Scaling from $1M to $10M: What No One Tells You

Scaling from $1M to $10M: What No One Tells You | The Financial Operator Podcast | Episode 78 What really happens when a firm scales from $1M to tens of millions? In this episode of The Financial Operator: Cash In, Chaos Out, Jen sits down with Christy Hamilton, Partner & COO of Carey & Co, to talk about what scaling actually looks like behind the scenes, personally and operationally. Christy has helped lead Carey & Co through rapid growth, private equity investment, multiple transactions, and expansion from a small internal team to hundreds of employees serving nonprofits nationwide. This conversation dives into: • What changes when you scale from $1M to $10M+ • How leadership roles evolve as organizations grow • Why HR becomes critical (even when it feels like overhead) • The difference between being a generalist vs. a specialist • Why authority doesn't always grow with responsibility • Decision fatigue and scaling pressure • How KPIs create accountability, even for solo founders • Why growth isn't always the right goal If you're building a firm, running a nonprofit, or wondering whether scaling is worth it. This episode offers an honest look at the tradeoffs, the identity shifts, and the resilience required to grow well. Watch now for a candid conversation on growth, leadership, and redefining success. ⏱️Timestamps 00:00 Introduction & Meet Christy Hamilton 01:00 Inside Carey & Co & the Nonprofit Sector 02:40 Growing from $1M to Multi-Millions 04:30 How Leadership Must Evolve as You Scale 06:40 Why HR Becomes Non-Negotiable 08:00 Generalists vs. Specialists in Growing Firms 10:00 Letting Go of Control 12:30 Organizational DNA & Culture 16:00 KPIs, Metrics & Accountability 19:00 Scaling Pressure vs. Lifestyle Design 23:00 Decision Fatigue & Authority Gaps 26:00 When Growth Isn't the Right Goal 29:00 Resilience & Reinventing Yourself 31:00 How to Connect with Christy To connect with Christy Hamilton: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-hamilton-54941520 Don't forget to subscribe for the latest podcast episodes and insights from  @mkbcfo Do you have your own financial or business growth questions for MKB? Visit: Website: https://mkbcfo.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mkb_cfo/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mkbcfo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mkbcfo #NonprofitLeadership #BusinessScaling #FractionalCFO #OperationsLeadership #WomenInBusiness #PrivateEquity #EntrepreneurJourney #LeadershipGrowth #BusinessStrategy #TheFinancialOperator