One of the things I appreciate about the CEO program is the opportunity to learn from people who are actively building businesses, making decisions, and figuring out how to balance it all along the way.

Today, the Adams County CEO Class of 2027 joined the Hannibal Area CEO class to hear from their facilitator, Kendel Locke, and her business partners, Shelby and Natalie, about their joint venture to expand Hula Bowls into Webster Groves.

Kendel originally founded Hula Bowls on her own, so bringing partners into the business and expanding into a new market was an entirely new experience. The three shared what they’ve learned about navigating business partnerships, making decisions together, and balancing different perspectives while working toward a common goal.

They also discussed some of the realities of expanding into a new community, including navigating different rules, regulations, and requirements that come with operating a business in a new location. Another important part of the conversation was balancing the demands of this new venture with their existing careers, other responsibilities, and family life, all while maintaining the trust and communication necessary to make their partnership successful.

For our students, who are currently working together to build their own Class Business, there were some great lessons about communication, collaboration, managing responsibilities, and the relationships required to make a business successful.

We also love opportunities to collaborate with other CEO programs, bringing students together to learn from different experiences and expand their networks beyond their own communities.

Thank you, Kendel, Shelby, and Natalie, for sharing your experience, and to the Hannibal Area CEO class for joining us!

#AdamsCountyCEO #HannibalAreaCEO #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #BusinessPartnerships