Acquiring Minds

Why Choose Ownership Over Being a CEO

Nov 10, 2025 · 1 hr 27 min · 83.8 MB
0:00-1:27:12

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After chafing under the constraints of being a CEO, Katherine Butler-Dines & Rahul Desai bought a business of their own.

Register for the webinar:

Topics in Katherine and Rahul’s interview:

  • Katherine’s early CEO experience
  • Board conflicts pushed her toward majority ownership
  • Acquiring without a traditional bank loan
  • Convincing the seller to do a seller note
  • Paying the seller note with float from advance bookings
  • Rahul built custom software to increase margins
  • Searching nights and weekends while at their W-2s
  • Affordability of living in the midwest
  • Vision of acquiring and integrating more travel businesses
  • Learning to delegate and enjoying free time

References and how to contact Katherine and Rahul:

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

Work with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:

Learn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

Edited by Anton Rohozov
Produced by Pam Cameron