What if the biggest wealth transfer of our lifetimes didn’t lead to consolidation, extraction, and loss — but to shared ownership and durable prosperity?

In this episode of Ethical Exits, Hannah sits down with Chris Fredericks, founder of Empowered Ventures, to explore how disciplined, values-aligned acquisitions can scale employee ownership and protect the businesses, people, and communities behind them.

Chris breaks down why the “silver tsunami” of retiring founders demands better buyers, how acquisitions can turn hundreds of workers into owners overnight, and what thoughtful M&A strategy actually looks like when the goal is long-term stewardship, not short-term flips.

This conversation is a masterclass in ethical buying — and a roadmap for founders, operators, and investors who believe ownership matters.