Scale to Exit with Alejandra Santos

In this episode of Scale to Exit, we sit down with beauty industry disruptor and serial entrepreneur Nicole Collins, a powerhouse behind brands like ipsy, YUME, and the revolutionary 213Deli.

Nicole shares her journey from being a beauty-obsessed kid in L.A. to co-founding some of the most innovative beauty startups of the last decade. With deep expertise in brand building, influencer marketing, and social commerce, she reveals how...

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 mone...

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...

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 wor...

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 resilie...

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 licen...

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 ecos...

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 leade...

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 b...

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. Buc...

Product-market fit is just the beginning. In this episode, I’m joined by Peter Cohan—author, investor, and creator of the Value Pyramid—to explore what it takes to grow a business built to last. We explore the layers of the Value Pyramid and how founders can climb from basic survival to sustained strategic advantage.

Peter explains the difference between visionary and reckless leadership, why empathy is essential in crisis, and how...

​In this episode, we sit down with Sofia Castillo, a Guatemalan innovator and entrepreneur recognized as one of Forbes' Top 100 Powerful Women in Central America. Sofia shares her journey from founding her first tech startup without knowing exits were possible to her current venture, core-code.io, a technological talent accelerator empowering Central American youth to launch careers in technology. We delve into her experiences buil...

In this episode of Scale to Exit, I sit down with Justin Goodbread to discuss value acceleration strategies—what they are, why they matter, and how business owners can implement them to maximize their companies' worth.

We tackle overcoming doubts that hold entrepreneurs back, shifting from reactive decision-making to proactive, long-term planning, and ensuring that your business isn't just surviving but built to thrive for the futu...

In this episode of Scale to Exit, we sit down with Cherrisse Curtis to discuss the impact of tariffs and trade agreements on businesses, the pros and cons of bootstrapping versus fundraising, and key strategies for scaling a company toward a successful exit. Whether you're an entrepreneur weighing funding options or a business owner navigating global trade challenges, this episode is packed with insights to help you make informed d...

In this episode of Scale to Exit, we explore why waiting for a private equity (PE) firm to increase your business value after an exit is a costly mistake. Learn how to take control of your business’s value before you sell so you can walk away with a higher payday. I’ll break down the key drivers of business value, common mistakes owners make when selling, and practical strategies to maximize your valuation. Don’t leave money on the...

In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Romanko to explore her inspiring journey as a woman in the world of venture capital. Sarah shares valuable lessons from her career, offering a candid look at what to do—and what to avoid—when fundraising. Whether you're a startup founder looking to make your pitch stand out or an entrepreneur seeking to understand what VCs prioritize, Sarah's insights will guide you through the process. Tune i...

Tradara McLaurine joins us for an inspiring conversation about redefining success, overcoming self-imposed limits, and aligning with your “why.” She shares her personal shift from fearing failure to facing the complexities of fearing success and the ways that mindset can hold us back. We dive into the power of setting boundaries, saying “no” without guilt, and breaking free from validation-seeking and over-apologizing. This episode...