Scaling Through Community: Build a Business That Grows Itself

Forget short-term growth hacks—the most successful modern businesses grow through community, not just marketing spend. When your customers, partners, and supporters feel connected to your brand, they don't just buy; they advocate, refer, and stay. That's how real, sustainable growth begins. 

The Nasdaq Center is delighted to be joined by Clara Ma, Founder and CEO at Ask a Chief of Staff, to explore how to scale your business through community-powered growth. We'll explore proven strategies to build an engaged community around your brand and create a network of loyal advocates. Whether you're an early-stage founder or scaling an established business, you'll leave with practical steps to reduce dependency on paid acquisition, create a self-sustaining growth engine, and build long-term customer loyalty and retention! 

Key Takeaways: 

• Learn how to build an engaged network that fuels itself. 

• Explore strategies for turning customers and stakeholders into brand advocates. 

• Hear real-world examples of businesses that have scaled through organic, community-first strategies. 

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Clara Ma

Clara Ma is a community strategist and the Founder & CEO of Ask a Chief of Staff, a career development and executive search platform built entirely around the power of community. After launching and leading one of the most successful role-based communities at On Deck, Clara went on to build her own high-impact membership community for strategic operators—empowering hundreds of Chiefs of Staff through mentorship, shared resources, and peer learning.At the core of her work is a belief that community isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a business model. Clara has turned community engagement into a revenue engine that supports both talent placement and long-term leadership development. She’s passionate about helping entrepreneurs unlock the full potential of their communities as channels for trust, credibility, and sustainable growth.Her work has been featured in Fast Company, Thrive Global, and First Round Review. She is a proud daughter of Chinese immigrants and lives in New York City.

The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center is a 501c(3) public charity whose mission it is to make entrepreneurship accessible to all. We deliver free resources, expert guidance, and top-tier mentorship to over 100,000 entrepreneurs worldwide. Your support helps us continue delivering these transformative programs—expanding access to entrepreneurship and driving economic progress for all. Join us and make a gift today to help more entrepreneurs thrive!

All Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least 48 hours in advance of this event; please send an email to webinarhost@thecenter.nasdaq.org with the subject header ACCOMMODATION REQUEST. For assistance with registration or other technical difficulties, please contact anna.vanmaanen@thecenter.nasdaq.org