Exit Readiness Simulator
Overview
In this simulator, you’ll step into the role of CFO at a high-growth international company and navigate a real-life exit scenario, making strategic decisions and implementing key initiatives across governance, compliance, operations, and value creation. You’ll manage activities such as building a virtual data room, optimizing working capital, executing tax planning, and aligning KPIs with strategic goals. As the timeline progresses, your focus will shift from expansion and integration to optimization, legal simplification, succession planning, and ultimately, executing the exit strategy. With each phase, you’ll enhance your readiness, engage stakeholders, and position the business for a seamless, high-value exit—gaining the insights and tools needed to replicate and surpass real-world success.
Lessons:
Lesson 1: Simulator Overview
Welcome to the Simulator Overview—your hands-on experience in strategic finance, exploring a business scenario, structure, and key financials.
Lesson 2: Exit Readiness Purpose
This section explores the purpose of exit planning, common exit routes like trade sale, PE buyout, or IPO, and how to maximize value for stakeholders.
Lesson 3: Exit Readiness Planning
Exit preparation should begin early, focusing on ongoing priorities and the three years before exit, while managing time pressures and dual responsibilities.
Lesson 4: Exit Paths
This section covers key exit routes—Trade Sale, PE Buyout, IPO, Successor Planning, and Dual/Triple Track—highlighting their unique benefits and challenges to help tailor the right strategy.
Lesson 5: Annual Milestones
This section maps out key milestones and annual tasks across a three-year timeline, providing a structured approach to ensure thorough preparation for a successful business exit.
Lesson 6: Compliance
Ongoing compliance, clear reporting, and strong records ensure VSC is exit-ready and builds stakeholder confidence.
Lesson 7: Governance
This section guides you through key steps in governance, data room setup, and tax planning to enhance VSC’s exit readiness and appeal to buyers, while testing your decision-making skills.
Lesson 8: Analytics
This section helps CFOs use analytics to improve operations, working capital, and strategic decisions—strengthening VSC’s data culture, pricing, and performance to support a successful exit.
Lesson 9: Strategy
In this strategy section, CFOs will align VSC’s business goals, KPIs, funding, and operations—strengthening IP and customer retention to build a solid foundation for a successful exit.
Lesson 10: Expansion
This section guides you through Bigland expansion and a potential acquisition—covering setup, modeling, deal execution, and integration to support international growth and business success.
Lesson 11: People
This phase focuses on retaining key talent, developing leadership, and streamlining operations to support a smooth and successful exit.
Lesson 12: Optimization
This section focuses on optimizing VSC’s operations through clear vision, process standardization, and technology integration to drive efficiency and support exit readiness.
Lesson 13: Value Creation
This section guides participants through key value-creation strategies—benchmarking, streamlining structures, and succession planning—to enhance VSC’s worth and exit readiness.
Lesson 14: Performance
This module focuses on financial leadership strategies to boost revenue, grow profits, cut costs, and align teams—laying the groundwork for sustainable growth and a successful exit.
Lesson 15: Exit Year Activities
VSC is entering the final 12 months before its planned exit, progressing through three key phases tailored to its chosen exit strategy.
Lesson 16: GrowCFO Community Insights
During this section, we share tips and helpful insights from seasoned finance professionals with strong relevant experience in the topics covered during this simulator.
Lesson 17: Closing Thoughts
Reflect on the three-year journey you’ve completed, celebrating key milestones and equipping yourself with the expertise to lead real-world exit planning and maximize business value.
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