Catalysts for Change
Catalysts for Change is a podcast about leaders who drive meaningful impact by balancing strategy, purpose, and action. Hosted by Adam Lister, each episode dives into the pivotal moments, values, and lessons that shape how change really happens in business, government, education, and beyond.
Catalysts for Change
Leading with Community: Lessons from Sam Davidson
In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister sits down with Sam Davidson, CEO of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, to explore what it means to choose purpose over comfort. Twice in his career, Sam walked away from stability; first from a promising corporate career and later from a thriving company he co-founded to follow a deeper calling.
Sam shares his journey from launching Cool People Care and shaping youth activism, to scaling Batch, a beloved Nashville gift company, and eventually selling it during the pandemic. Along the way, he reveals lessons on knowing when to pivot, listening to customers, and embedding service and community into business strategy. Today, he leads the Nashville Entrepreneur Center with the belief that entrepreneurship is never a solo act—it’s powered by community, connection, and purpose.
Catalysts for Change is an initiative of One 12 Strategies, brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative