By Somdatta Basu
HOUSTON: In June 2026, IACCGH had the privilege of showcasing one of Houston’s leading voices in entrepreneurial growth through two impactful engagements featuring Dr. Jennifer Kellough Holmes, Executive Director of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at Houston City College.
Within the span of three days, Dr. Holmes first joined the IACCGH Business Hour on Open Forum radio on June 27 before returning as the featured speaker for the IACCGH Small Business Series luncheon on June 30 in Sugar Land.
While the audiences differed, the message was unmistakably clear: Stop working in your business and start working on your business.
During her Open Forum appearance, Dr. Holmes explained how the nationally recognized Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses initiative helps entrepreneurs move beyond daily operations and build scalable, sustainable companies.
Her description quickly became the defining quote of the program: “We help you put your business on steroids. We really position you for growth.”
The program, launched in Houston in 2011, has now graduated more than 1,200 local businesses and has helped create thousands of jobs throughout the region. Nationally, the initiative has supported more than 20,000 entrepreneurs across all fifty states.
Three days later, speaking to entrepreneurs at the IACCGH Small Business Series luncheon, Dr. Holmes opened with a simple question:
“How many of you started your business because you wanted freedom?”
Nearly every hand in the room went up.
Then came the follow-up:
“Keep your hands up if somewhere along the journey you discovered you were working more hours than ever.”
The room erupted in laughter as nearly every hand remained raised.
That moment perfectly captured the challenge faced by small business owners everywhere — becoming so consumed by operating the business that there is little time left to strategically grow it.
Dr. Holmes shared compelling examples of businesses transformed through the program, including veteran-owned companies expanding across multiple states, healthcare practices securing major financing for growth, and entrepreneurs leveraging the program’s powerful alumni network to create new opportunities and partnerships.
The Houston program’s impact speaks for itself:
* More than 1,200 Houston businesses graduated since 2011.
* Over $2 billion in annual revenue generated by participating businesses.
* More than 21,000 jobs created in the Houston region.
* A national alumni network spanning all 50 states.
IACCGH Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia noted that several Chamber members have already benefited significantly from the program, making it an easy decision to bring Dr. Holmes back for a dedicated session focused entirely on growth and scale.
By featuring Dr. Holmes on both Open Forum and the IACCGH Small Business Series, the Chamber reinforced its commitment to connecting entrepreneurs with transformational opportunities, practical resources, and strategic relationships that drive business success.
As Dr. Holmes reminded both audiences:
“Every successful business began with someone willing to believe that tomorrow can be better than today.”
For Houston’s entrepreneurs, it was more than a presentation.
It was a roadmap for growth.
