Scale to Exit™ with Alejandra Santos

Are you an aspiring business owner with big dreams and a vision? Then this is your podcast. Alejandra Santos is a seasoned business owner, strategist, Fractional COFO, and Certified Exit Planner who has helped hundreds of businesses scale lean and prepare for an exit. 
In this podcast, she shares the secret sauce of what makes a business valuable, interviews successful entrepreneurs, and shares mistakes so you can get the roadmap you need to build or scale your company for an exit.

Alejandra Santos is the proud owner and CEO of Into the Next Consulting™, The Educated CEO™, Comeverge™, and the Scale to Exit podcast™.

Connect with her on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/aalejandrasantos and www.thealejandrasantos.com 

Is your business truly scale-ready or exit-ready? Discover the answer with our proprietary Scale and Exit Readiness Index™. Email hello@thealejandrasantos.com to schedule your assessment now!

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Episodes

Wednesday Jun 11, 2025

What does going from rock bottom to an eight-figure business exit take?
In this deeply inspiring episode, psychotherapist and bestselling author Joyce Marter shares her incredible journey from financial ruin to founding and scaling a mental health practice that sold for $8 million. She opens up about the mindset shifts that changed everything, the hidden link between mental wellness and financial abundance, and how healing her money story transformed her life and business.
We also dive into:
How unresolved trauma shows up in our relationship with money
The emotional toll of leadership and how to overcome burnout
Practical mindset tools from The Financial Mindset Fix
What it means to build (and exit) a business with purpose and alignment
This is a must-listen for any entrepreneur ready to create wealth from the inside out.
You can find her resources and connect with her here:
Joyce Marter Resources - Joyce Marter
Joyce Marter, LCPC, CSP® | LinkedIn
 
 

Wednesday Jun 04, 2025

What do great leaders, successful founders, and magnetic brands share? They master the art of the pivot, and they know how to tell their story.
In this episode of Scale to Exit, Dr. Cheryl Robinson, an international speaker, Forbes contributor, and founder of Creative Renegade Media, shares the fundamental pillars of decisive leadership and why personal branding is no longer optional in today's business landscape.
We dive deep into:🔹 The most common branding mistakes that cost founders opportunities🔹 How to build a leadership brand that speaks before you do🔹 Why networking is still your best growth strategy when done right🔹 How to craft a compelling story that resonates with investors, buyers, and your market🔹 The difference between a snapshot and an elevator pitch — and how to use both
Whether scaling toward a major exit or redefining your next chapter, this episode is packed with insights to help you lead with clarity, communicate purposefully, and grow with intention.
 
You can find Cheryl Robinson:
Creativerenegademedia.com
Check out her FORBES articles
Explore The Happy Habits Club!

Wednesday May 28, 2025

Raising your first round with zero revenue? This episode is your roadmap. I’m breaking down what investors care about at the seed stage, how to justify your valuation without numbers, and the one mistake that could ruin your next round before it starts. Raising capital before you’ve made your first dollar? You're not alone, but you do need a smart strategy. In this solo episode, Alejandra breaks down how pre-revenue fundraising works, what investors look for at the seed stage, and how to defend your valuation confidently without relying on financials. You’ll learn: The fundamental difference between fundraising with and without revenue Standard early-stage valuation methods (Berkus, Scorecard, Risk Factor) What red flags turn investors off fast How to structure your ask and avoid overpricing your round What changes once you have revenue, and how to prepare for it If you’re building a startup and need capital to bring it to life, this episode gives you the exact tools and mindset to raise smarter and scale stronger. Alejandra Santos has dedicated her 16+ career to supporting founders and business owners in creating valuable businesses that can be exited for a high valuation, which means more money in their pockets.
You can find her:
www.intothenext.com/contact
www.theeducatedceo.com 
www.linkedin.com/in/aalejandrasantos 

Wednesday May 21, 2025

What does it really mean to scale your business and wealth with intention? In this episode, Alejandra sits down with Harvard tax strategist and elite financial advisor Jeff Socha to unpack the mindset, strategy, and structure behind building a life and a business that thrives beyond your involvement.
They dive deep into Jeff’s concept of the Freedom Threshold, the critical Five Pillars of Wealth Management, and how to build resilience during economic uncertainty. From hiring the right team to busting dangerous tax myths, this conversation is a masterclass in how the top 0.1% think differently and how you can, too.
Whether scaling to exit or aiming to create more freedom, this episode will leave you thinking bigger, smarter, and more intentionally.
 
You can find Jeff Socha: 
Socha Capital | Family Office Services for Tax-Efficient Wealth Management
(1) Jeff Socha | LinkedIn
 

Thursday May 15, 2025

You don’t build a business to run it forever — you make it so someone wants to buy it.
In this episode of Scale to Exit, we sit down with Jonathan Wilson, a licensed investment banker, M&A advisor, and founder of Dubb Value Creation, to discuss preparing for a successful business exit.
We dive into:
Why every founder needs an exit strategy (even if you’re not selling tomorrow)
Jonathan’s journey from consulting to licensed dealmaker
The different types of buyers and what they’re looking for
Key differences between a broker-dealer and an investment banker
When and why stock vs. asset sales matter in the deal process
Whether you’re considering selling your business one day or want to build a more valuable one, this episode is packed with insights to help you think like a buyer and prepare like a pro.

Wednesday May 07, 2025

In this powerhouse episode, we sit down with Juliana Garaizar, Founding Partner of Energy Tech Nexus and a trailblazing force in inclusive investing, to explore the shifting landscape of startup funding. From breaking down the flaws in the traditional VC model to championing underrepresented founders and climate innovation, Juliana offers real talk on what needs to change and who’s leading that charge. We dive into the role of ecosystem builders, women investors' rise, and community-based capital's impact. Plus, Juliana shares a few personal reflections on global cuisine and the mindset differences across entrepreneurial cultures worldwide.
Whether you're a founder, investor, or future changemaker, this episode is packed with insight, strategy, and inspiration.
 
You can find Juliana Galaizar: 
Juliana Garaizar | LinkedIn

Wednesday Apr 30, 2025

Is your workforce strategy setting your business up for a successful exit, or silently killing its value?
In this episode of Scale to Exit, we sit down with Edie Goldberg, Ph.D., a nationally recognized expert in talent strategy and the future of work. Edie shares powerful insights from her books The Inside Gig and Scenario Planning, revealing how business owners can use agile talent planning to scale smarter, build resilient leadership teams, and create a company ready to sell, even if they’re not planning to exit tomorrow.
We dive into:
What makes a talent strategy a value builder or a value killer
How to leverage untapped talent to increase efficiency and scalability
Why agile workforce planning is your secret weapon for exit readiness
The red flags buyers look for in team structure and leadership gaps
You can find Edie Goldberg 
(1) Edie Goldberg | LinkedIn

Wednesday Apr 23, 2025

In this powerful episode of Scale to Exit, Alejandra Santos sits down with Sha Nacino to break down the real reason people say yes in business—it’s not logic, it’s connection. Discover how empathy, authenticity, and simply making people feel understood can instantly shift your sales outcomes. Whether scaling a startup or building a legacy brand, this conversation will change how you sell and lead.
Because in the end? People don’t buy products. They buy people.
 
You can find Sha Nacino https://shanacino.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/sha-nacino/
 

Wednesday Apr 16, 2025

What does becoming a CEO at 20 and a COO by 24 take? For Victoria Pelletier, it’s grit, strategy, and a serious dose of emotional intelligence. In this episode of Scale to Exit, we dive into her journey through mergers and acquisitions—on both sides of the table—and what she looks for in a business before making a deal. We also talk leadership that lasts, brand value that sells, and why EQ might be your secret weapon for scale. Buckle up—this one’s equal parts powerhouse and playbook.
 
Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE -LIKE -SHARE -COMMENT
 
Website: https://victoria-pelletier.com/
LinkedIn:   / victoriapelletier  
Twitter:   / pelletierv29  
Instagram:   / victoria_pelletier_unstoppable  
Facebook:   / victoria.pelletier.unstoppable  
YouTube:    / @victoriapelletierunstoppable   YouTube Speaker Reel:    • Victoria Pelletier - Public Speaker &...   TEDx Miami Talk:    • Embracing healthy resilience | Victor...   Influence Unleashed Book - Amazon: https://a.co/d/6Ru2NKY
The Power of Whole Human Leadership Book (Leadership and Culture) – Amazon: https://a.co/d/eHOCFM6

Wednesday Apr 09, 2025

Is your business having an identity crisis? Patrice Williams-Lindo, CEO of Career Nomad, joins Scale to Exit to talk surviving economic curveballs, rebranding like a pro, and her RNA Framework (no, not that RNA—we’re not in bio class). From mindset shifts to mastering digital skills, this episode is your cheat code for navigating today’s wild economy.
You can find Patrice Lindo at:
http://linkedin.com/in/thecareernomad

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