Business Success Seminar Series - Spring 2026

Speaker: Dr. Jennifer Holmes, Executive Director - Goldman Sachs
Topic: Different Perspectives, Better Conversations: Communicating Across Differences in Business


Bio:
Dr. Jennifer Holmes brings more than 30 years of leadership and impact across education, community development, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit management in the public, private, and philanthropic sectors. She currently serves as Executive Director of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program in Houston, where she provides strategic oversight of one of the nation’s premier small business education initiatives, supporting job creation, revenue growth, and long-term economic mobility for local entrepreneurs.
In her role, Dr. Holmes leads cross-sector partnerships with academic institutions, corporate stakeholders, funders, and community organizations to expand access to capital, education, and support services for small business owners—particularly those historically underrepresented in traditional economic systems. Her leadership has strengthened program delivery, alumni engagement, and regional impact, aligning local outcomes with national economic development goals.

Dr. Holmes is also a small business owner, providing consulting and executive coaching to support organizational effectiveness, leadership development, and strategic growth. She has facilitated executive retreats, organizational assessments, workshops, and strategic planning sessions for organizations including ExxonMobil, the City of Houston, United Way of Greater Houston, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Sickle Cell Association, and Planned Parenthood.

Previously, Dr. Holmes served as Executive Director of three nonprofit organizations focused on strengthening economically underserved communities. She has also organized and managed high-profile lectures, seminars, and conferences at the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University, hosting both domestic and international leaders such as President George H. W. Bush, Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright, Henry Kissinger, Yasir Arafat, and Mikhail Gorbachev.

Dr. Holmes holds a Doctor of Education in Ethical Leadership from the University of St. Thomas, a Master of Science in Psychology, and a Bachelor of Science in Human Sciences from Our Lady of the Lake University, as well as an Associate of Applied Science in Real Estate from Houston Community College. She has served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including the Sam Houston Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the YWCA, and the Mental Health Association of Fort Bend County. She is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum (Class XXVIII) and a certified John Maxwell Coach.


Description:
In today’s diverse business environment, leaders are regularly navigating conversations shaped by different backgrounds, experiences, and worldviews. When those conversations become difficult, the ability to communicate with empathy and intention becomes a competitive advantage.
This session helps small business owners understand how to engage across the difference without avoiding hard truths. Participants will learn how to create dialogue that leads to understanding, not escalation.

Participants will:
       1. Recognize how differences in background, values, and communication styles influence conflict.
       2. Learn techniques for initiating conversations that acknowledge difference while maintaining respect.
       3. Develop strategies for staying engaged and productive when conversations become emotionally charged.