Women are making gains toward substantial representation in the Entrepreneurship-Through-Acquisition (ETA) community, and supporting each other along the way. In fact, 17% of ETA searchers in the market are now women. In a fascinating conversation, three ETA leaders compare notes about the appeal of the ETA search-fund career, the advantages women can have connecting with fellow entrepreneurs, and the challenges and misperceptions women confront in a male-dominated industry.

This episode of Search Party includes Audrey Kohout, CEO of ETA company Luggage Forward, Tatiana Gaspar, Director at ETA private equity firm Next Coast Legacy and Katie Walker, a Principal at lower-middle-market capital provider Plexus Capital.

Kohout tells the story of how her and co-searcher/co-CEO Jessica Palfrey looked all over the country for a lower-middle-market business to acquire and run before settling on a logistics company in Boston, owned by two men. A deal was struck due in part to shared values of hard work and humility that transcended gender.

The experts also discussed the often-difficult balancing act of growing a business while also maintaining a personal life and, for women and men alike, growing a family. As Kohout puts it: "We're building our lives at the same time that we're building a company."

Near the end of the conversation, the three compared stories of awkward moments that women can face when men assume they are not in positions of leadership.

Women's Search Network: https://www.womenssearchnetwork.com/

Search Party Lead Sponsor:

Next Coast Legacy https://lnkd.in/eSAuRW5p

Search Party Sponsors:

Avidbank https://www.avidbank.com/

Boulay - Contact Boulay's Search Fund Team: https://lnkd.in/eFF88SVf

Mayer Brown https://lnkd.in/gU7sPPSg

Plexus Capital https://plexuscap.com/

Search Party website: https://lnkd.in/efJEa6GV