One of the biggest opportunities for folks who want to make an impact through entrepreneurship is to tackle things that Corporate America has gotten wrong and so we’ve asked some of the best and brightest in the community to share examples of what Corporate America is getting wrong in their industries.

Muhammad Idoniwako

That’s the most critical question in my field, and the answer gets to the very heart of why the role of a ‘Cinematic Strategist’ even exists.

What the corporate world gets fundamentally wrong is that it treats its most important narrative as a tactical marketing output, when it is, in fact, a C-suite-level strategic asset. This creates a chasm I call the Strategic Void™. The market is split between ‘The Architects’, who design brilliant but inert strategy decks, and ‘The Builders’, who are tactical executors. The executive is left as an ‘unpaid general contractor,’ trying to bridge that gap, and the result is often a ‘hollow asset’—a beautiful but strategically bankrupt film. Read more>>

Josh(ua) Johnston

I think being a director is like a lot of creative fields: You can get a job in your industry, but none of them are a path to directing.

So, when I was given the chance by a great small company I worked for to take the reigns and go from manager to majority owner, I realized that the only thing holding me back was whether people would come to the shows.

If it seemed scary to market my work directly to the public, it seemed a lot more reliable than trying to convince producer type figures internally to give me some “big opportunity”. Read more>>

Whitney LeBlanc

Folks in the juvenile product industry are often removed from the ‘human-hood” that becoming a parent is- very little of it is glamorous. Its hard, thankless work and can be so isolating. I think the fear of bringing this up as if it will scare parents away, has swayed brands toward a less authentic feel- and I think it can be harmful! Parents are sometimes left wondering- why don’t I look so put together, when I’m making my first several outings? Read more>>

Jeff Temprano

There are several large differences in the way a small independent jewelry store is run as opposed to the big mega-companies that occupy corner suites in shopping malls and advertise on TV. I feel that my partner and I are especially well-qualified to share our observations here, as we’ve both spent decades working for some of the world’s largest retail jewelers before leaving to open our own small-town independent custom jewelry store. Read more>>

Ryan Anderson

The corporate music industry has long been plagued by flaws that hinder the true potential of artists. Too often, it prioritizes profit over passion, leaving creatives feeling undervalued and underrepresented. This disconnection is precisely why I founded Anderson Collective—an initiative dedicated to advocating for artists in a manner that truly respects their craft and individuality. Read more>>

Laura Wayland

Corporate America often misses the heart of what we do. They see coffee, wine, or olive oil as products to move quickly, but we see them as vehicles for connection. Our success is rooted in three pillars—community, employee experience, and customer experience and those can’t be faked or mass produced.

The big brands try to emulate the “local, community vibe,” but they miss the mark because their culture isn’t built around valuing people. Employees are treated as interchangeable parts. Customers become numbers. Decisions are made in the name of speed and profit, and the personal connection is lost. Read more>>