Advocating for Small Businesses: Highlights from the 2025 10KSB Summit
This October, proud Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) alumni gathered at the 2025 Summit for a powerful day of advocacy on Capitol Hill. The event united small business owners nationwide to share their voices directly with policymakers in the House of Representatives and Senate.
In fact, there were nearly 2400 of us represented from across the USA. 96 of which included me from those of us residing and doing business from Chicago, IL. As a whole we were told by Goldman Sachs that we have represented 27 billion in revenue in the past 15 years since inception of the program and as a whole we have created 140,000 jobs in the USA.
Summit Overview and Schedule
The two-day Summit kicked off with energizing plenary sessions at the Marriott Marquis, packed with networking opportunities and keynote speakers. The first day included amazing leaders from within Goldman Sachs and they facilitated candid interviews on stage with Ken Langone, The Founder of Home Depot, nearly bringing us to tears with his heart, patriotism, and story. Shark Tank investors Kevin O’Leary and Daymond John were comical but honest and shared some fresh new investments and things to watch for. Michael Phelps was vulnerable and spoke of his wisdom on compartmentalizing and mental health. Martha Stewart and Kat Cole, President of AG1 brought fresh ideas on business, entrepreneurship and the meaning of balance and health in today’ s nonstop world. As usual, the line up never disappoints. We also had bi partisan representation take the stage from Pennsylvania, Alabama, and the House of Representatives. On the crucial second day, the spotlight shifted to Capitol Hill, where participants engaged in scheduled meetings with legislators. Breakout sessions and closing plenaries helped to further refine advocacy priorities and recap critical takeaways.
Alumni traveled together on designated buses, carefully managed through security checkpoints to reach their meetings on time. Brightly vest-wearing wayfinders guided attendees to their representatives’ offices, ensuring smooth logistics throughout the day.
The Goal: Giving Small Businesses a Seat at the Table
At the heart of the Advocacy Day was an empowering goal: to elevate small business voices and priorities in front of influential lawmakers. Alumni utilized the Advocacy Day App to access schedules, policy briefing materials, and real-time notifications, helping them stay informed and prepared.
Each meeting followed a structured agenda designed to maximize impact during the 30-minute time slot:
- Introductions led by a team captain
- Sharing of survey insights and key policy priorities
- Personal stories from small business owners
- Open discussion and closing remarks
Key Policy Priorities
Conversations with legislators focused on several top areas affecting small businesses today:
- Access to affordable and flexible capital
- Growing AI literacy to keep pace with innovation
- Addressing workforce challenges and increasing competitiveness
- Supporting small-scale manufacturing opportunities
- Expanding government contracting access for small enterprises
These topics reflected both the survey responses from 10KSB alumni and broader economic challenges facing entrepreneurs nationwide.
Sharing the Small Business Story
One of the most impactful parts of the meetings was the personal stories locals shared about their businesses. Alumni highlighted how the 10KSB program had transformed their operations and echoed common challenges like rising costs and uncertainty. These authentic narratives helped build real connections with policymakers and framed clear asks for support.
Best Practices for Advocacy Success
The Summit training emphasized practical tips for making the most of each meeting — from dressing business casual to packing light for security. Alumni were encouraged to arrive early, utilize the Advocacy Day App fully, and coordinate with their teams to present united, confident messaging.
After meetings, participants were reminded to take group photos with representatives, send thank-you notes, and keep the dialogue open for future collaboration. Building lasting relationships with policymakers was a key theme.
Looking Forward: Continuing the Advocacy Journey
As proud alumni of the Goldman Sachs 10KSB program, small business owners left the Summit inspired and ready to keep advocating for their communities. With strengthened networks and clear priorities, they are poised to influence policy that supports entrepreneurs and economic growth nationwide. I am proud to be among them having graduated over 10 years ago now. It is amazing to see the force we have become over 15 years.
If you are a small business owner interested in joining this vibrant advocacy network or learning more about 10KSB, reach out to learn how you can make your voice heard on Capitol Hill and better yet, apply to the program for 10,000 small businesses. I speak from experience, it is life changing and helps you overcome both tangible and intangible barriers to success.
