Scaling Isn't One-Size-Fits-All: A Recap from the CCL Legacy Lounge Panel at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School

Small business and emerging entrepreneurs have always been close to my heart. I grew up in an entrepreneurial home, where building your own way wasn’t just encouraged — it was expected. So when a friend from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School reached out and asked if I would be interested in speaking on a panel for their business community, it didn’t take much convincing.

Saying yes did come with a cost. It meant pressing pause on some much-needed Spring Break father-son time in Atlanta and hopping a flight back to Baltimore City. But the more I learned about the opportunity, the harder it was to say no.

The panel was organized by Tracy Akinwade, who leads the CCL (Center for Career Learning) and moderated the conversation for their Legacy Lounge series. Alongside fellow panelists Tyrus Shivers and Zo Olumese — two experts I have a lot of respect for — we unpacked the topic, "The Growth Paradox: Scaling Sustainably in Volatile Markets."

This isn’t just an academic talking point for me. It's personal.

I believe deeply that scaling a business shouldn't be driven by trends, social media clout, or outside pressure. Growth should be intentional — aligned with what the founder actually wants for their life, not just their LinkedIn profile. Not all money is good money. And growth, if pursued carelessly, can come at a cost that’s too high — mentally, financially, and emotionally.

Too often, founders stretch themselves thin chasing a version of success that's not even theirs — taking on debt they can't manage, fundraising under pressure, or expanding faster than their infrastructure (and peace of mind) can handle. It's easy to get caught up in the highlight reels online, but scaling because you saw a viral post about someone’s "dream life" isn’t strategy — it's reaction.

The truth is, your business might already be the right size for you. And that's not a failure. That's freedom.

My advice — then, now, and always — is simple: Know yourself. Know your goals. Build from there.

It was an honor to be part of the conversation, to connect with such an engaged audience, and to help shift the narrative around what real, sustainable growth can (and should) look like.

Until next time, Baltimore.