
Creating a life of opportunity and fulfilment is empowering.
Make it extraordinary – and full of choices…”
Kerry Boulton
How does a 15-year-old orphan go to General Manager of a multi-million dollar business of a public company? AND, then buy the business!!!
Kerry Boulton did it… and her compelling story is inspirational.
But Kerry’s story doesn’t stop there. When it comes to being able to ‘monetise’ a business for sale, Kerry Boulton has over $15.4 million worth of runs on the board from businesses she has successfully helped build and sell over the past three decades.
Described by most people who meet her as an elegant, serial entrepreneur, Kerry was the first woman to manage and own an international freight forwarding company when she negotiated the buyout of Freight Management International, a division of the publicly listed company, Mayne Nickless Ltd.
Following her purchase of Freight Management International in 1987, the business was successfully sold nine years later after a multi-million dollar turnaround – giving Kerry one of the biggest pay days of her career.
Kerry has always been known for being “ahead of the game”. Pioneering Nexus Business Coaching in 1996, the company was well established before “business coaching” became popular. Kerry was also Managing Director of FastTrac Victoria Pty. Ltd. Through Executive FastTrac™, Kerry delivered state-of-the-art business development programs for entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs seeking to improve and grow their businesses.
Together with her husband, Kerry has been a partner in two real estate agencies, selling the first for a multiple many times above the industry norm. The second is an actively growing business.
Not one to stand still for very long, Kerry also channelled her entrepreneurial energies into her children’s schools and the local community, while maintaining several pro-bono advisory board roles.
Over the past 20 years Kerry has mentored many owners through successful business growth… positioning them for their ultimate sale.
Despite leaving school at 15, Kerry achieved a Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship in 1999. She was later invited to teach MBA students on the subject of Business Planning as an Adjunct Teaching Fellow at Swinburne University.
Over the years, Kerry has worked with innovative and prestigious businesses such as those whose logos you will recognise… to name a few.
For more than 20 years Kerry has been a sought-after speaker and facilitator. She has given presentations and workshops relating to entrepreneurship, strategic thinking, management and business growth for many organisations.
A past member of the Advisory Board to the David Syme Business School at Monash University, Kerry was also a member of the Advisory Board for the Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship at Swinburne University and served on the Advisory Committee for the Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA).
After serving on the judging panel for the Telstra Business Women’s Awards for six years, Kerry was nominated by her clients and became a finalist in 1999.
Kerry was coaxed out of “retirement” in 2013 and is now founder and CEO of The Exit Strategy Group. The median age of business owners is now 47 and by 2024, 1.4m will be over the age of 55. There will be a massive wave of businesses coming onto the market and like it or not, every business owner will exit their business one day. They can choose “when”, they can choose “How” but they cannot choose “IF”. It will happen… even if it’s with their boots on!
It’s just a matter of time.
The Exit Strategy Group helps business owners and CEOs to maximise business value while systematically developing a parallel exit strategy. They will be well positioned to “cash out”… when they want to –how they want to – and be empowered to create an extraordinary life, full of choices.
Kerry Boulton is the international author of The Uncensored TRUTH About Exit Strategies – 10 Myths Every Business Owner Must Know Before Creating Their Exit Strategy. She lives in Melbourne, Victoria with her husband and their son and daughter. Her new book, Million Dollar Pay Day, will be available late 2015.
Speaking Topics and Workshops include…
Crafting Your Master Business Exit Strategy
- The #1 business commitment you can make that will significantly improve your business value, your feelings of security, peace of mind and enhance the quality of your life both before and after you sell your business
- The five key shifts you must make to know exactly where to focus your attention to maximize the amount of cash you take out of the business when you exit
- The seven life-changing and business-transforming questions that will set you on the path to maximising your personal wealth through your business AND creating a high quality lifestyle AFTER your exit
- How to determine the VERY BEST buyer for your business… with the resources, business savvy, and motivation to act decisively and quickly
- Where to find qualified buyers – you’ll be surprised to find out they’re often hidden in plain sight and you could easily overlook them entirely
- Uncovering your company’s most valuable strategic assets… your P&L statement may actually be the WORST place to start looking!
- Key roles you MUST have in place on your “sell the business” team – exactly who you need
- Secrets to creating powerful business operating systems you can rely on today AND that serve as an irresistible money-magnet for potential investors hungry for acquisitions.
Mastering Entrepreneurship
- Entrepreneurial Characteristics
- Entrepreneurial Myths
- Entrepreneurial Leadership
- The Business Owner’s Checklist
Strategic Thinking
- The Great Game of Business (with acknowledgement to Jack Stack)
- Future Scape
- Vision, Mission, Values
- Café Conversations
Management and Business Growth
- What’s driving your business?
- Whose friend are you…?
- Evaluating Opportunities
- Is it EQ or IC?
Kerry is not only inspirational but keeps us intrigued with the huge amount she’s crammed into her working life – it’s just amazing – she’s a force to be reckoned with! We’ve learned a lot, she’s given some amazing advice, lots of strategies to put in place… and a lot of different things we haven’t actually thought about and can implement in our business… Thanks a lot, Kerry; we can’t wait to be working with you more in the future.
Nicole & Jeanette Farren
Directors – Diggiddy Doggy Daycare
I’ve been in my industry now for 35 years and I’ve been thinking about how I was going to sell my business. It just so happened that Kerry came along exactly at the right time – with the timeline I now know I need. I was quite amazed with all the information and all the things I haven’t done in my business! Very exciting times and I certainly recommend anyone who’s not even thinking about selling their business to spend time with Kerry. The information is a real eye-opener for all of us entrepreneurs… I thank Kerry very much.
Nic Grigg
Director- Crystal Clear Engineering Pty Ltd
E: hydronics@crystalcleareng.com.au
We’re looking to sell our business in the next few years. Working with Kerry has been very enlightening. It’s opened up so many different opportunities we never realised existed and I think we’ve got a lot more potential buyers available to look at our business than we thought we did. So Kerry… thanks very much. Craig Simmonds
Director – Simmonds Polishing Pty Ltd
Kerry’s Exit Strategy workshop is one of the most enlightening I’ve ever been to. I thoroughly recommend Kerry to anyone who’s looking at improving their business… there is a huge benefit “getting into Kerry’s head” and getting that into your business. Thanks Kerry.
Cheryl Mead – Founder
Wicked Homes Australia Pty Ltd
I hadn’t considered the concept of an exit strategy – and I don’t think many people do – I’m so glad I met Kerry. I’ve worked out that I need to plan now – years ahead – and it wasn’t on my radar. So thank you Kerry. I recommend her highly. She’s had so much personal experience in this area – which is really great.
Peter Engelhardt – Director
Creative Brew
Kerry’s work on Exit Strategies is completely inspiring. I actually understand where I need to head my business in the next 10-15 years so I can get the maximum growth and value out of my business. I now know how to set the foundations so I can eventually, one day, retire and get what I need from my business. Kerry, thank you so much… I now feel I can forge ahead with the knowledge and information I need to create the life I want from my business.
Cara Walsh – Owner
Live Life Well Yoga and Pilates Studio
www.livelifewellstudio.com.au