Growth exposes gaps that most businesses never see coming. This session helps you close them before they cost you a contract. Stephanie A. Smith of The Ardis Group and Carla F. Cobb of C.F. Cobb Consulting bring decades of experience on both sides of the table, from corporate finance and supplier inclusion leadership to now guiding small businesses through the same readiness challenges. Together, they unpack what it truly means to be ready: financially sound enough to access capital and manage growth, and savvy enough to understand, negotiate, and perform on the contracts that growth brings. Walk away with practical steps you can use before your next opportunity arrives.