By Mary Kennedy Thompson, BNI^Ⓡ (Business Network International)

Growth in business rarely happens by accident.

It’s the result of intentional choices-investing in yourself, developing your people, and building connections that multiply opportunities. It’s about being a lifelong learner.

Over the course of my career — from serving in the United States Marine Corps to leading franchise organizations and now as CEO of BNI — one truth has remained constant: Training and professional development are not optional; they are the foundation of sustainable success.

Training as a Lifelong Discipline

I opened my first business in the 1990s, Cookies by Design, during a recession. I had grit from my years as a Marine but little experience creating a business plan or managing payroll taxes. Everything felt new.

Then I was invited to a BNI meeting, a single step that changed my trajectory. The professionals I met shared information freely, and I learned everything from delivering exceptional customer service to managing the less glamorous side of business.

What I learned in those early days is what I teach today: Competence alone isn’t enough. Just as the Marine Corps taught me discipline, resilience, and mission focus, business taught me the importance of connection. You don’t succeed alone. Growth comes when you combine your personal skills with the knowledge, mentorship, and networks of others.

Too often, leaders see training as a box to check early in a career. But the most effective leaders treat it as a lifelong discipline-for themselves and, even more critically, for their teams. Training develops skills, but more importantly, it shapes mindset. It teaches us to adapt with intention, especially in moments of crisis, disruption, and opportunity.

I’ve made plenty of leadership mistakes. The most humbling was believing I had to have all the answers. In the military, decisiveness is essential. In business, the best decisions are made collaboratively. Real growth happens when you empower others to contribute their ideas. Instead of always providing the answers, the best leaders create an environment where their teams discover them together. That’s training, too-helping people think critically and own the process.

Professional Development Through Connection and Mentorship

Training and professional development shouldn’t be confined to one-off workshops or annual performance reviews. These activities should be embedded into the rhythm of organizations.

At BNI, we integrate development into everything we do, from training members to network more effectively to developing chapter leaders who embody our philosophy of Givers Gain^Ⓡ, the belief that when you help others first, you ultimately receive far more in return.

I often remind leaders they don’t need to do it alone. This mantra applies both to personal growth and to developing teams. Three key principles drive success:

• Build systems that help the average person succeed.
• Provide clarity on vision, standards, and values-and embed them in everyday conversations and decision-making.
• Invest in training that reinforces those principles.

Professional development is a shared responsibility, requiring commitment from leaders and team members to keep learning together. My own career has been shaped by mentors who believed in me enough to challenge me. One of the greatest influences was Mike Bidwell, former CEO of Neighborly, where I spent nearly 20 years. Mike never let me settle for less than my best. His mentorship wasn’t always comfortable, but it was always meaningful.

That kind of mentorship is professional development at its highest level. It’s personal, relational, and transformative. I encourage every leader to seek out mentors and to serve as mentors. We all grow when we help others grow.

One of the most exciting aspects of my role at BNI is witnessing how development happens through authentic connections. I’ve seen it firsthand in more than 77 countries — from fun runs in Vietnam with a thousand members to sunrise snake boat races in India. Everywhere, the energy is the same: people eager to learn, grow, and help one another succeed.

Training equips us with skills, but connection magnifies impact. I’ve seen members launch businesses just before the pandemic and survive because of the support and knowledge they gained from fellow members. That’s professional development in action — not just learning for yourself, but growing together as a community.

Training for the Future: Serving as You Grow

As we look ahead, training and development will continue to evolve. At BNI, we’re exploring ways to use AI to help members connect more effectively. The goal isn’t to replace relationships but to strengthen them by identifying the best connections to generate real business opportunities. We’re also upgrading platforms to centralize resources and make learning more accessible worldwide.

But no matter how technology changes, the fundamentals remain: Training equips people, professional development expands potential, and together they create environments where people and businesses thrive.

In the Marine Corps, we had a saying: Leaders eat last. It’s a reminder that leadership means putting the needs of your team first. Training and development are among the best ways to achieve that. When you invest in the growth of your people, you’re telling them: Your success matters.

I believe serving is our highest calling. That’s why my husband and I started our foundation, Grace Full Giving, to support children, veterans, first responders, and education. And it’s why I’m passionate about BNI’s global work. Training and professional development aren’t just strategies for growth; they’re acts of service that ripple outward, helping individuals, businesses, and communities thrive.

If you want to grow your business, start by growing yourself. Make training a lifelong habit. Seek out mentors who challenge you. Join networks that value you. And create systems that develop your people.

Success is never a solo journey. The more we invest in our own growth and the growth of others, the stronger our businesses will become.

We are the sum of our connections. At BNI, through disciplined training and professional development, we not only grow ourselves and our members, but we also Change the Way the World Does Business^Ⓡ.

Mary Kennedy Thompson is the CEO of BNI (Business Network International) and the chair of the International Franchise Association. For more information about IFA franchisor member BNI, please visit franchise.org/franchise-opportunities/bni-global/.