Will Acuff's entrepreneurial journey is a powerful testament to purpose-driven innovation and resilience. His path began with a college band and evolved into a mission to create a meaningful impact through community empowerment. After a life-changing trip to Nairobi and years in a low-income Nashville neighborhood, Will and his wife, Tiffany, co-founded Corner to Corner, a nonprofit that equips underserved individuals to launch their own businesses. As the organization grew, Will stepped back from leadership to focus on expansion and fundraising. Inspired by personal challenges, including parenting a child with disabilities, Will then authored No Elevator to Everest, a heartfelt book about resilience, purpose, and finding joy in the face of life's steepest climbs.

Stuart McWhorter shares his entrepreneurial journey from selling Jolly Ranchers out of his high school locker to becoming Tennessee's Commissioner of Economic Development. He reflects on his early interest in healthcare administration, his time at Clayton Associates alongside his father, navigating venture capital and stepping into leadership roles, and his transition to spearheading Nashville Entrepreneur Center. McWhorter shares his view on the entrepreneurial spirit in Tennessee, the importance of fostering business growth, and how his experiences shape his approach to business development. He also touches on his own family legacy, expressing hopes of working with his own children in the future.

A serial entrepreneur, EC Hall of Famer and inaugural board director of the EC, J. Tod Fetherling joins CEO Sam Davidson to discuss his epic journey from the early days of the internet to building multiple successful companies. Being tasked with developing HCA's first internet strategy in 1995 fueled Fetherling's passion for technology, data, and healthcare innovation. Over the years, he's played a key role in various ventures, launching health-focused digital platforms and emphasizes the importance of partnerships, research-driven decision-making, and adaptability in business. His entrepreneurial journey is marked by strategic pivots, impactful transactions, and a dedication to improving healthcare outcomes for all through technology.

Mark Montgomery shares his entrepreneurial journey, from his first lawn care business as a teenager to building and selling companies in the music and technology industries. Montgomery sits down with EC CEO Sam Davidson to share how he pivoted from pursuing music to entrepreneurship, co-founding Echo, a digital music distribution company, which he sold in 2007. Personal challenges, including his wife's cancer diagnosis, led him to reassess his path, eventually exploring the cannabis industry and launching the non-alcoholic beverage brand Better Than Booze. Reflecting on his successes and setbacks, Montgomery discusses perseverance, work-life balance, and the deeper purpose behind entrepreneurship.

Known for his football career and current head coach at Tennessee State University, Eddie George takes us back to his upbringing with a mother who instilled an entrepreneurial spirit that led him to successful ventures in landscape architecture and wealth management before partaking in a nine-season career in football. Eddie's story is one of determination and growth, highlighting the importance of his faith, vision, and desire to serve others. Listen as Eddie discusses the impact of mentors, the value of financial literacy for athletes, and the significance of pursuing God-sized dreams with guts.

What happens when a tech-savvy entrepreneur becomes the mayor of one of America’s fastest-growing cities? In this special episode, Sam Davidson sits down with Nashville’s 10th mayor, Freddie O’Connell, to explore his journey from startup founder to civic leader. Discover how his entrepreneurial spirit is shaping the future of Nashville, and why his bold vision for transportation and local business could transform the city for generations to come. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on leadership, innovation, and building a better Nashville!

There's nothing sweeter than success, especially for Mignon Francois, founder of The Cupcake Collection. Mignon sits down with the EC's CEO Sam Davidson to share her amazing path from lacking direction to building a legacy, emphasizing the importance of investing in community and building relationships along the way. They'll discuss the challenges she faced as a scaling small business and Mignon's personal coaching philosophy behind her desire to help other women start their own businesses.

As a seasoned entrepreneur and business leader with a passion for innovation and growth, Jason Moore shares his incredible journey from humble beginnings in rural Kentucky to founding Stratasan, a successful healthcare data analytics software company. Jason shares some of the ups and downs, the challenges he faced, and the pivotal moments that led him to find success, including the importance of mentorship. Jason Moore's story is a testament to the power of perseverance, community, and the willingness to seek help and learn from others.