$22M Exit & Buyback | Jaclyn Johnson, Founder, Create & Cultivate & Co-Founder, Cherub

Jaclyn Johnson built Create & Cultivate into one of the most recognized platforms for women in business—scaling it to eight-figure revenue before exiting in a multi-million dollar deal.

But what happens after the exit is where the real story begins.

From navigating private equity, burnout, and the loss of control over the company she built… to making one of the rarest moves in business—buying it back.

In this episode, we unpack:

* Why selling isn’t always the win

* What private equity gets wrong in community-driven businesses

* The trade-offs between bootstrapping and raising capital

* How to think about ownership, control, and long-term value

This is a conversation about capital, consequence—and coming back with clarity.

About Jaclyn Johnson

With $25 million in successful exits to her name, Jaclyn has mastered the art of bootstrapping businesses, building thriving communities, and driving meaningful results. Recognized as one of Adweek's Disruptors, Forbes 30 under 30 and a WSJ Woman of note, she stands out as one of the industry's leading marketing minds. Her unwavering focus on value creation and community-first marketing has been imitated countless times, yet never truly matched.

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