EO’s Best of 2025: Top 10 EO Blog Posts

December 12, 2025

Published in:

Entrepreneurial Journeys

A group of EO members at a Seattle Learning Event. — Photo by Entrepreneurs' Organization

Behind every business win, tough pivot, or breakthrough moment is a story—and EO members shared some of their most compelling ones in 2025. Entrepreneurs opened up about their failures, reinventions, leadership leaps, and the habits that keep them grounded.

Here are the 10 articles on EO Blog that resonated most with founders this year, capturing the ideas and insights that shape how leaders adapt and grow.

1. Why GSEA Matters to Both Student Competitors and Established Entrepreneurs

As entrepreneurs, we often talk about legacy, about growth, about giving back.

Parveen Dhupar (EO Toronto) shares why participating as a judge or mentor in EO’s Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) is one of the most powerful ways to live it.

“I walked in thinking I was going to give back. I walked out realizing this experience gave me far more than I ever expected,” he said. “And I want every EO member to feel that. Because this is where our purpose comes to life.

Read Parveen’s post to learn why he says, “If you’re feeling stuck, burnt out, or disconnected from the ‘why’ behind your own business, get into a GSEA judging room or just attend a GSEA competition to watch and get inspired.”

2. Ten Things We Did Differently to Create an EO Super Forum

An EO member for 25 years, Barry Raber (EO Portland) shares proven insights on how to maximize the benefit you get from EO Forum and transform it into a powerhouse of inspiration, learning, and lifelong connections.

As Barry puts it, “What we built was something you could never find anywhere but EO.”

Read Barry’s post to discover the 10 things his Super Forum did differently, such as doubling down on Forum Best Practices, elevating Forum retreats, and varying deep dive topics. And don’t miss their special sauce, which helps keep their minds open to new ideas.

“As an EO member, you gain access to a golden opportunity most people do not have: To create something very special with your Forum,” Barry said.

3. Letting Go to Move Forward: Lessons for Entrepreneurs Amid Personal Challenges

EO’s Global Board Chair, Joaquin “Quini” Cordero (EO Guatemala), shares his recent unexpected lesson about the power of letting go and leaning on community after a climbing accident led to surgeries and a frightening infection. “This ordeal has tested me,” he says.

“I cannot unbreak that bone. I cannot undo the infection. But I can control how I respond,” he says, crediting lessons learned from EO and stoic philosophy. “Instead of complaining, I have leaned into letting go.”

Read Quini's post to get inspired by how he embraces gratitude amid trying circumstances.

4. How EO's Navigating Your Exit Program Helps Entrepreneurs Prepare for What's Next

Exiting your business is a pivotal moment in the entrepreneurial journey. If you go into the exit process well prepared, it can provide financial security, protect your legacy, and unfurl the freedom to pursue your next step. Done hastily, it can lead to regret and upheaval.

Read first-hand accounts from participants in the first cohort of EO’s new executive education program, EO with Harvard Business School: Navigating Your Exit. You’ll learn how the program equips founders with the tools, frameworks, and trusted peer insights needed to plan intentional, successful exits—whether your exit is years away or around the corner.

5. Together We Build: EO Members on the Inc. 5000 Share What Really Drives Extraordinary Growth

There were 212 EO member companies listed on the prestigious 2025 Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. We asked these members about the mindset shifts, systems, and leadership insights that propelled their growth. Their reflections remind us that when entrepreneurs grow together, they build both stronger companies and stronger leaders.

A few standout thoughts:

“When your systems and team are strong, growth stops being chaotic and starts becoming predictable.” —Troy Marino, EO Orange County
“Growth isn’t a finish line; it’s a pulse. Excellence is an energy — not a destination. It’s not about giant leaps or shiny metrics; it’s about consistent, incremental improvement.” —Noelle McInerney, EO Chicago
“Things break along the way because old operations must be shed and new ones created to accommodate growth.” —Wendy Sachs, EO Philadelphia

Read the post for more insights on the lessons that rapid growth taught these leaders.

6. How Urban Planning Benefits from the Entrepreneurial Mindset

Chelsey Jersak, an EO Accelerator in Mexico City, made the leap from archaeologist to urban planner to entrepreneur so she could help build better cities by solving problems others overlook.

“What I love most about being an entrepreneur in urban planning is the ability to see a problem and solve it — immediately,” she explains. “That's what entrepreneurs do. And that's exactly what our cities need more of.”

Read Chelsey’s post to discover how she applies the entrepreneurial mindset to building cities — taking risks, solving problems, and creating value where others see only obstacles.

7. Five Leadership Lessons Learned on EO's Path of Leadership

EO’s Path of Leadership (PoL) empowers members with the exclusive opportunity to shape member experience and co-create the future of EO through a variety of local, regional, global, and functional roles.

The opportunity to lead leaders teaches you how to lead with influence vs. power while simultaneously developing your empathy, patience, and cross-cultural understanding.

“Sitting around the table with other entrepreneurs, sometimes with quite strong personalities, makes you lift your game in leadership,” explained Nathan Donaldson (EO New Zealand).

Read the post to discover more ways EO’s Path of Leadership transforms entrepreneurs into stronger leaders.

8. Why Entrepreneurs Must Tell the Truth or Pay the Price

Gino Wickman (EO Detroit) spent a decade building EOS Worldwide. Along the way, he learned that polite silence is the most dangerous form of dishonesty in a company.

Gino firmly believes that the truth sets companies free. When leaders embrace radical honesty, they unlock trust, alignment, and lasting growth.

“That is your job as a leader. Tell the truth. Hear the truth. Create a space where truth wins every time.”

Read Gino’s post to learn what being “ruthlessly and lovingly honest” means, and why you should strive for that level of trust in your company.

9. Welcome Home: A Look Inside EO Houses Across the Globe

Did you know there are 13 EO Houses in chapters around the world that give members a tangible space to connect in an increasingly virtual world?

Chapters establish EO Houses to serve as co-working spaces, social hubs, and locations for Forum meetings. It's a space where entrepreneurs can gather, recharge, and be reminded they are not alone.

Read Brian Burnsed’s post to look inside a few EO Houses and learn how the chapters use their spaces to benefit members and the community.

10. TEDx Tips to Get Selected, Sharpen a Message, and Leverage it to Build Your Brand

Ever wondered how TEDx speakers are selected, what goes into preparing the talk, and what happens after you’ve recorded a memorable one?

You’re in luck! Anna Crowe (EO San Diego) shares her TEDx journey from selection through preparation and delivery. In addition, you can learn additional tips from Audrey Jacobs, the TEDxSanDiego organizer who selected Anna to deliver her speech.

“It is a huge investment to put your stamp on a TEDx talk, so you better be ready to leverage it,” Audrey says. “Your talk will live forever.”

Read Brian Burnsed’s post to discover their advice about earning your time at center stage on TEDx’s famous Red Circle and how to make the most of it.

By Anne-Wallis Droter, EO staff writer.