Lisa Council founded Mrs. Grout in 2014 to provide a professional, high-quality grout restoration service to Central Florida families.  She found great satisfaction in helping her neighbors fall in love with their homes all over again. She also wanted to use her business to change perceptions about what women can do for work.

Mrs. Grout’s success enabled them to open newly updated offices in historic Brooksville in 2021. However, Lisa wanted to expand their impact and create more employment opportunities. She began looking into the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and saw it was exactly what she needed to take Mrs. Grout to the next level.

Designed by Babson College, the 10,000 Small Businesses program equips established small business owners to grow their companies.

The program requires twelve weeks of intensive work while still running the business.  In the end, participants are equipped with what they need to grow their businesses, create more jobs, and even form a network of leaders ready to support the next generation of founders.

DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF THE PROGRAM, LISA KNEW THE UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY THIS EXPERIENCE WOULD OFFER HER COMPANY AND HER TEAM.

Lisa is not shy about the fact that learning disabilities prevented her from graduating high school. But she had never let that stop her from going after what she wanted. So, she applied to the 10,000 Small Businesses program and was accepted. 

What followed was a three-month journey that promised to transform the future of Mrs. Grout.

TO ADVANCE MRS. GROUT'S MISSION, LISA KNEW SHE NEEDED TO CONNECT WITH MENTORS WHO HAD SUCCESSFULLY SCALED COMMUNITY-BASED COMPANIES.

Lisa Council studying for her Goldman program classes

The 10,000 Small Businesses program promised that and more. It provided participants with education, capital, and comprehensive business support services. The goal of the program was exactly what Lisa was looking for—helping her business grow sustainably and create more jobs.

To date, this program has helped over 10,000 small businesses all over the nation. Lisa was determined to add Mrs. Grout to the list.  

The 10,000 Small Businesses curriculum covered various areas, including…

• Negotiation 

• Marketing

• Employee management

• Financial statements

Over twelve weeks, participants completed nine education modules and four small business management training clinics. 

The program also provided supplemental services like one-on-one business advice, legal and financial clinics, and networking opportunities.

ALL THIS WORK CULMINATED IN EACH PARTICIPANT CREATING A COMPREHENSIVE BUSINESS GROWTH PLAN FOR THEIR COMPANIES.

They then presented their plans to a group of business advisors and peers in Manhattan. Here, they received expert feedback to refine their strategies for implementation.

Lisa’s experience with the 10,000 Small Businesses program was both challenging and transformative.

Despite not completing high school due to learning disabilities, Lisa firmly believed in the potential to build a successful life.

She worked on this program for about 40 hours each week for the entirety of the program, twice the recommended time.  However, Lisa's challenges with technology and reading made the program more difficult for her. In fact, she was tempted to quit several times. 

Lisa began this program with zero formal business training or education. This commitment, alongside managing her business responsibilities, was comparable to completing the first year of an MBA program in just twelve weeks. 

Lisa's support network and determination helped her to persevere. In the end, she gained invaluable insights and skills that would shape the future of Mrs. Grout.

As a graduate of the 10,000 Small Businesses program, Lisa is ready to implement a five-year roadmap for Mrs. Grout 2.0. 

Lisa’s vision includes introducing new product offerings to make tile and grout maintenance easier for Mrs. Grout's customers. She is also excited to expand into previously unexplored areas of the business. 

With the knowledge and expertise gained from the Goldman Sachs program, Lisa is well-positioned to lead Mrs. Grout toward sustainable growth and success.

Lisa’s dedication to and successful completion of the 10,000 Small Businesses program is a game-changer for the future of Mrs. Grout. 

Despite less-than-ideal circumstances, Lisa chose to courageously step out of her comfort zone.  As a result, she has gained the practical skills, network, and support necessary to expand the company, help more customers, and provide more jobs. 

Lisa has proven that she leads by example. Her career continues to change perceptions of what women are capable of with a little grit, the right support, and a resolve to keep going. 

It will be exciting to see where Lisa leads Mrs. Grout over the next few years.