Jonathan Herps

👉 WHAT GOT YOU HERE… WON’T GET YOU THERE.

As a Founder & CEO, I’ve lived the highs and lows of scaling a business. I know the pressure of carrying it all on your shoulders—of being the bottleneck without even realising it.

Today, I coach and mentor Founder-CEOs and their leadership teams to break that ceiling. To stop being the hero, and start building a business that runs without them.

🚩 THE PROBLEM:
Most CEOs are stuck working in the business, not on it. Growth has plateaued. The team depends on them for every decision. Work-life balance? Non-existent.

📈 THE SOLUTION:
I help CEOs:

Build a self-managing company that scales without burning out
Develop a star leadership team that owns the outcomes
Create a clear strategy and execution rhythm that keeps everyone aligned
Multiply revenue, profit, and business value—without multiplying your workload

💥 MY CREDIBILITY:
I’ve been the CEO of 5 companies, served on multiple boards, created and scaled my own businesses, and coached 100s of CEOs and leadership teams. I’ve sat in your seat—and I’ve helped leaders step out of it.

🗣️ WHAT CLIENTS SAY:
“Jonathan’s superpower is to challenge the norm… He gets straight to the root cause.”

“He’s both grounded and visionary—he gave me the clarity to step back and scale up.”

“A genuine, experienced coach who transformed my business in under a year.”

"I would recommend Jonathan's coaching to any entrepreneur who is looking to take his/her company to the next level and wants insightful feedback and tools to implement this growth. You will see immediate impact from your first meeting and beyond."

"I credit Jonathan's coaching with significant growth, both for my business and for me as a CEO.."

"Jonathan is integral to our journey from a startup into a well functioning medium sized company." 

⭐ WHO I WORK WITH:
Growth-minded Founder/CEOs of private businesses (10–50 staff, $1–25m revenue) who are ready to scale faster, lead better, and regain their time.

🌍 Based near Sydney, I coach nationally and internationally.

📩 READY TO SCALE?
Visit www.scaleupgrowth.co or email jonathan@scaleupgrowth.co to schedule an exploratory chat.

Founder & CEO

We help entrepreneurial CEOs successfully scale their business and accelerate growth.  

We work with CEOs and executive teams of privately held entrepreneurial small to medium-sized businesses that are growth-minded, with 10-250 employees. 

We are great at helping business owners, CEOs and senior executives who are chasing substantial growth, facing performance challenges or driving transformation agendas.

Certified Scale Up Business Growth Coach - 2020
Certified Scaling Up Coach - 2018
Certified Gazelles International CEO & Executive Coach - 2017
Certified Rhythm Systems Coach - 2019
Fellow - Australian Institute of Company Directors - 2002

Reach out to me at jonathan@scaleupgrowth.co for a complimentary coaching call and to receive our 115 question Business Diagnostic Tool or book a call here https://calendly.com/jonathanherps/growth-plan

Jean Moncrieff

Emerge Studio - Business Value Creation Experts

CEO + Leadership Team coach to growth-oriented companies.

Business Team Coach

Virtual marketing services for business owners who want a marketing strategy that actually works. We'll figure out exactly what to say so that people will know who you are, how you can help them, and want to do business with you.

Marketing Strategist

We help business owners create more valuable companies that come time to sell attract outlandish offers. We help you free up the time to work on your business. Develop clarity on the future of your business. Implement systems - yes, including lead generation - that make your business more valuable. And when the time comes, attract substantial offers from potential acquirers.

Business Exit Advisory

The Marketing Centre

The Marketing Centre is a UK market leader in offering part-time CMOs and Marketing Directors for SMEs. The portfolio businesses we work with are often early-stage high-growth ventures and much of our work involves close co-operation with private equity firms and venture capitalists to ensure rapid growth while creating value and optimum returns. With us, entrepreneurs can access a wealth of experienced and commercially minded marketing leaders who know how to make businesses grow, but who operate on a part-time basis and therefore more cost-effectively.

Typically I work with businesses who recognise themselves in at least two of the following: 

- have ambitious growth plans and want to capitalise on this growth
- may have stalled and need a fresh review of the business
- have a business owner is running out of hours in the day to do everything
- have sales pipeline needs more and better quality leads to achieve your growth plans
- need their online strategy reinvigorating
- need to re-evaluate and develop their proposition 
- are building towards an exit and want to maximise return
- has a turnover between £3m and £50m

If you are interested to know more, please contact me on 0792 638 1370 or email me at jean.moncrieff@themarketingcentre.com, and we can talk about your business.

Part-Time Marketing Director

ORTHENE CHEMICALS LTD

Crafted an in-depth go-to-market strategy for launching high-performance brake fluid in the US racing and motorsport sectors, complemented by guidance on implementing a comprehensive business operating system.

Capacitas

Capacitas thrives on solving the complex technology challenges preventing Private Equity firms from unlocking value in their investments. We engage directly with portfolio companies—aligning ourselves with high-performing teams to remove the technological barriers to value creation.

Enable

Enable's SaaS rebate management software helps distributors, manufacturers and retailers drive mutually profitable growth.

Marketing Director (Part-Time)

Jibestream, an Inpixon Company

Jibestream is the premier indoor mapping and location platform provider for enterprise organizations. They provide a geospatial platform that allows you to solve mission-critical problems by integrating business data with indoor maps.

Head Of Marketing

Data Connect Corporation

Data Connect specialised in deal management software for trade shows. Their Show Expert Systems trade show software is now the leading solution for order, registration, and marketing program management for the food distribution industry.

Interim Chief Technology Officer

Emerge Group

Emerge offered business process and information management services to customers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Aside from my responsibilities as CEO, I was responsible for developing Global 360's (now OpenText) partner network in Africa, identifying and negotiating strategic partnerships and overall business development for the group of companies.

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Siemens Business Services

Siemens Business Services contracted me in as an interim CTO responsible for a significant technology refresh at the South African Department of Labour.

<​eye2eye> Digital Distillers

<eye2eye> was start-up pioneering Web Content Management (WCM). As Co-Founder and Managing Director I was responsible for business development and operations. Our Digital Distiller platform powered websites for Investec Bank, Anglo American, Old Mutual and others. The role also brought me to London where I worked with Burston Marstellar’s PR division, providing expert advice on web-based and online communications.

Co-Founder & Managing Director

I am a seasoned entrepreneur and scale-up strategist dedicated to guiding businesses through transformative growth and towards successful exits. With a track record of founding, scaling, and executing high-value exits in the 7 and 8-figure range, I bring firsthand experience and strategic insight to the table.

Over my career, I've navigated the complexities of scaling businesses in diverse sectors, always with an eye towards preparing them for lucrative exit events. My journey has equipped me with an expansive toolkit—from business operating systems to innovative custom frameworks—that ensures businesses not only grow but become prime candidates for acquisition.

To the CEOs, owners, and entrepreneurs feeling overwhelmed by the challenge of growth and the dream of a successful exit: I understand. Growing a business is hard, but you don't have to do it alone. My method combines the strategic oversight of a seasoned CEO with actionable tools and processes that clear the path to scale and exit.

🔎 Clarify Your Vision: Shape a compelling future for your company that attracts buyers and sets you apart.

🎯 Build Accountability: Ensure each critical metric and goal has a clear owner, driving your business forward with precision.

🗓️ Strategic Prioritization: Focus your efforts with a 90-day plan that targets your most important goals, making tangible progress towards scaling and exit readiness.

⚡️ Energize and Empower: Create a culture of engagement and confidence where your team is aligned with the growth and exit strategy.

The Outcome:

Under my guidance, clients achieve not only higher profitability and more cohesive teams but also prepare their businesses to be attractive to acquirers, ensuring that their legacy thrives beyond their tenure. Together, we ensure that your business serves you, your family, and your community in even greater ways.

If your business is poised for growth but needs a strategic plan to scale and prepare for an exit, let's talk. My commitment is to transform your business from being run by the day-to-day into one that runs efficiently towards your exit goal.

Certifications: Certified Metronomics Coach + Certified Value Builder Coach

Specialities: Business Scaling, Exit Preparation, Leadership Development, Strategic Planning, Financial Oversight, Change Management.

𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗴𝗼.
A handful of Small Giants around a table, sharing a meal, stories, and the kind of honest conversation that only happens when values-driven leaders get together.
 
One of the questions we explored was: “𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘎𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺?"

We all shared our experiences — the value of having a network to lean on in challenging times, the connection with like-hearted people who truly get it — and my personal favourite, 𝗥&𝗗: 𝗥𝗼𝗯 & 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆.
 
In this community, people open their businesses, share their wins (and mistakes), and invite you into the lessons that shaped them. And every time you visit someone’s company or sit down for a conversation, you walk away with something you can immediately try in your own business.
 
That openness and generosity is what makes this community special.
 
Grateful for everyone who joined us in Chicago last night. 🧡
Angela Pitzo Jean Pitzo Furkan Amil Gur Tom Walter Kathy Steele Nick Sarillo Nirel Inman Ben Jagim Brianna Drevlow-Jagim JOHN J COSTELLO Eric Rieger 

Looking forward to many more tables like this one.
  
– Jean 🧡
   
𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗚𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗙𝗬𝗜 — if you’re in LA on Dec 3, we’re hosting an intimate dinner and have about 10 spots available. DM me if you’re interested.

CEO Small Giants Community | Host Growing with Purpose Podcast | Speaker | Author Finding Freedom (due April 2026) | Connecting and Developing Purpose-Driven Business Leaders

I’ve come to the conclusion that the fastest way to connect with people is through good food, good stories, and great conversation.

This evening I was invited to celebrate Thanksgiving with Davin Salvagno and his beautiful family. 

When you’re travelling and far from home, being welcomed in like that is something special. There’s nothing quite like being “adopted” for an evening — fed well, included fully, and treated like one of the family (including by the family dog).

I left feeling full (in every sense), grateful, and reminded that connection often shows up in the simplest moments — like being handed a seat at the table.

Deeply grateful to the Salvango family for making this traveller feel right at home.

– Jean 🧡

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Most leaders try to manage fear by pushing it away.

But Beck Sydow 🤠 reminded me of something far more powerful during our first in-person podcast recording at their home in Boulder:

𝗙𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲.
𝗟𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘀.

(And yes — it took us five tries to finally sit down and record this one. Huge thank you to Courtney Moncrieff for bringing it to life.)
 
Fear is sticky.
It gathers stories and evidence for why we should stay afraid.
Left unchecked, it pulls us out of active choice and exhausts us.

But Beck teaches a different practice:

👉 Pause. 
👉 Acknowledge the fear. 
👉 And ask, “𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦?”
 
Support.
Wonder. 
Curiosity.
Love.
Possibility.
 
Not to replace fear — but to sit with 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵.

Because leadership isn’t about eliminating fear or balancing it with something else.
It’s about learning to 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 between fear and what’s also true… long enough for insight, discernment, and wisdom to surface.
 
This is the skill our world desperately needs from leaders right now.
Not doubling down on extremes — but staying grounded in inquiry, even when fear is loud.

Our full conversation is now live, and it’s one of the most important we’ve recorded.
 
👉 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://lnkd.in/evFbASMs

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘂𝗽?
 
— Jean

Patagonia recently released their 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁. It’s a document that’s as honest as it is beautifully crafted.

What struck me wasn’t just the design or the clarity of writing.
It was the courage. 

Within it’s first few pages, Patagonia’s founder Yvon Chouinard writes:  
“We do not have all the answers, but the fear of getting things wrong in the process cannot stop us from trying to get things right in the end.”

This statement sets the stage for a fresh take on a progress report. 

Not far behind, in bold type, Patagonia declares:
“Nothing We Do Is Sustainable.”

Most companies wouldn’t dare put that in print. 
But Patagonia did. Not as a gimmick, not as a marketing hook, but as a statement of responsibility.

CEO Ryan Gellert puts it plainly: this isn’t a pat-on-the-back report. 
It isn’t 150 pages of brand polish. 
Yes, it is highlighting credit where credit is due towards their amazing team and partners.
But it’s also a look under the hood: the wins, the worries, the contradictions, the gaps.

It acknowledges the fear. 
The uncertainty. 
And the resolve to keep moving anyway.

And in doing so, they model something every business — especially values-driven ones — needs to embrace:

𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.
𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.
𝗔𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁.

Patagonia’s report isn’t just about the environment. 
It’s about leadership.

About accepting that we’re part of an ecosystem — and that our duty isn’t to appear perfect, but to take responsibility for the space we occupy.

That’s a lesson every purpose-driven leader can stand to revisit.

Leading with purpose isn’t always easy. It’s often met with resistance, and temptations to take the easy way out. But we owe it to ourselves, our communities, and our planet to lead boldly. 
Because our actions and our voice have ripples of impact that go beyond our immediate reach.

And if you’re committed to doing business with that kind of intention and integrity, 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗚𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.

𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 - 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱: https://lnkd.in/ebcUdBtr

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.
𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽.
 
On my first morning here, I met Davin Salvagno to discuss my book at Bitty & Beau's Coffee.
 
I knew the place was different the moment I walked in.  
The young man at the counter greeted me with a smile, took my order, and handed me the 5 of Diamonds. No names — just a playing card. (Honestly, a relief. People rarely get my name right anyway.)

Then I learned the real story: Bitty & Beau’s employs more than 450 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities — people who are so often overlooked, underestimated, or excluded from meaningful work... 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻 𝗝𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘆.

Finding a place where you’re valued, where you belong, and where your contribution matters is hard enough for many of us — but painfully rare for people like Jenny.

After our conversation, Davin and I snapped a photo in front of the big world map, each pointing to where we’d travelled from. I was blown away by how many pins marked visitors from around the globe.
 
And that first visit opened my eyes to something far more meaningful: 𝙖 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙥.
 
So I kept going back.  
Day after day.  
Same table. 
Same manuscript.  
Same extraordinary sense of what business can be when it puts people and purpose first.
 
A business that doesn’t just include people with disabilities – 
𝗜𝘁 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.
𝗜𝘁 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.
𝗜𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲.

As I sat scribbling in my manuscript, a woman leant over and asked about my 𝙎𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙂𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 cap.
 
That small moment — a simple question — made me look up and really see the place.
 
The familiar greetings.  
The “I haven’t seen you in ages!” reunions.  
The warmth between staff and customers.  
The way people lingered, swapped stories, and laughed like they genuinely belonged there.
 
It struck me: this wasn’t just a business serving a community.
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.
 
I told her that’s exactly what it means to be a Small Giant — purpose at the centre, humanity in every interaction, and a culture loved into existence by the people who show up each day.

- Jean 🧡

#FindingFreedom #SmallGiants

𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲.

I came across a picture today — an old caravan with one clear message underneath it:
  
“𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲.”
 
And it hit me at the perfect moment.
 
We’re deep in planning for next year.
And the hardest part isn’t deciding 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 to do…
It’s deciding what to 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲.
 
Elon Musk once said that the most common mistake engineers make is adding complexity that isn’t needed.
 
Business leaders do the same.
 
So as you map out 2026, try asking:

• 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵?
• 𝘋𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵?
• 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵?
 
Because clarity isn’t found by adding more.
It’s found by stripping things back to what truly matters.
 
What’s one thing you’re removing from next year’s plan?
 
— Jean

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 — 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗮𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝘁𝘇 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆. 
    
We spent the morning with Jay Goltz — one of the originals from Bo Burlingham's 𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘎𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 book — at his Chicago retail store, and he shared a perspective that’s stayed with me all day.
 
“𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽:
 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁-𝘂𝗽.
 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝗽.
 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝗽.”
        
𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁-𝘂𝗽 is the rush.
Everything is new, exciting, full of possibility.

𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝗽 is the messy middle where most owners get stuck.
You’re growing, juggling people issues, navigating operational chaos… and stuck in a command-and-control mode. You react. You fly off the handle. You assume the chaos is everyone else’s fault.

But the third stage — the 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝗽 stage — is where the shift happens.
 
To “grow up” a business, you have to grow up as a leader. 
You move from doing everything yourself to building depth.
To developing leaders who can think, act, and decide without you in the room.
To recognising that 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘳 shapes the entire organisation.
 
And as we talked, the conversation naturally drifted to something deeper: 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆.

How easy it is, as entrepreneurs, to pour everything into purpose, people, and profit… and unintentionally neglect the very people we started this journey for.

It’s a reminder that staying stuck in the 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝗽 stage doesn’t just limit the business — 𝘪𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. And the only way out is to grow up 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 leadership and grow up the team around you.

Thanks for the wisdom and conversation Jay Goltz and Kathryn Sowa 🙏

- Jean

✍️ Where do you see yourself on the journey?

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗜 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆.  
          
I spent the morning with Davin Salvagno working through the next steps in the publishing process and it reminded me how much easier big goals become when you have both a roadmap 𝘢𝘯𝘥 someone walking it with you.
 
I just received the copy edited manuscript, and I’ll be spending Thanksgiving weekend tucked away in an Airbnb in Charlotte, diving into the next round of edits. 

It’s a big milestone, but what makes it manageable is having clarity:

➡️ What stage I’m in
➡️ What comes next
➡️ Who I need to involve
➡️ How to prepare for the launch

We stepped through each stage until book launch on Tuesday the 21st of April 2026 — from shaping the pre-launch plan, to identifying early readers, to mapping out the broader journey toward release.

And as we head into Thanksgiving, I’m deeply grateful.
Grateful for the guidance.
Grateful for the partnership.
And grateful to everyone supporting me in making this book a reality.
 
The journey to publishing a book can feel overwhelming.
But with the right guide, it becomes an exhilarating experience... knowing that you're bringing your story to the world.

- Jean
 
#FindingFreedom

𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟬.
 
This week, driving to dinner with my buddy Eric Rieger, our conversation turned to ITR Economics’ long-range forecast of a 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟬 and lasting roughly six years.
 
They’ve been predicting this cycle for years.
And their 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝟵𝟰.𝟳% has been unsettlingly strong.
 
Now, I’m not an economist.
But there’s no downside to preparing for what may be on the horizon.
 
Especially when the next few years are expected to be relatively strong before the downturn hits.
 
So the question is:

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲?
 
From the work I’ve done with purpose-driven CEOs — and the themes in my upcoming book — the answer comes down to three fundamentals:
 
𝟭. 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗱.
You can’t be at the center of everything during turbulent times.
Surround yourself with leaders who are aligned with your purpose, grounded in your values, and capable of carrying real responsibility.
A resilient company is ultimately a resilient team.

𝟮. 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀: 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲.
If a downturn is coming, discipline wins.
Strengthen systems, tighten operating rhythms, pay down debt, and build a cash reserve.
Cash buys optionality — and in a depression, optionality is survival.

𝟯. 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀: 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱. 
Leaders like Eric are already thinking beyond their four walls.
Studying the landscape.
Positioning strategically.
Asking: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘴? A𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺?
 
No one can predict the future perfectly.
 
But preparedness is a choice.
 
And one of the smartest investments you can make right now is in 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 — the leaders who will help you navigate uncertainty, steady the culture, and find opportunity in the midst of challenge.
 
✍️ What’s one thing you’re doing to prepare your business for the next cycle?
 
— Jean
          
𝗙𝗬𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀:
We’re in the final stretch for applications to 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘈𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘺.
If you want to develop the leaders who’ll help you navigate what’s coming, make sure to get your application in:

Open article: Leadership Academy | Small Giants Community by smallgiants.org

Leadership Academy | Small Giants Community

𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆.
 
It’s been a few weeks since I last picked up my manuscript — it just came back from copy edits — and it’s amazing how quickly things evolve when you step away.

In that time, conversations with entrepreneurs, the work we’re doing at Small Giants, and even my own reflections have shifted. Part of me wants to keep adding more… because the ideas keep getting better.
 
But there comes a point where you have to cut, refine, and finish.
 
Today I focused on Part One — the section on mindset — and it struck me again just how true this is:

Real change in a business starts with the mindset of the owner.
Not with strategy. 
Not with systems. 
Not with the team.
With you.

As founders, CEOs, and business owners, we have to be willing to evolve — to expand our self-awareness and widen our perspective.
          
After 18 months of writing, interviewing leaders, and coaching business owners, I’ve seen how my own mindset keeps deepening and evolving. 

And the surest sign you’re growing is when your perspective widens and you realise there’s always another layer to uncover.

Back to editing tomorrow. 
But feeling grateful for the clarity today brought.

- Jean

#FindingFreedom #SmallGiants

𝗜 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 SpeakrBrand 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳.
 
We talk about growing our businesses.
But we rarely talk about growing 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 at the same pace.

Today I took time to grow. 
A deep dive into clarifying my message, elevating my brand, and sharpening how I show up as a speaker.
But the biggest insight wasn’t tactical at all.
 
It was in thinking through my lived lens...
 
𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗜 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴...
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺.
 
But that's not what entrepreneurial freedom looks like.
 
Entrepreneurial Freedom is being the 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵 person in the room—because you’ve surrounded yourself with people who are better than you in all the right ways.

It requires a mindset shift.  
A willingness to let go.  
A commitment to bring the best people you can find into your world.

And I did that today.
 
I invested in myself…  
I invested in my business…  
And I surrounded myself with people who help me level up what I bring to the world.
 
𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺.

A reminder to stay curious, stay committed, and keep growing at the same pace you expect your business to grow.

- Jean
 
✍️ What’s the word that sums up your message as a leader?

“𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹. 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀.”

We don’t say that enough in business.

Somewhere along the way, growth became the universal scoreboard: revenue, headcount, locations, followers. Sure, it's a mathematically simple indicator of success, but chasing those growing numbers can be dangerous.

⛓️ 𝗪𝗵𝘆? 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀. 

It burns out teams. 
It dilutes culture. 
It pulls the company further and further from its purpose.

The leaders I admire most — the ones building resilient, values-driven companies — think differently.

They start with alignment.

✨ Alignment of values. 
✨ Alignment of people. 
✨ Alignment of purpose.

Because when a team is aligned, growth becomes a byproduct, not a benchmark. It flows naturally from clarity, trust, and shared intent.

But when growth is the target? You can hit the number and still lose your soul.

If you’re building a business where purpose and people matter just as much as profit, 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗚𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.

Being in North Carolina this week put me in a 𝘋𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 mood — so I re-watched it last night.
 
And there’s this line from Harry Hogge that always makes me smile:
 
“𝗛𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲. 𝗛𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿 — 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲. 𝗜𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀-𝗼-𝗮-𝗯 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲, 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲.” — 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝗴𝗴𝗲
 
It’s funny… but it’s also true.
 
Talent can take you far.  But talent 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 communication? That’s a wreck waiting to happen.
 
The real magic of a team kicks in when people listen to each other.  When egos drop.  When everyone plays their role and pulls in the same direction.
 
In racing — and in business — you win more often when you operate like a team, not a collection of individuals.
 
Just a fun weekend reflection from North Carolina… courtesy of Harry Hogge.
 
– Jean 🧡

#FindingFreedom

As we wrap up 2025, I’ve been thinking a lot about the rhythm of this time of year.
 
We rush so quickly into planning — new goals, new strategies, new commitments for 2026.  

And that forward momentum is important. But there’s another part of the cycle we too often skip:
 
𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲.
 
Before we turn the page, we owe it to ourselves to pause and ask:
 
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗺 𝗜 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿?  
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗺 𝗜 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿?
 
For some, the answer might be a milestone: launching a new venture, hitting a target, building a team, publishing something meaningful.
 
For others, it might be quieter:  
Getting through a difficult season.  
Showing up when it felt heavy.  
Learning something hard but necessary.  
Growing in ways that aren’t easily captured in a dashboard.
 
Both kinds of victories matter.
 
The new year invites fresh energy, yes — a sense of starting again.  
But the wisdom, the resilience, the grit, and the joy you’ve collected along the way…  those are the things that strengthen the foundation you’ll step onto in 2026.
 
So before you sprint toward what’s next, take a moment for what 𝘸𝘢𝘴.  
Honor the work you did; the visible wins and the invisible ones.  
Acknowledge the people who shaped your year.  
And give yourself a little credit for getting here — because that, too, is an achievement.
 
As for me, I’m taking some time this weekend to reflect on what 2025 taught me — and I hope you’ll do the same.
 
👉What are you proud of this year?  What are you grateful for? I’d love to hear.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗻𝗲𝘀

Most leaders think their job is to talk.
The best leaders I’ve met?
They do the opposite.

They listen.

Not the “uh-huh, uh-huh” kind of listening.
I’m talking about the kind of listening that changes the direction of a business.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵.
We jump in.
We talk over.
We fill the silence so no one sees the cracks.

But the leaders who scale?
The ones who build the businesses everyone admires?

They walk into a room and immediately elevate the intelligence of the group — not by speaking… but by 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦.

You can spot them instantly.

They ask sharp questions.
They invite everyone in.
They move around the table, not dominating it.
And you can literally feel the team rise.

They’re not trying to be the smartest person in the room.
They’re curating a room 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 of smart people — and then unlocking their brilliance.

Listening isn’t soft.
It’s not passive.
It’s a superpower.

And it might just be the hardest — and most transformative — leadership skill you’ll ever develop.

----
𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀-𝘂𝗽:
Leadership Academy applications close in a couple of weeks.

One of the big things we work on with emerging leaders is 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 — not just hearing, but understanding, navigating tough conversations, and showing up with presence and confidence.

If you’re developing the next generation of leaders in your business, this is the work that changes everything.

👉 Click here to read more about Leadership Academy: https://lnkd.in/gdHZihB9

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Talks about #exitstrategy, #businessgrowth, #entrepreneurship, #marketingstrategy, and #strategicexecution

This is what it's all about, people! ‼️

This is the beauty of the Small Giants Community: companies and leaders inspiring each other to do better and be better. Small Giants leaders are candid about sharing their best practices, and this is a perfect example of how that spirit of generosity has positive ripple effects.

Well done to the teams at Text-Em-All and Trees, Water & People for showing us the importance of community, and how imitation can be the greatest form of flattery!

"Imitation is the greatest form of flattery..."

We couldn't have been more honored to receive a little care package today from our friend Sebastian Africano of Trees, Water & People (a fellow Small Giants Community member) which included the culture code his team created (modeled after our own). 

Moments like this reinforce why we spent the time to refine our purpose and share the deeper meaning behind it. When another values-driven company takes something we created and uses it to strengthen their own culture, it shows that our message matters. This is what supporting our community looks like, learning from each other, borrowing ideas that work, and sending them back out stronger.

We are proud that our culture code continues to spark ideas and encourage others to build workplaces that treat people with respect, clarity, and care. That is the type of impact we want to have.

𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆...
Presence connects us deeply.

I’ve been thinking about that a lot as I wrap up a final stretch of travel this year — time with our team, with founders, and with members of the Small Giants Community across Chicago, Charlotte, Los Angeles, and Dallas.

Remote work and AI have given us extraordinary flexibility.
Geography no longer decides who we can collaborate with.
Communities can stretch across time zones without missing a beat.

But every time I sit down face-to-face with a small group, around a dinner table or in a meeting room, I feel the same thing:

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻.

That’s where trust forms.
Where belonging strengthens.
Where conversations go further than they ever could on a screen.

And yes, the travel is tiring.
But it’s the kind of tired that feeds you, because the connection is real.

As we think about how we lead, build culture, and grow our communities in 2026, I keep coming back to this balance:

Let technology connect us globally.
Let presence connect us deeply.

𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲:
✍️ What fills your cup more these days — virtual flexibility or in-person connection?

Jean

𝗙𝗬𝗜 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗚𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 -> I’m putting together a small dinner for a handful of Small Giants community members in 𝗟.𝗔. 𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟯𝗿𝗱 and in 𝗗𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟬𝘁𝗵. If you’d like to join us, DM me and I’ll share the details.

Since stepping into my current position at the Small Giants Community, one of my goals has been to expand the reach of this organization that has done so much for me. 

I know there are more Small Giants leaders and companies out there. 
They just might not know about us yet, or have the vocabulary to define what makes them great.

Sometimes, the best way to reach people is getting back to basics. 

And within the Small Giants Community, the best way to do that is turning to the book that started it all: 
"Small Giants: Companies That Choose to be Great Instead of Big" by Bo Burlingham.

🐟 If these principles resonate with you, or you know of others who may identify with this list, please share this post. Let's inspire more businesses to continue to be great, no matter their size.

Small Giants Community

Contributing Writer at Forbes

How to be a SG book principles carousel graphic

✈️ “𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲.”
 
That line isn’t just aviation talk — it’s leadership truth.
 
As someone with a pilot’s license, I’ve spent hours in the cockpit watching the altimeter dance, listening to the wind howl, and feeling that familiar bump-bump-bump when the sky gets unsettled. There’s always turbulence somewhere ahead — that’s a given. But seasoned pilots don’t panic. They rely on training, tools, instruments, and experience to keep us steady and headed in the right direction.
 
That’s exactly what the theme 𝗡𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲 means to me for the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗚𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁: 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 — even when the path isn’t smooth. 
 
In flight, overcorrection is dangerous. Overcorrection in leadership is too. When we chase every blip on the radar, we stray from our purpose. But when we ground ourselves in values — our true north star — we make better choices, keep our teams calm, and chart a course that’s resilient and human-centered.
 
At the Small Giants Summit this April in Detroit, we’ll dig into what it takes to:
 
✔️ adapt with intention as change accelerates  
✔ lead with harmony (not haste)  
✔ stay values-aligned when the way forward looks unclear  
✔ spot opportunities others miss by being mindful, not frantic. 
 
Leadership isn’t about avoiding turbulence. It’s about 𝙣𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩 with confidence, heart, and purpose — in the cockpit and in the CEO’s chair.
 
☸️ See you there? Purchase your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gcee7Tzp 
 
#SmallGiantsSummit #Navigate

Fantastic to have companies like Claro Empresas Perú, Niubiz, Grupo Coril, and Endeavor Perú supporting entrepreneurs and #SmallGiants in Perú

¡Así fue la segunda edición del Forbes Perú Small Giants Summit 2025!

Por segundo año consecutivo y con el objetivo de analizar los principales desafíos que enfrentan las pequeñas y medianas empresas, Forbes Perú llevó a cabo este exclusivo espacio de conversación que reunió a empresarios, inversionistas y diversos actores del tejido empresarial local.

Agradecemos a nuestros socios comerciales Claro Empresas Perú, Niubiz, Grupo Coril, y a nuestro partner estratégico Endeavor Perú.

#ForbesSmallGiants #ForbesSummit #PequeñasEmpresas

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The Battle

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Jean Moncrieff

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The Battle

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Jean Moncrieff's LinkedIn Performance

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