In this episode of Catalysts for Change, host Adam Lister welcomes Harry Allen—sixth-generation Nashvillian, co-founder of Studio Bank, and now Chief Financial Officer at Belmont University. Known for his values-based leadership and belief in building relationship capital, Harry shares how intentionality, service, and clarity of mission have guided every step of his unconventional journey. From launching a billion-dollar bank during a time of uncertainty to helping reimagine higher education, Harry opens up about risk, resilience, and the quiet power of staying true to your purpose.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How relationship capital compounds like financial capital—and how to build it authentically
• The founding story of Studio Bank and what it taught Harry about risk, service, and purpose
• What leadership looks like when you prioritize impact over recognition

Episode Summary
In this episode of Catalysts For Change, host Adam Lister sits down with longtime Nashville civic leader Ralph Schulz, former CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. With decades of experience navigating growth, crisis, and transformation, Ralph shares what it takes to guide a city through massive change—without losing its soul. From economic development to situational leadership, Ralph reflects on the Nashville of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, offering practical wisdom and personal stories from his own journey.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• How Ralph Schulz helped lead Nashville through booms, floods, and pandemics
• What “situational leadership” looks like in practice—and why empathy matters
• Why films like 12 Angry Men and Twelve O’Clock High are in his leadership toolkit
• The vision behind Nashville’s long-term economic transformation
• Why investing in people—not credit—is the key to lasting impact

In this episode of Catalysts for Change, Adam Lister sits down with David Mansouri, President and CEO of SCORE (State Collaborative on Reforming Education), to talk about the leadership lessons, policy wins, and long-view strategy behind Tennessee’s transformation in public education. David shares how a passion for politics and a background in music led him to a career in education policy—and how sustained, bipartisan commitment has taken Tennessee from the bottom ranks to a national leader in student achievement. The conversation dives into SCORE’s approach to collaboration, navigating political shifts, and why real change requires patience, purpose, and people who are willing to do the hard work.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How Tennessee climbed from 45th to 13th in national education rankings
• Why bipartisan, long-term policy alignment was key to sustained change
• How to lead through political transitions while staying mission-focused
• The role of collaboration and humility in effective leadership
• Why small, clear goals—like one more 3rd grader reading on grade level—can drive big systems change

Mentioned in This Episode:

• TN SCORE
• Vanderbilt Study on Teacher Evaluations
• SCORE TN 2030 Report
• SCORE Policy Pillar Memo Series