RDU SMB Meetup
The Lonely at the Top Lie:
What Real Leadership Support Looks Like for SMB Owners
RDU SMB Meetup | May 26, 2026 | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Carolina Ale House – Brier Creek | 7981 Skyland Ridge Pkwy, Raleigh, NC 27617
Everyone talks about how hard it is to lead — but almost no one talks about what it actually costs to lead alone. The higher you climb in your own company, the fewer people you feel you can be honest with. And yet the decisions get bigger, the stakes get higher, and the weight keeps growing.
What to Expect
This panel pulls back the curtain on what it really looks like to build a support system as an SMB owner — not the polished version, but the real one. Our panelists will share how they've navigated the isolation that comes with being "the one in charge," how they've learned to ask for help without feeling like they're losing credibility, and what changed when they stopped trying to carry it all alone. Expect an honest conversation about the mental and emotional side of leadership that most business owners experience but rarely discuss openly. Come with questions — this is a conversation, not a lecture.
What You'll Walk Away With
• Practical frameworks for building your own leadership support network — peers, coaches, and advisors who actually get it
• Honest insight into how experienced SMB leaders make high-stakes decisions without all the answers
• Tools for recognizing when isolation is affecting your judgment — and what to do about it
• A clearer sense of your own leadership identity and where you need more support right now
• Connections with other business owners in the room who are navigating the same terrain
Meet the Panelists
Jeff Weingrad | Value Growth Advisor & Executive-in-Residence
Jeff brings 30+ years of senior leadership experience helping founder-led and investor-backed companies strengthen enterprise value through clarity, alignment, and operational discipline. His work centers on the early stages of value growth — long before a transaction is on the table — where the biggest lift in enterprise value is often created. Jeff developed the Performance Value Pathway℠, a structured approach that identifies value blockers and equips leaders with a clear roadmap to improve performance and enterprise value. He also created Incite Ai℠, a diagnostic toolset that delivers rapid insight into operational gaps, risk factors, and growth opportunities. A principle that guides his work comes from Dr. W. Edwards Deming: "Don't just do something, stand there." The discipline of stepping back, observing clearly, and acting with intention is central to Jeff's approach.
Scott J. Medeiros | Chief Execution Officer, Rosewood Family of Companies | President, Helmwise
Scott brings nearly 30 years of senior leadership experience spanning Fortune 50 enterprises, medium businesses, and small companies. His expertise covers 16 functional areas and is underpinned by multiple degrees and over 20 professional certifications, including the PMP and CEPA designations. Scott is also a former Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel and aviator. He currently serves as Chief Execution Officer (CXO) for the Rosewood Family of Companies and as President of Helmwise, where he helps individuals grow personally and professionally to unlock the value in their companies and teams. He is also a Maxwell Leadership Executive Program Leader.
Traci Philips | Executive Leadership & Performance Coach
Traci Philips is an Executive Leadership & Performance Coach who has spent over a decade supporting visionary entrepreneurs and C-Suite leaders to reach a higher degree of fulfillment, potential, and purpose in their careers and lives. She excels at helping clients define their individual value proposition and identify the most complementary teams to help them reach their vision and goals. Traci is also deeply experienced in supporting healthy team dynamics — especially in times of transition — and coaching leaders to improve their communications, resolution strategies, and personal planning. A significant area of her work focuses on the M&A space, where she partners with founder-owners as they prepare themselves, mentally and emotionally, for the next chapter of their companies.
Event Details
• Free entry
• Free appetizers on the house
• Raffle prize ( $100 gift card) giveaway
• Consistently rated 4.9+ out of 5 by attendees
Hosted by Keval Shah, Principal – Zambezi Ventures, and Helen Zhang, Partner – Futurise Growth Partners.
Proudly sponsored by Exit Factor of Raleigh-Durham and Helmwise
Event Agenda:
05:00pm-06:30pm Networking
06:30pm-07:30pm Panel Discussion
07:30pm-08:00pm Networking
P.S.:
If you'd like to participate in the Book Exchange, please bring a new or used book that has inspired you and challenged you and you think more people should read it too!
Some FAQs:
Q: Can I invite others?
A: Please do! But please forward them this RSVP page to register.
Q: Is there a cost to attend?
A: No, but please support our generous venue by buying food and drinks. Please note automatic gratuity of 20% will be added to all checks.
Q: What should I wear?
A: Dress Casually, this is a fun get-together of local business owners.
Q: How can I support the community via sponsorship?
A: Sponsorships range from $100-200/event, but can make a big impact on the community, please reach out to the host Helen to get more information about sponsorships.
You can also donate books and gifts. Our promise to you is that all the sponsorships we receive will be put back in the community.