged to view the last half of the video on YouTiube @whitleystrieberdreamland.

July 6, 2025 AM Service

June 22, 2025 AM Service

May 25, 2025 AM Service

What happens when a business suddenly loses a key player or faces a supply chain disruption?  That's where Madison Insurance Group's unique strategies come into play, offering peace of mind and financial protection for unforeseen business challenges. Join John and Michael Parise as they chat with Mark Sims and Aaron Quinn from Madison Insurance Group … Read More Read More

March 23, 2025 AM Service

December 29, 2024 AM Service

July 21, 2024 AM Service

July 7, 2024 AM Service

June 2, 2024 AM Service

May 26, 2024 AM Service

April 28, 2024 AM Service

December 31, 2023 AM Service

In this episode Jim talks with Mark Sims, founder and CEO of Fikes. Mark talks about the beauty of boring businesses, the strategy for acquisition and how to utilize your superpowers to grow a startup. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S EPISODE The advantages of acquisition Telling and selling vs asking and understanding The beauty of boring businesses Leaning into your super power  Mistakes to avoid The essential skillset from sports Milestones of a growing company  Resources: Fikes Mark Sims Jim Huffman website Jim's Twitter GrowthHit The Growth Marketer's Playbook Additional episodes you might enjoy: Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45) Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41) How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44) Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10) How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51)  

December 10, 2023 AM Service

In this episode, we welcome back "Pretty Weird Blonde" Sofia Rose and Mark Sims as we talk about feeling the ripples of Love flowing to all corners of the world after Disclosurefest's "Stairway to the Stars", a truly transformational event and mass meditation held over the 11/11 weekend at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas Nevada!

October 29, 2023 AM Service

October 22, 2023 AM Service

October 15, 2023 AM Service

October 8, 2023 AM Service

October 1, 2023 AM Service

July 23, 2023 AM Service

June 18, 2023 AM Service

June 11, 2023 AM Service

May 28, 2023 AM Service

April 2, 2023 AM Service

This episode will focus on two important questions: "Are your students okay?" and "What is the vibe on your campus?" Mark Sims, Principal of Endeavor High School in Channelview ISD, will take you through how he uses a tool called School Pulse to check the pulse of the students on his campus. He outlines the anonymous nature of students inputting the information after opting into the program. The tool allows his staff access to a dashboard and messaging that gives a real-time measure of the level of anxiety on the campus. Mark is open to you contacting him for more information on the tool and how he uses it by emailing him at mark.sims@cvisd.org. Take the time to listen and learn about how this information can increase the safety and security in your environment

January 15, 2023 AM Service

January 8, 2023 AM Service

January 1, 2023 AM Service

Creating the industry's leading CPG platform The Cannabis Investor Series sponsored by PodConx is back for the Fifth year.  This year, the Series will again feature the cannabis top investors and lenders, reviewing how the current macroeconomic cycle is affecting investing in these sectors, what to expect in 2023 and sharing investment opportunities and strategies.  In today's episode, Dan Humiston is joined by Mark Sims the CEO of  RIV Capital. Produced by PodConxMJBulls - https://podconx.com/podcasts/raising-cannabis-capitalDan Humiston - https://podconx.com/guests/dan-humistonMark Sims - RIV Capital - https://www.rivcapital.com/Recorded on Squadcast - https://squadcast.fm/

December 11, 2022 AM Service

The OneStream mission statement is “Every customer is a reference, one success at a time”. On this edition of the OneStream Podcast, Peter Fugere talks with Mark Sims, Vice President, Customer Success, about how his team is helping to accomplish this goal and how OneStream is perfecting the imperfect science of Customer Success. 

November 13, 2022 AM Service

August 14, 2022 AM Service

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June 12, 2022 AM Service

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