Strategic Growth: Six Strategies to Successfully Scale

• Workshop Room 2

Ready to take your business to the next level? Whether you're launching a startup or scaling a multi-million-dollar enterprise, sustained success in today’s fast-evolving market requires a strategic growth plan. Join us for Strategic Growth: Six Strategies to Successfully Scale, where you'll discover proven methods to drive measurable value—not just to your bottom line, but to your customers, employees, and stakeholders. This is your opportunity to position yourself as an industry leader and achieve long-term, sustainable growth. Ready to scale smarter? Let’s make it happen!

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VR Small from Veteran Women's Enterprise Center (VWEC) Headshot Photo at Small Business Expo

VR Small Veteran Women's Enterprise Center (VWEC)

VR Small knows how to turn vision into reality. As the Founder and CEO of the Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center (VWEC)—a national initiative empowering entrepreneur women associated with the military to scale successfully—VR is driving social and economic change across the nation. In 2020, she launched the first statewide “Women Veterans: The Pitch” in celebration of Women Veterans Day, spotlighting the innovation and economic impact of women veteran entrepreneurs in Texas. This initiative has since evolved into the VWEC’s International Trade Cohort (ITC), honoring and supporting veteran women entrepreneurs across the country with training and funding to explore international
VR Small knows how to turn vision into reality. As the Founder and CEO of the Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center (VWEC)—a national initiative empowering entrepreneur women associated with the military to scale successfully—VR is driving social and economic change across the nation. In 2020, she launched the first statewide “Women Veterans: The Pitch” in celebration of Women Veterans Day, spotlighting the innovation and economic impact of women veteran entrepreneurs in Texas. This initiative has since evolved into the VWEC’s International Trade Cohort (ITC), honoring and supporting veteran women entrepreneurs across the country with training and funding to explore international trade opportunities. Under VR’s leadership, VWEC reinvests $75/$100,000 annually into its clients through structured programs focused on strategic growth aligned with implementation funding grants. The VWEC Founder/CEO VR Small is a fellow of SMU’s Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity—Inclusive Economy, Dallas Public Voices, the Bush Institute Stand-to-Veteran Leadership Program, and appointed as a Women Veterans 2030 Commissioner. Featured in Dallas Innovates 2020: The Future 50 North Texans to watched that same year VR was selected as, SBA’s DFW District 2020 Veteran Small Business Advocate of the Year, a Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), Center for Women Veterans (CWV), 2021 Trailblazer “Women Veterans Leading the Way” a Dallas Business Journal 2021 Women in Business Honoree. VR kicked off 2022 nominated as the Entrepreneur Evangelist of the Year, a finalists for D CEO’s 2022 Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards for Leadership Excellence (Micro), 2022 Dallas Award for Business Development Services, and a Rolling Out Magazine Sisters with Superpowers Honoree. This VR is Dallas Mavericks' 2025 Unsung Hero, and the Women’s Wealth Symposium, 2025 Purple Diamond Awardee. VR Small and the VWEC has been featured on NBC 5 Texas Today, FOX 4, Shaun Rabb: Here & Now, Spectrum News: In Focus, FOX 4, Good Day Dallas, River City Live, WJXT – Jacksonville, Fl. Rance Adams; Daytime Diva, Lynne Haze, CW33 MORNING, WFAA Weekend Daybreak, Axios, and Best of Guide TV to name a few. VR’s inspiring journey and work is featured in the Dallas Morning News, Veterans Day 2021 Special Veteran Edition, on the cover of the 2022 Winter Issue of AVOW, 2022 Marquis Who’s Who in America, and Texas CEO Magazine-Q3-2023. A U.S. Navy Veteran, VR is also the proud stepdaughter and sister of U.S. Army Retired Vietnam & Iraq Veterans. She lives by her personal slogan: “Changing the way we see the world and do business.” As a motivational speaker, moderator, educator, and resolute advocate, VR is dedicated to driving long-lasting, impactful change. In 2023, VR led the opening of VWEC's new headquarters in the Comerica BusinessHQ, a $5 million renovation creating a community small business center in Southern Dallas.
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