A.J. Drexler is a national thought leader in small business development and entrepreneurial ecosystem design, and currently serves as President and CEO of Entrepreneurs Forever—a nonprofit reinventing how small business owners grow. After scaling and selling two companies of her own, she now leads a mission-driven team delivering a unique, three-year, facilitator-led peer-learning model designed for growth-ready small business owners often left out of traditional startup and support systems. Under A.J.’s leadership, Entrepreneurs Forever has expanded to five states and supports nearly 1,000 entrepreneurs, helping them achieve average revenue gains of over 80%. Her work blends human connection, data-informed tools, and real-world accountability to equip small business owners with the skills, confidence, and network to scale sustainably. She is a passionate advocate for shifting investment toward the vast majority of businesses that will never be unicorns—but quietly power the American economy every day. Earlier in her career, A.J. was CEO and Chairman of Campos, a marketing and customer experience strategy firm, and a founding partner of Big Picture Communications, an integrated advertising and media agency. She credits much of her success to the support within the ecosystem that shaped her own entrepreneurial path, including the Women Presidents Organization, the PowerLink advisory network, and the Owner/President Management (OPM) program at Harvard Business School. Today, she is committed to ensuring those same opportunities for peer connection, growth, and support are available to small business owners across the country.