Ep. 465 - STS Capital Partners Chairman and Founder, Rob Follows

Second in Command: The Chief Behind the Chief

Second in Command with Cameron Herold

Entrepreneurship, Business, Management, Careers

4.5 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 10 April 2025

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In today's episode of the Second in Command podcast, Cameron is joined by Rob Follows, Chairman and Founder of STS Capital Partners.

During the conversation, Rob and Cameron discuss the intricacies of selling businesses and navigating the complex world of mergers and acquisitions. They explore the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and business owners when it comes to maximizing the value of their companies and understanding the true impact of strategic advice.

You'll discover the often-overlooked factors that can influence the final deal, including the role of private equity firms and traditional investment banks, and why these entities may not always align with the goals of family-owned or entrepreneurial businesses. Rob also emphasizes the importance of being strategic, cautious, and well-prepared throughout the process.

From climbing the world’s tallest peaks to speaking about life planning and business value maximization, this episode provides both practical business advice and inspiring life lessons for entrepreneurs aiming for greatness.

If you've enjoyed this episode of the Second in Command podcast, be sure to leave a review and subscribe today!

Enjoy!

In This Episode You'll Learn:

The importance of maximizing value when selling a business, especially for strategic buyers.
How the 'Rembrandts in the attic' analogy explains the hidden value that strategic buyers see in a company.
The challenges of working with smaller companies and the need for a certain level of business maturity.
Common misconceptions about the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) process and the importance of aligning interests.
The need for entrepreneurs to have a clear understanding of their required and preferred outcomes.
And much more...

Resources:

Connect with Rob: Website | LinkedIn

Connect with Cameron: Website | LinkedIn

Get Cameron’s latest book – "Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO"

Get Cameron’s online course – Invest In Your Leaders

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, it's Cameron Harold, the host of the Second Command podcast. Before we dive in, there's something you need to know.
0:05.5	If you're a C-O-O-V-P operations or you're in any role where you're the second-in-command to the CEO,
0:12.1	the C-O Alliance is the place for you. If you're the integrator to the visionary, you're going to want to join us.
0:18.4	The C-O Alliance is the world's leading community for the second command.
0:22.4	We've had over 500 members like you join from 17 countries to grow their skills,
0:27.6	connections, and confidence.
0:29.1	You'll get the tools, friendships, and a 10x guarantee to ensure that you get your
0:33.6	money's worth.
0:34.6	Go to COOalliance.com to learn more and see if you qualify. You can even
0:39.4	book a free call with our team to ask questions. Now let's jump into this week's episode.
0:43.7	I think that the industry has done a really poor job of sharing with, in the interest of the benefit
0:50.7	of your listeners here, Cameron. So first of all, the industry has done a poor
0:54.5	job of aligning interests. The old Lehman formula was a reduced percentage as, as the, and that's
1:00.5	what a lot of people might remember. If you had a $100 million deal, it would be a lower percentage
1:05.3	in selling that deal if you got to $300 million.
1:13.3	Welcome to the Second and Command podcast, produced by the C.O. Alliance and brought to you
1:19.5	by its founder, Cameron Harold. In the Second in Command podcast, we talk to top COs who share
1:25.8	the insights, strategies, and tactics that made them the chief
1:29.7	behind the chief.
1:31.1	And now, here's your host, Cameron Harold.
1:37.8	Our guest today is Rob follows, the chairman and founder of STS Capital.
1:42.1	Rob is a dealmaker, a visionary, and an extreme adventurer who's
	...

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