Alternative Exit #27 | From Awareness To Action: Scaling EO Through Tech And Trust Alternative Exit podcast

Alternative Exit #27 | From Awareness to Action: Scaling EO Through Tech and Trust

6d ago 40:13

Content provided by Andy. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Andy or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://staging.podcastplayer.com/legal.

Episode Summary:
What if small business owners could explore employee ownership with clarity, confidence, and tools built just for them? In this episode, I’m joined by Sonali Kothari, Co-founder, Chief Product Officer, and Chief Operating Officer of Zolidar—a platform dedicated to unlocking employee ownership transitions for small and medium-sized businesses.
Sonali brings together deep experience from organizations like Kiva and Jobs for the Future, along with a passion for scaling systems that work for people. We explore how Zolidar is tackling the "leaky bucket" problem of awareness and adoption in EO, what it looks like to support both business owners and advisors through the early stages of transition, and why technology might finally be the key to helping employee ownership reach its full potential.
Key Takeaways:

How Sonali's work with Kiva and small business consulting led her to discover employee ownership
The founding story of Zolidar and its mission to scale EO through smart tech tools
A breakdown of Zolidar’s tools: Day Zero Guide, AHA Planner, and ZolidAI support bot
How Zolidar helps owners navigate valuations, exit scenarios, and financing options
Why advisors benefit from owners who arrive EO-ready with clear questions and data
The importance of storytelling, decision support, and community building in EO adoption
What’s next: supporting post-transaction businesses and building advisor/owner matching tools

About Sonali Kothari:
Sonali is the co-founder and CPO/COO of Zolidar. She previously served as COO of Kiva and held leadership roles at Jobs for the Future. With a career focused on equitable economic solutions, Sonali is committed to using technology to unlock inclusive, employee-owned futures.
Connect with Sonali & Zolidar:
Website: www.zolidar.com
LinkedIn: Sonali Kothari
Email: [email protected]
Connect with Andy Farquharson:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyfarquharson/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/andyfarq
Website - https://abettermonday.me/
Email - [email protected]

27 episodes

How Sonali's work with Kiva and small business consulting led her to discover employee ownership
The founding story of Zolidar and its mission to scale EO through smart tech tools
A breakdown of Zolidar’s tools: Day Zero Guide, AHA Planner, and ZolidAI support bot
How Zolidar helps owners navigate valuations, exit scenarios, and financing options
Why advisors benefit from owners who arrive EO-ready with clear questions and data
The importance of storytelling, decision support, and community building in EO adoption
What’s next: supporting post-transaction businesses and building advisor/owner matching tools

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Alternative Exit »
Alternative Exit #27 | From Awareness to Action: Scaling EO Through Tech and Trust