Rows of tiny chairs, oversized mortarboards slipping over hopeful eyes, kids belting out off-key songs with hand motions and unfiltered joy... kindergarten graduation is equal parts adorable and chaotic.

And, surprisingly: there might be more leadership wisdom packed into the event going down in that sticky-floored school gym than you could readily find in some boardrooms.

At Acumen, we believe growth doesn’t stop at any stage—not for kids, of course, and definitely not for CEOs. In fact, here are three surprising lessons business leaders can take from those five-year-olds crossing their makeshift stage.

1. Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection

No one expects kindergarteners to leave fluent in calculus or ready to lead a business negotiation. We celebrate their growth: how they learned to count to 100, spell their name, or stay in their seat (mostly). We applaud the trajectory, not just the end result.

As leaders, we often forget to do this, for ourselves or for our teams. We chase targets, polish strategies, and hold ourselves to impossible standards. But leadership, like learning, is messy. And acknowledging progress—real, imperfect, human growth—keeps us grounded, motivated, and humble.

Question to reflect on: Are you letting yourself celebrate the quiet wins? The slow growth? The lesson learned the hard way, even if it's for the umpteenth time? 

2. Be Willing to Learn Out Loud

Watch a kindergartener at work and you’ll see it: questions without shame, trial without fear, full-body effort without self-consciousness. They’re not afraid to say, “I don’t get it,” or to try something new in front of a crowd.

Many CEOs struggle to say, “I don’t know.” But the best leaders aren’t the ones with all the answers; they’re the ones curious enough to keep learning, even in public.

That’s what peer learning is about. It’s a space to bring the real questions, wrestle through what you don’t know yet, and grow not in isolation, but in community.

Ask yourself: Where do I feel safe enough to be in-process?

3. Don’t Lose the Wonder

Everything is new to a kindergartener. That sense of awe drives them to explore, imagine, connect. Somewhere along the way—amid the P&L statements and strategic plans—leaders can forget what it feels like to be inspired.

Wonder isn’t childish. It’s catalytic. It keeps leaders from settling for “how it’s always been” and pushes them to ask “what if?” again.

Wonder doesn’t mean naiveté. It means refusing to let cynicism lead.

Take a moment to remind yourself: Leadership that lasts is leadership rooted in curiosity, not control.

You’re Not Done Growing

Kindergarten graduation is about what’s next. The same is true for every founder, CEO, and executive we serve.

You may have built something significant. You may be decades into your leadership journey. But no matter where you are, you know you’re not finished! Not if you’re still leading, still learning, and still open to growing.

At Acumen, we gather business leaders not just to level up, but to lean in. To learn with and from one another. To stay humble, honest, and curious. To keep showing up with the kind of courage it takes to lead well.

So here’s to finishing the “school year” strong. But more importantly, here’s to never graduating from growth.