Duane Donner is the founder and CEO of Founder Advisors, an M&A and investment banking firm with three offices, six practice groups, and nearly 60 team members. He previously built and sold a food manufacturing and distribution business, holds an engineering degree from the University of Louisiana and an MBA from the University of Alabama, and has helped broker billions of dollars in transactions while also investing deeply in leadership and ministry work.
[00:07] Introducing Duane Donner and Founder Advisors
Drew Hiss opens the episode and introduces Duane Donner, Founder Advisors, and the broader leadership context for the conversation.
[02:07] Community, legacy, and Duane’s broader work
Drew highlights Duane’s involvement with Highlands College, Heritage Forum, and Abide and Lead, framing the conversation around leadership, legacy, and ministry.
[04:01] Faith, stewardship, and eternal perspective
The conversation turns to abiding, purpose, and how faith shapes the way both leaders think about work, impact, and fruitfulness.
[06:17] The early business collapse that reshaped Duane’s life
Duane shares the story of rapid growth, debt, burnout, a near-health crisis, and the painful reset that changed both his business and personal life.
[08:30] How Duane found M&A and built Founder Advisors
Duane explains how he rebuilt after that season, entered investment banking, and founded Founder Advisors with a relational, service-first model.
[10:55] Scaling through values, reputation, and people
Duane talks about the Golden Rule Plus, attracting the right talent, and why people and systems have been central to the firm’s growth.
[13:22] Client experience, deal fatigue, and managing emotions
They discuss how Founder Advisors manages the emotional side of transactions, including deal fatigue, expectation-setting, and founder psychology.
[18:07] A triple-win transaction story
Duane walks through a deal that delivered premium value, preserved a family legacy business, and created long-term ministry impact.
[22:49] The biggest succession mistake founders make
Duane explains why owners wait too long to think about transition and why transferable value depends on sustainability beyond the founder.
[25:14] Value drivers and the investment grade mindset
They unpack what buyers look for most: financial quality, diversification, leadership depth, and real growth potential.
[27:38] Private equity, regret, and choosing the right fit
Drew and Duane explore the tension between selling and preserving a platform of influence, along with what makes a buyer the right partner.
[32:25] Perpetual purpose trusts and long-term mission
Duane outlines a transition model that creates liquidity over time while protecting vision, values, and the future direction of the firm.
[34:46] Final leadership counsel and where to connect
The episode closes with Duane’s encouragement for kingdom-minded leaders and clear next steps for connecting through Founder Advisors, Abide and Lead, and the Investment Grade Assessment.
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