Dr. Carmen, a seasoned entrepreneur and CEO of SP Grace, a company specializing in leadership, career, and professional development, entered the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program with a clear mission: to uncover hidden weaknesses and sharpen her strategy for growth. What she gained over the 12-week intensive was not just a refined vision for her business but a practical, actionable roadmap specifically adapted to fuel her scaling journey. Her experience offers a compelling case study in how structured learning, expert guidance, and peer collaboration can transform a business and its CEO into a powerhouse ready for the next level.
Mastering the Mechanics of Growth
The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, with its curriculum crafted by Babson College, is designed to immerse participants in the nuts and bolts of business expansion. For Dr. Carmen, the program’s depth was a revelation. She spent 10 to 14 hours weekly in hands-on sessions, supplemented by 1.5-hour meetings with a dedicated business advisor and another 10 hours on assignments. This rigorous schedule tackled everything from financial analysis to marketing strategy, leadership development, and negotiation skills. The real magic, however, lay in the real-world application of all of these topics to her company. From the outset, participants were tasked with creating a growth plan tailored to their businesses—a dynamic tool that Dr. Carmen used to refine SP Grace’s operations and long-term goals.
One standout moment came during a session with Mori Taheripour, a globally recognized negotiation expert from Wharton Business School. Dr. Carmen describes this as “a masterclass in strategic thinking, preparation, and presentation,” emphasizing how they equipped her with frameworks to negotiate better deals and position her company more competitively. Entrepreneurs looking to scale can take a page from this: mastering technical skills like financial forecasting or negotiation isn’t just about knowledge; it’s about turning that knowledge into immediate, measurable action within your business.
Leveraging the Power of Community
Beyond the curriculum, the program’s cohort model proved to be a game-changer. Dr. Carmen joined 29 other business owners from diverse industries, ranging from a vineyard to a luggage innovator featured on Oprah’s 2024 Favorite Things list. This eclectic mix fostered a vibrant exchange of ideas and experiences, breaking the isolation that often plagues entrepreneurship. The group didn’t just share classroom time; they built a community that opened up about challenges, celebrated wins, and even sparked collaborations that continue today. For Dr. Carmen, this network became a sounding board that encouraged her to accelerate the launch of ELEVATE: The College Smarter Method™, a new service offering at SP Grace.
This underscores a key takeaway for scaling entrepreneurs: growth isn’t a solo endeavor. Surrounding yourself with diverse, driven peers can sharpen your perspective and uncover opportunities you might otherwise miss. Dr. Carmen’s cohort didn’t just inspire her—they held her accountable, pushing her to refine her product offerings and clarify her company’s vision. Business owners can replicate this by seeking out or building their own networks of like-minded leaders, whether through formal programs or informal alliances.
Turning Insight into Action
Perhaps the most transformative aspect of the program for Dr. Carmen was stepping into the role of a learner. As someone accustomed to designing and delivering professional development at SP Grace, she found herself on the receiving end of training—a shift that revealed new ways to enhance her company’s services. “It pushed me to consider how to best refine some of our product offerings and even clarify the vision for my company’s future,” she reflects. This introspection, paired with feedback from her growth group, gave her the confidence to move forward with ELEVATE and pinpoint areas for improvement before its public debut.
For other entrepreneurs, this highlights a critical strategy: scaling smarter means embracing vulnerability and seeking external input. Dr. Carmen’s willingness to learn, rather than assume she had all the answers, allowed her to spot blind spots and strengthen her business foundation. The program’s structure—combining expert-led instruction, peer insights, and a focus on actionable planning—offered her a blueprint that’s broadly applicable. Start with a clear growth plan, test it against real-world feedback, and iterate relentlessly. It’s a formula that turned Dr. Carmen’s 12 weeks into a launchpad for sustained success.
At its core, Dr. Carmen’s journey through Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses reveals that scaling isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about building a smarter, more sustainable operation. The tools she gained, from negotiation tactics to a robust peer network, are within reach for any entrepreneur willing to invest the time and effort. As she puts it, “This experience proved that, no matter how long you’ve been in business, there’s always more to learn, more to improve, and more growth to be had.” For those charting their own path to expansion, her playbook offers a clear starting point: learn deeply, connect widely, and act decisively. The results, as Dr. Carmen’s story shows, can be transformative.
About Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross
Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross, founder of SP Grace, is a leadership consultant and workforce development specialist with 20 years of experience empowering people through professional development and executive coaching. With dual doctoral studies and a proven track record of success, she now offers an innovative program that helps students literally get “college smarter” faster and stand out in the busy, competitive application process for being themselves and showcasing it in a completely ELEVATED way. Transform your student’s college journey at: https://spgrace.com/elevate.