CEO School with Suneera Madhani

Tonya said it best: "You've curated this community where you can see every possibility and be inspired in any direction." That's the Millionaire Founders Club. And this October, we're taking that to NYC for our fall retreat. Only 20 spots open for new members. Apply here: https://bit.ly/MFCApplication

Welcome back to CEO School!

In today's inspiring episode, Suneera Madhani sits down with powerhouse entrepreneur Tonya Turrell, founder and CEO of Technology Match. With nearly 30 years of experience revolutionizing how technology is bought and sold, Tonya shares the highs, lows, and pivotal moments of her journey, including building and selling two companies, landing on the Inc. 5000 and Female Founder 250 lists, and overcoming bankruptcy.

We dive deep into her story of resilience, the challenges and advantages of being a woman in tech, scaling with AI, and her game-changing insights into building successful sales machines. Plus, hear how Tonya prioritized family and freedom after her first business exit, embracing worldschooling with her kids for five years.

Get ready for actionable advice, honest conversations, and a behind-the-scenes look at building businesses (and lives) on your own terms.

Time Stamps:

(00:00) Meet Tonya Turrell: Two-Time Founder and Inc. 5000 CEO(04:00) AOL Came Calling, and She Said Yes With No Contract Signed(10:39) Losing 80% of Her Revenue the Week Before Christmas(12:50) She Shut Down on a Friday and Launched Again on Monday(13:43) How a Team of 6 Outperformed a Team of 60(16:00) Making the Inc. 5000 and Selling the Company Anyway(19:04) Pulling the Kids From School and Worldschooling for 5 Years(27:03) No Pretty Privilege in Tech: What Sexism Actually Looks Like(32:12) You're Not Too Much. You're Just Too Much for Them(39:44) How to Break Out of Founder-Led Sales and Build a Real Engine(43:52) Same Leads, Two Clients: One at 0%, One at 50%(49:12) What Happened When She Finally Stepped Into the CEO Seat

Share this with a founder who is still closing every deal herself. This episode is the wake-up call she needs.

Connect with Tonya

Website: https://technologymatch.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyacoxturrell/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyaturrell/

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Tonya's biggest unlock this year was finally putting on her CEO hat, and new business ideas immediately followed. If this episode hit close to home, it's time to find out in which areas you are still operating like a founder. Take the quiz: https://bit.ly/FounderOrCEOQuiz---Only 2% of female founders ever break $1 million in revenue. We're on a mission to change that. Subscribe to the CEO School and join the movement.

Watch and listen to us at:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1525261018
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/06KIvFFJP0yJv67N9ugigU
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CEOSchoolPodcast/?sub_confirmation=1

Learn more about CEO School because nothing bad ever happens when women make more money:

Website: https://theceoschool.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-school

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theceoschool

Learn more about how Suneera Madhani is paving the way for powerhouse female CEOs like you to take center stage, not just in your industries but in your whole life.

Website: https://suneeramadhani.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/

This episode was produced by Hi Hello Labs: https://www.hihellolabs.com/.----------------------------------------------------------

SOCIAL Hashtags:

#CEOSchool #SuneeraMadhani #WomenInBusiness #FounderStory #WomenInTech #SalesStrategy #AIForBusiness #FounderToCEO #TechFounder #WomenEntrepreneurs #BusinessGrowth #SalesEngine #MillionaireFoundersClub #UnicornSummit #Inc5000 #ExitStrategy #TeamBuilding

Are you operating like a founder or leading like a CEO? Take the quiz, find out where you stand, and get a custom workbook to start fixing the area that's holding you back. → bit.ly/FounderOrCEOQuiz

Welcome back to the CEO School Podcast!

This week, we flipped the script. Lisa Morel puts Suneera in the hot seat... and takes you all the way back. The immigrant household in Dallas. The sticker gun that taught her care scales. Getting laughed out of the room at 25. And the family dinner where her dad asked the question that built everything: why not you?

Then we get into the part nobody prepares you for: building a billion-dollar company with her brother Sal, and doing it without torching the relationship. Suneera shares her approach to dividing and conquering, staying out of each other's lanes, and having the conversation you're avoiding before it hardens into resentment.

If you've ever been told "never go into business with family," consider this your permission slip to do it right. Because less than 2% of women founders ever cross a million, and nobody should have to make that climb alone.

No one’s journey is perfect, especially in family business; but with humble courage, clarity, and intentional communication, you can create something truly lasting.

Time Stamps:

(00:00) The co-founder rule that protects a billion-dollar partnership

(01:04) Plot twist - Suneera takes the hot seat

(01:44) The immigrant household that was secretly an MBA

(08:21) The sticker-gun lesson: why care in the small things scales

(10:47) Eldest daughter, first to college - the weight of expectations

(16:00) How Fattmerchant started: the problem she couldn't unsee

(18:59) Laughed out of the room at 25

(21:06) The family-dinner question: "Why not you?"

(24:18) $5M in year one to a billion-dollar exit — the receipts

(26:36) Building with your brother: divide, conquer, trust the outcome

(33:12) The third-founder move that breaks the stalemate

(44:28) The tab-keeping trap: how resentment actually starts

(47:15) Humble courage: the conversations families avoid (and pay for it)

(53:37) Her real relationship to money, and the fear underneath it

(1:00:21) What she tells her daughters: do your passion, but own it

(1:04:25) Lisa's playbook: run the business like a business, the family like a family

Connect with Lisa at:

Website: https://www.openwithlisamorel.com/

Share this with your favorite co-founders!

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As Suneera said, entrepreneurship is too hard to do alone, and the best thing she has is partners who care as much as she does. If you're a 7- or 8-figure woman founder who's done climbing solo, this is THE table: a vetted room of women CEOs who refuse to play small. Pull up a seat: https://bit.ly/MFCApplication

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Only 2% of female founders ever break $1 million in revenue. We’re on a mission to change that. Subscribe to the CEO School and join the movement.

Watch and listen to us at:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1525261018

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/06KIvFFJP0yJv67N9ugigU

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CEOSchoolPodcast/

Learn more about CEO School because nothing bad ever happens when women make more money

Website: ⁠https://theceoschool.com/

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool/

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-schooll

TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@theceoschool

Learn more about how Suneera Madhani is paving the way for powerhouse female CEOs like you to take center stage, not just in your industries but in your whole life.

Website: https://suneeramadhani.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/

This episode was produced by Hi Hello Labs: https://www.hihellolabs.com/.

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SOCIAL Hashtags: #CEOSchool #SuneeraMadhani #WomenFounders #FemaleFounders #FounderToCEO #WomenInBusiness #EntrepreneurMindset #FamilyBusiness #SiblingCofounders #BuildingWithFamily #GenerationalWealth #CoFounderGoals #ImmigrantFamily

PE introductions, C-suite connections, companies exiting because of one conversation; that's what happens inside the MFC. We're opening spots for ambitious women at the 7-figure mark who are ready to be in the room where the best deals happen.

Apply here: https://bit.ly/MFCApplication

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Welcome back to the CEO School podcast!

In today's episode, our host Suneera Madhani sits down with powerhouse executive and proud Latina mom, Vivian Gonzalez. With nearly 30 years in executive search—20 of which were spent deep in private equity—Vivian brings a wealth of insider knowledge on scaling companies, strategic exits, and the art of assembling world-class leadership teams.

Together, they dive into the realities of selling to private equity, what it takes to build truly exitable enterprises, and the unique challenges and opportunities for women in the male-dominated world of finance and leadership.

Plus, Vivian shares actionable insights on retention, hiring, and the mindset shifts women founders need to unlock the next level of growth. Whether you're building your first company or preparing for a big exit, this episode is packed with must-know strategies and inspiration for ambitious women in business.

Time Stamps:

(00:00) Introducing Vivian Gonzalez: 30 Years Placing C-Suite Talent in PE-Backed Companies

(05:20) From Law School Dropout to Running a Firm at 25

(07:44) Private Equity 101: What It Is, What It Isn't, and Why It Got a Bad Rap

(12:17) The Gender Gap in PE: 15% on Deal Teams, 2% as Operating Partners

(13:45) Vivian's Rule: No Woman on Your Deal Team? No Introduction.

(19:49) No Is a Gift: How Rejection Builds Better Founders

(23:50) What PE Buyers Actually Grade You On: Retention, Scalability, and Letting Go

(25:50) The Mindset Shift: If the Business Can't Run Without You, It's Not Sellable

(28:00) "I Can't Afford to Hire"... Here's How to Think About It Instead

(33:47) The $1M, $5M, and $10M Inflection Points And What Breaks at Each One

(39:17) The Case Study Hiring Method That Removes Risk and Gets You to Yes

(44:19) The 30/60/90 Framework: Why Hires Fail Without It

(46:00) — Where to Find Vivian and the MFC

Follow Vivian and discover her ventures:

Instagram: @viviangonzales.parkcapital

LinkedIn: Vivian Gonzales

Remember, every "no" is just a step closer to your "yes". Keep building businesses that create wealth and impact!

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Vivian just told you the business that can't run without you isn't sellable. The 6P quiz will show you exactly which pillar is holding you back. Take it, get your weakest area, and get the custom workbook to fix it → https://bit.ly/FounderOrCEOQuiz

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Only 2% of female founders ever break $1 million in revenue. We're on a mission to change that. Subscribe to the CEO School and join the movement.

Watch and listen to us at:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1525261018

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/06KIvFFJP0yJv67N9ugigU

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CEOSchoolPodcast/?sub_confirmation=1

Learn more about CEO School because nothing bad ever happens when women make more money:

Website: https://theceoschool.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-school

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theceoschool

Learn more about how Suneera Madhani is paving the way for powerhouse female CEOs like you to take center stage, not just in your industries but in your whole life.
Website: https://suneeramadhani.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/

This episode was produced by Hi Hello Labs: https://www.hihellolabs.com/.

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SOCIAL Hashtags:

#PrivateEquity #ExitStrategy #WomenInBusiness #FemaleFounders #WomenInLeadership #FounderToCEO #CSuiteRecruitment #BusinessGrowth #CustomerRetention #HiringStrategy #ScaleYourBusiness #CEOSchool

The avoidance patterns we broke down today show up in your business too, and our Founder or CEO quiz will tell you exactly where. Uncover your weakest area and get a custom workbook to strengthen it → https://bit.ly/FounderOrCEOQuiz

In today's solo episode, Suneera takes a direct and honest look at one of the biggest challenges holding women back in business and life: our collective fear of direct conversations.

From ghosting and gossip to building stories in our heads, Suneera unpacks the patterns of avoidance that can undermine relationships, leadership, and personal growth. Through practical lessons and personal insights, she'll show you how embracing direct yet kind communication is the key to true leadership and lasting success. It's time to pick up the phone, have the tough conversations, and build a reputation and relationships that stand the test of time.

Let's dive in!Time Stamps:(01:00) Cold open: we are terrified of direct conversations(02:18) Lesson 1: Leaders pick up the phone, not the voice note(03:40) Lesson 2: Giving direct feedback without the 12 disclaimers(04:11) Feedback is just data; it's not a verdict on your worth(04:56) Lesson 3: "It's you and me against the problem"(06:19) How to stop the story before resentment builds(07:22) Lesson 4: Stop living in zero or 100(08:09) Why women's reactions cost them trust and relationships(09:33) Lesson 5: Your reputation outlasts every disagreement(10:55) Zero to scorched earth: that's ego, not strength(11:27) The PSA: build the muscle for direct, kind conversations

Share this with a founder who's been writing the text, then deleting it, then writing it again.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your network is only as strong as your ability to protect it. The women inside MFC have already learned that. Come have the real conversations with us → https://bit.ly/MFCApplication---

Only 2% of female founders ever break $1 million in revenue. We’re on a mission to change that. Subscribe to the CEO School and join the movement.

Watch and listen to us at:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1525261018
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/06KIvFFJP0yJv67N9ugigU
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CEOSchoolPodcast/?sub_confirmation=1

Learn more about CEO School because nothing bad ever happens when women make more money:
Website: https://theceoschool.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-school

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theceoschool

Learn more about how Suneera Madhani is paving the way for powerhouse female CEOs like you to take center stage, not just in your industries but in your whole life.

Website: https://suneeramadhani.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/
This episode was produced by Hi Hello Labs: https://www.hihellolabs.com/.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOCIAL Hashtags:#leadership #directconversations #feedback #communication #conflictresolution #emotionalintelligence #womeninbusiness #avoidance #givingfeedback #receivingfeedback #businessrelationships #problemsolving #winwinmindset #assumption #ghosting #gossip #triangulation #personalgrowth #professionalboundaries #reputation #integrity #emotionalregulation #mentorship #teamdynamics #empathy #networkoverlap #peoplepleasing #burningbridges #ceoschool #foundertoceo

You can't build wealth on a business that falls apart the second you step back. The Founder-to-CEO Shift guide is the free first step out of the founder trap → https://bit.ly/FounderToCEOGuide

Welcome back to CEO School!

In today's episode, we sit down with Michelle Taylor: licensed wealth manager, founder of Women In Wealth, and host of the Talk Wealthy To Me podcast. Michelle shares her inspiring journey from entrepreneurial pivots and personal financial struggles to building a thriving practice focused on advising women business owners about wealth.

We dive deep into the realities of juggling business and family, why your business shouldn't be your only retirement plan, and how women can shift their money mindset. Plus, we'll break down practical strategies for putting your money to work, discuss the importance of building a strong advisory team, and explore where and how wealthy women are investing for long-term growth.

Whether you're a founder or just getting started on your wealth journey, Michelle brings honest advice, sharp insight, and a much-needed perspective on investing in your business (and yourself).

Grab a notepad, because this episode is packed with actionable wisdom you won't want to miss!

Time Stamps:

(01:00) Selling Everything to Move to Italy (Then Pivoting)(05:54) Leukemia at 17 & Why Health Is the First Wealth(07:41) The Louboutin Product, IVF & Picking the Real Baby(09:57) Why She Built Women in Wealth(15:33) Bet on Yourself: Your Business Is the Home Run(17:02) Where Founders Waste Money (And Where to Put It Instead)(20:37) Stop Sitting on Cash: Give Your Money a Job(24:24) The Pie: Allocating by Age, Goals & Risk(27:39 ) "Mailbox Money": Replacing Your Income With Real Estate(29:56) Angel Bets & Why "When I'm Ready" Is a Trap(32:54) Swing Big: The Baseball Rule of Risk(39:42) Fire the CPA Who Says No(40:30) Tax Moves That Don't Lock Up Your Cash

Share this with a founder whose money is asleep on the couch.

Connect With Michelle:Website: https://womeninwealth.co/Instagram: @itschelletaylor

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The honest money conversations only happen with women who get it.

That room has a name. The Millionaire Founders Club has a few spots left → https://bit.ly/MFCApplication

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Only 2% of female founders ever break $1 million in revenue. We’re on a mission to change that.

Subscribe to the CEO School and join the movement.

Watch and listen to us at:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1525261018

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/06KIvFFJP0yJv67N9ugigU

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CEOSchoolPodcast/?sub_confirmation=1

Learn more about CEO School because nothing bad ever happens when women make more money:

Website: https://theceoschool.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceoschool/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ceo-school

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theceoschool

Learn more about how Suneera Madhani is paving the way for powerhouse female CEOs like you to take center stage, not just in your industries but in your whole life.

Website: https://suneeramadhani.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suneeramadhani/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suneeramadhani/

This episode was produced by Hi Hello Labs: https://www.hihellolabs.com/.

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SOCIAL Hashtags:

#WealthManagement #WomenAndWealth #BusinessOwners #FemaleFounders #Entrepreneurship #BuildingWealth #FinancialLiteracy #MoneyMindset #PassiveIncome #Investing #TaxStrategy #RealEstateInvesting