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Most events book as many speakers as possible — hoping something will land.
We believe this is disrespectful to you.
We design conversations first.
Then we seek out the right people who can deliver them at the level this room requires.
That means:
No filler.
No recycled keynotes.
No "you've heard this before."
Every speaker is selected based on three things:
If they wouldn't naturally connect with this room, they're not a fit.
If they don't "get" the constraints of small business at a core level, they don't speak here.
Not theory. Not "one success story that could have been luck." We look for experts who have:
Because this room is full of operators — not beginners. And we don't need more theory.
Everyone in this room moves fast. Our speakers must be able to:
Good ideas aren't enough. They have to land.
Long before we book speakers, Stephanie starts with the theme.
"Forge" has been refined for over a year already.
Which means we've been tracking and evaluating potential speakers for just as long.
Speaker selection happens.
Our lineup is finalized and announced in the Fall registration window.
If you're used to choosing events based on speaker names, this might feel different.
At the Grow Retreat, the value isn't tied to one person on stage.
It's in:
You're not betting on a lineup.
You're stepping into a process built intentionally to spark breakthrough.
Then provide structure so that momentum survives contact with your real life.