From the Inside Out: Stephanie Coleman on Growth, Grit, and Getting It Right

What does it look like to lead an organization you've spent nearly two decades growing inside of? In this episode of Catalysts for Change, host Adam Lister sits down with Stephanie Coleman, President and CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, for a candid conversation about stepping into the top seat and everything that comes with it.

Stephanie joined the Chamber in 2008 and served in six different roles before being named CEO in 2025. She opens up about the real shift in mindset that comes with moving from deputy to chief, from executing plans to casting vision,  and why leading at a sustainable pace matters just as much as leading with urgency.

Stephanie discusses the Chamber's Partnership 2030 economic development strategy and its three pillars: community vitality, mobility, and character, as well as bold goals, such as growing Chamber membership by 50% in five years. 

The conversation also gets personal. Stephanie reflects on the hardest leadership lesson she's learned, how she stays grounded outside the office, and what she wishes she had known in her first year as CEO. 

Thoughtful, honest, and full of practical wisdom, this episode is essential listening for anyone navigating a leadership transition or driving meaningful change in their community.

Catalysts for Change is brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or visit catalystsforchangepod.com.

Catalysts for Change is an initiative of One 12 Strategies, brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative