Event Details
Date: Wednesday, 28th October 2026
Time: 10:00 am
Location: Online
Part of the exclusive two-part series: Scale. Succession. Exit.
Your most talented people may be your greatest strength. They may also be your biggest valuation risk.
When critical knowledge, relationships or processes sit with one or two individuals, buyers don't see an asset — they see a liability. And by the time due diligence begins, it's often too late to fix it.
In this session, Fred Warner, Founder of 7Q, reveals the key-person risks that quietly destroy deal value during transactions, and how businesses can identify and address them long before a buyer ever comes to the table.
Drawing on first-hand experience of both successful and failed exits, Fred will share what buyers are actually looking for — and what they find.
What we'll cover:
- How buyers assess key-person risk during due diligence
- The difference between expertise and dependency
- Why "Dave built the system" is a red flag
- Knowledge transfer and succession planning
- Creating transferable intellectual property
- Building a business that survives leadership change
You'll leave with:
- The ability to spot hidden risks inside your leadership team
- A clearer understanding of how due diligence impacts your valuation
- Practical strategies to reduce dependency on individuals
- Greater business resilience and increased attractiveness to investors
This session is designed for founders, CEOs, Managing Directors and shareholders who want to protect and maximise the value they've spent years building.
