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Upcoming SBM Events

Made In St. Louis Networking Event

May 6, 2026 | 7:30AM - 9AM | Missouri History Museum

PRESENTED BY BANK OF AMERICA. What does it really take to build a successful company in St. Louis? Join Small Business Monthly, Bank of America, and the Missouri History Museum for a special morning event featuring successful St. Louis entrepreneurs who have built thriving businesses right here in our region.
In an engaging and candid panel discussion, these accomplished business leaders will share the real stories behind their success — how they started, the challenges they faced, and the strategies that helped them build winning companies. You’ll walk away with practical insights, inspiration, and ideas you can apply to your own business journey. takes place inside the Missouri History Museum and celebrates its newest exhibit: “Made in St. Louis” A new rotating gallery celebrating 260 years of innovation, invention, and entrepreneurship in our region.
The event is FREE to attend. Click here to reserve your spot.

Best in Business Award Luncheon

October 29, 2026 | 11AM - 1PM | St. Charles Convention Center

PRESENTED BY BANK OF AMERICA. We asked St. Louis area businesses to help us identify the 70 BEST businesses in the St. Louis area. Not the biggest, but the best businesses. We've counted the nominations and votes, and we'll bring the top 70 companies to one luncheon to honor them. Come and meet these outstanding companies and find out what makes them the very BEST. Event Sponsors: Bank of America and Vistage. Cost: $59, Tables of 10 are $590. Call 314.569.0076

St. Louis Business Expo 2026

October 29, 2026 | 11AM - 4PM | St. Charles Convention Center

The Expo is the largest business-to-business conference in Missouri, where 2,000-3,000 professionals come to learn, network and grow their business. The day includes an opening workshop, a full day’s worth of seminars and workshops, an awards luncheon, more than 100 exhibitors and a networking happy hour. For a booth at the event, contact Pat Coates at 314.569.0076 or email her at pat@sbmon.com. For more information on the Expo, click here.

Recent Videos/Articles

Culturecentric Leadership

Guiding Your Culture Toward a Growth Mindset

by Jonathan Jones

A business can transform its culture by applying the core ideas from Carol S. Dweck’s book, “Mindset,” particularly the shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. At its core, this means moving from a culture that values being right to one that values learning. In a fixed mindset culture, employees may avoid challenges, fear failure, and resist feedback because mistakes feel like personal shortcomings. This can quietly limit innovation and accountability. By contrast, a growth mindset culture encourages the belief that skills and abilities can be developed through effort, feedback, and persistence.

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Exit Plan Strategy

The Hard Truth About Succession: Plan for Transition, Embrace the Turbulence

by John Gross

Here’s the hard truth: about 70% of family businesses never make it to the next generation. Not because the business isn’t viable—but because the transition isn’t. And if you think you have time, you don’t—most transitions fail because owners wait to long to start. The failure points are predictable: no formal plan, unclear roles, underprepared successors, family emotions driving decisions, and simply starting too late.
At the root? Avoiding discomfort. Leaders delay the tough conversations to “keep the peace.” But succession without friction isn’t realistic—it’s risky.

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