ESL
CONNECT

Sell the Company or Hire a CEO? B2/C1 Lesson

B2/C1 ESL Connect Video lesson based on the tapescript: entrepreneurship, exit strategy, hiring a CEO, equity stakes, mergers, brand values and founder decision-making.

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Lesson Aim

Students watch a business case about Elena, founder of 2 Proud Pups, and evaluate whether she should hire a CEO, sell to a competitor or consider another strategic option.

Video structure: Part 1 introduces Elena’s business, growth, burnout and the CEO option. Part 2 explores selling to a competitor, brand control, employee protection and the future of the company.

Before watching

When should a founder step back from running their own company?
Would you rather keep control of a small business or sell it for a larger payout?
What matters more in a business decision: money, values, employees or personal wellbeing?

Founder Dilemma

Watch in two parts and complete the tasks.

Prep Part 1

Drag the correct meaning into each gap.

1. launch a business

2. revenues are flat

3. burned out

4. equity stake

Answer options

start a company or productincome is not incresinga percentage ownership share in a companyexhausted from long-term stress or overwork

Watch Part 1

Watch from 0:00 to about 2:42. Focus on Elena’s company, her personal situation and the option of hiring a new CEO.

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Comprehension 1

Click each question to reveal the answer.

What does 2 Proud Pups sell?

All-natural dog care products

Why did Elena launch the company?

Existing dog shmpoos irritated her puppy’s skin.

How far has the business grown?

Produts are carried by more than 1,000 independent pet stores nationwide.

Why is Elena considering a change?

Revenues are flat, she is urned out and her family situation is changing.

What is one concern about Christine?

She does not hve much of a proven track record.

Vocabulary from Part 1

Elena invested her own .

Her products are sold in independent pet .

She is considering hiring a new .

Christine’s plan targets Amazon, Chewy and .

Options

CEOsavingssushistoresPetco

Prep Part 2

Drag the correct meaning into each gap.

1. cash buyout

2. merged entity

3. clean break

4. vendors

Answer options

a purhase paid in money to buy ownershipthe new company created when usinesses combinesuppliers, sellers or usiness partnersclear separation from a situation or responsibility

Watch Part 2

Watch from about 2:43 to the end. Focus on selling to a competitor, brand control, employee care and the possibility of other options.

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Comprehension 2

Click each question to reveal the answer.

Who is Elena talking to about selling the company?

Doghouse Luxe

Why is Doghouse Luxe attractive?

Its philosophy is similar and its website ould reach a new customer base.

What is tempting about the offer?

A cash uyout and 10% of the merged entity.

What worries Elena about selling?

Losing influence over ingredients, employees, vendors nd the brand.

What is the final question raised by the video?

Should Elena hire a new CEO, sell the ompany, or consider other options?

Vocabulary from Part 2

Selling could mean a cleaner from the company.

The offer includes 10% of the merged .

Elena worries about ingredients being changed to cut .

She wants her employees to be taken care .

Options

ofbreakentityparasitescosts

Vocabulary Review

Expression	Meaning	Example
take out loans	borrow money formally	Elena grew the business by taking out loans.
growth plan	a strategy for expanding a business	Christine has a growth plan targeting major retailers.
proven track record	evidence of successful past performance	Christine does not have much of a proven track record.
clean break	a clear separation from a role or responsibility	Selling would give Elena a cleaner break.
take care of employees	protect and support staff	Elena worries whether her employees will be taken care of.

Phrasal Verbs and Expressions from the Video

Drag the correct expression into each sentence.

Elena has been loans to grow the company.

She feels she may need to than she wants to be.

Christine may not Elena’s vendors.

Doghouse has experience small businesses into larger ones.

Elena wants her employees to be .

Options

rolling uppick upget more involvedtaken care oftaking outclick with

Use the Same Phrasal Verbs to Form Questions

Use the same phrasal verbs and expressions from the previous exercise to complete the questions.

1. When is it worth loans to grow a business?

2. If Elena hires a CEO, how much should she in day-to-day operations?

3. Why is it important for a new CEO to existing vendors?

4. What are the risks of a larger company small independent businesses?

5. How can Elena make sure her employees are after a sale?

Options

taking outget involvedrolling upclick withtaken care ofreach out

Collocations from the Video

Drag the correct word to complete each collocation.

dog care products

pet stores

decision

references

stake

buyout

Options

all-naturalglowingindependentrawcashbigequity

B2/C1 Grammar: Decision-Making, Conditionals and Trade-Offs

This case study involves strategic options, uncertainty and consequences, so the grammar focus is on conditional structures, contrast and evaluation language.

Click each grammar question to reveal the answer.

Complete: “If Christine ___ a larger stake, Elena would get more cash upfront.”

took

Which sentence is correct?

If Elen sold the company, she might lose influence over the brand.

Which sentence shows a trade-off clearly?

Selling would provide a larger payout, whereas hiring a CEO would let Elena keep majority ownership.

Complete: “Although the buyout is tempting, ___.”

Elen worries about losing control of the brand

Which sentence sounds most professional?

The strongest argument for selling is that it provides a cleaner reak and a larger payout.

Complete: “One possible downside is ___ the merger may not go smoothly.”

that

Thought-Provoking Questions

Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups. Give reasons, examples and possible consequences.

1. Should Elena prioritise her personal wellbeing or the long-term identity of the company?

2. Is it better for a founder to stay majority shareholder and hire a CEO, or sell and make a clean break?

3. How much should founders care about what happens to employees and vendors after a sale?

4. Can a company keep its original values after being acquired by a larger competitor?

5. Should Elena keep looking for a stronger CEO candidate instead of choosing between the two current options?

6. Is growth always the right goal for a small values-led business?

7. What other options could Elena consider besides hiring a CEO or selling the company?

Challenge: Choose one question and prepare a one-minute answer using cautious language such as: It could be argued that..., One possible risk is..., This becomes more complicated because...

Role Play

Option 1: Hire a CEO	Option 2: Sell the company	Evaluating risk
This would allow Elena to... The advantage of keeping ownership is... A strong CEO could...	The buyout would provide... A larger company could help... The clean break would mean...	One concern is that... The biggest trade-off is... Before deciding, Elena should...

Context

Situation: Elena is meeting two advisors. One believes she should hire a CEO and keep control. The other believes she should sell to Doghouse Luxe.

Student A

Advise Elena to hire a CEO. Emphasise ownership, brand values, and the possibility of returning later.

Student B

Advise Elena to sell. Emphasise the larger payout, wider customer reach, and cleaner break.

Role play task: Discuss both options for five minutes. By the end, recommend one option and list two conditions Elena should negotiate.

Finish