Our leaders are great, I just wish they had more confidence in themselves
Training, events, and resources
for purpose-driven leaders.
*No membership dues, ever.
Registration is now open for the annual gathering for purpose-driven leaders! Learn more and register for the virtual Small Giants Community Summit.
If people and purpose are your priority, you’ve come to the right place.
You’re an entrepreneur who puts people and purpose above any other priority. Or maybe you’re a rising star who believes in caring for people, for customers, and for your community. The Small Giants Community connects you with thousands of leaders just like you and provides training and resources that keep your purpose and values at heart.
The weight of your company’s culture shouldn’t rest solely on your shoulders.
I’m clear on the company’s purpose, vision, and values, but I’m not sure everyone else is
I think we have a good company culture, but I don’t hear much about it from employees
I’d love to start thinking about my own succession, but haven’t identified someone to fill my role
Our leaders are great at running their departments, but I wish they’d think bigger picture
I have a great group of emerging leaders but need to put some formal training in place
Small Giants Leadership Academy Deliverables:
- Confident, emotionally intelligent leaders ready to step up
- Practices to help everyone in the company understand and internalize the company’s values and purpose
- Processes for collecting open and honest feedback from all areas of the organization
- An understanding of business finance and the tools to create a culture of ownership
- Systems for ensuring your company’s culture scales and lives on beyond the founder
You’re a better leader than you think.
“I feel like a fraud.” If you’re a leader struggling with imposter syndrome, you know this feeling all too well. It’s the voice in your head as you walk into a meeting, convincing you that you’re about to be ‘found out’ for your lack of competence. Or maybe it’s the anxiety the night before a big presentation, as you over-prepare in order to avoid failure at all costs. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and it is possible to overcome imposter syndrome.
Your Small Giants Leadership Academy Certification Includes:
Inspirational purpose-driven facilitators
A network of like-minded leaders from across industries
Virtual training sessions and online learning hub
Access to two Small Giants gatherings

When purpose-driven leaders gather
to connect and learn, magic happens.

Experience the Small Giants Community Summit
With two distinct learning tracks, the Small Giants Community Summit is built for founders/CEOs and the emerging leaders who will carry on the organization’s purpose.
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Learning Resources:

Free Virtual Workshops
These interactive virtual workshops and roundtable discussions teach the nitty-gritty practices that make enduring, purpose-driven companies.
Each virtual workshop is designed to be practical and actionable for founders and CEOs and emerging leaders, so that you’ll walk away with concrete takeaways you can implement in the next 30 days.
View popular past workshop recordings:
Growing with Purpose Podcast with Paul Spiegelman
On the Growing with Purpose Podcast, Small Giants Community Co-Founder, Paul Spiegelman, goes behind the scenes with purpose-driven business leaders to learn about what shaped them in business and in life.


10 Elements of Great Culture
When people describe a company with great culture, many people immediately picture a laid-back and fun-loving atmosphere. This sells a good company culture far short, though.
Building a great culture is much more than just casual attire or Beer Friday—it’s more about the who, what, how, and why of your business. Your culture isn’t your perks, it’s your values. Building a great culture takes some combination of time, money, and effort, but the payoff is a powerful business tool and the ultimate competitive advantage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Small Giants mean?
The term Small Giants refers to purpose-driven companies and their leaders who prioritize their people and don’t sacrifice their culture for fast, massive growth. Born out of a book called Small Giants, from that a Community grew into what we know today — with thousands of leaders, hundred of hours of leadership resources, a formal certification program, and structured coaching program. You might also see the term, “Forbes Small Giants.” Each year, Forbes teams up with the Small Giants Community to identify the top 25 best small companies in America (a.k.a. Small Giants). Download the first chapter of Small Giants by Bo Burlingham.
What is purpose-driven leadership?
When we talk about purpose or values-driven leadership, we mean the practice of prioritizing purpose and people over profit and greatness over growth. This way of running a business, famously written about in the Small Giants book, has been adopted by small and medium-sized organizations spanning all industries and hailing from around the world.
These businesses are interested in growth and profit, but are committed to not sacrificing their culture or purpose to achieve either. You can recognize a purpose-driven company by its intentional approach to growth and its positive company culture. Join the Small Giants email list to receive purpose-driven leadership resources to your inbox.
What does it mean to be "certified"?
Certified Small Giants leaders are graduates of the Small Giants Leadership Academy. Each certified leader earns that title through a 12-month structured training program that builds their emotional intelligence, helps them become more self-aware, connects them to a group of like-hearted peers, and equips them to lead purpose-driven organizations with confidence. Learn how you can certify your team or get certified as a Small Giants leader.
How do I join the Community?
There are no member dues. You can join the community by getting involved in whatever way supports you the most.
Resources
Most leaders start by subscribing to receive purpose-driven leadership resources to their inbox or by registering for an upcoming virtual workshop. All of the articles, ebooks, podcasts, and videos we share are free and accessible to all.
Events
Attending the annual Small Giants Community Summit is the perfect way to get introduced to the Community, its leadership practices, and meet a bunch of like-hearted leaders. Learn more about the Summit and register.
Mentorship
All leaders benefit from guidance from experienced mentors, but it can be difficult to find someone who shares your philosophies about how to lead in a purpose-driven business. The Sounding Board is a mentorship program that pairs you with a tenured Small Giant leader to help you through challenges, navigate workplace relationships, offer guidance, share wisdom, and simply listen.
Leader Certification
Enroll members of your leadership team or emerging leaders in the Small Giants Leadership Academy and watch them transform into certified Small Giant leaders. This robust one-year certification program consists of virtual learning sessions facilitated by experienced practitioners from top Small Giant organizations, an extensive resource library, access to a cohort of like-minded peers, and your event ticket to two Small Giants gatherings.
Who do I contact about contributing content or speaking at Small Giants events?
We love meeting new leaders and sharing their purpose-driven practices with the world. If you’re a practitioner and can agree to our no selling rule, we’d love to learn from you! Tell us more about what you’d like to share with the Community. We review submissions monthly, you’ll hear from us whether we see a fit or not. If there’s a fit for your content, we’ll schedule a video call to meet you and talk more about how we can work together.
How can I support the Community?
Thank you for asking!
Donate
The Small Giants Community is a purpose-first organization. We are a designated L3C, a hybrid between a for-profit and a nonprofit entity that prioritizes social mission. With more than 30 percent of our operating budget coming from donor funds, supporters like you help us create a better world, one purpose-driven leader at a time. Learn more about how your donation impacts the future of purpose-driven leadership.
Sponsor
There’s something special about the experiences that unfold within the Small Giants Community. Whether it’s a genuine friendship formed at the Summit or hearing a story on the podcast that moves you, supporters like you make the magic happen. You believe in good business, and you’re doing your part to help bring it to life. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
What’s the connection with Forbes?
Each year, Forbes teams up with the Small Giants Community to identify the top 25 best small companies in America (a.k.a. Small Giants). These companies are honored at a celebration during the Small Giants Community Summit and on Forbes.com. Learn more about the Forbes Small Giants list.
What kinds of leaders and companies make up the Small Giants Community?
Leaders in the Small Giants Community come from privately held, small to medium-sized companies with 10 – 400 employees. These organizations span industries and range in revenue from $2 million – $200 million ($20M on average).