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.

Nikki Knight

Speaking as a woman with a double-major Bachelor’s degree, who doesn’t use her degree in her work whatsoever, I would encourage students to consider more trade and creative options for careers before investing in college. I went to college because I did well in school, and was expected to take my next step in that direction, without any idea what I wanted to do in my life. I wish careers in trades and creatives were just as highly encouraged and valued as jobs that require traditional education. Whatever my children choose to do one day in their careers, I only hope for passion and drive. Read more>>

Mandy Steinhardt

Corporations have been going about inclusivity and employee engagement all wrong. The great debate in the post-COVID world has been about whether to force people to come into the office or to allow everyone to work in a remote fashion. An all-in or all remote strategy aren’t the only two options. Workers, especially those newer to the work force, need leader who set very intentional parameters around how they can engage, how they can be seen, and express themselves as human in the workplace. Read more>>

Karin Carr

Real estate agents are still being encouraged to cold call and promote themselves anywhere and everywhere to find new clients. I really disagree with this mentality. We provide much needed advice and guidance during a very stressful time in a person’s life – buying or selling a home. Yes, you can call 100 people a day to possibly get 5 appointments and hopefully 3 clients who had never heard of you before they answered the phone. Read more>>

Diana Sanchez-Vega

I moved to the US in 1999 from my native Argentina, and I learned to speak both English and Spanish at the same time. When I arrived here, those close to me told me I would make a killing with my language skills. However, it took me 12 years to monetize my language skills, and I was only able to do it by becoming an interpreter and translator. Read more>>

Stefon Pettigrew

Accurately engaging with diverse audiences. They miss the mark when speaking to communities of color. Although we are all “Americans”, there is still a huge cultural difference amongst the communities of color. Corporate America gets this wrong when conveying a message to communities of color because they will either hire a person of color that is far removed and out of touch with the community or a non-person of color that is culturally clueless. Read more>>

Brittany Bobbs

There is no personalization in mortgages. Every single person/family that I work with has a different situation. In the “big bank” mortgage world you click a few buttons online and you are given a preapproval and finally a mortgage. There is no conversation about what is actually financially best. Many people choose to work with a big bank or an inexperienced loan officer and walk away overpaying for their mortgage due to being put in the wrong program or rate/amortization schedule. Read more>>

Kashi Jayy

That all Hip Hop artist are thugs and gangbanger when a lot are just really a product of their environment. I believe everyone has a story and the ones that can actually tell their story get mixed up with the ones that’s doing it for attention. Read more>>

Marshall Childs

What Corporate America get’s wrong is the term “staving artist”. I have been working as full time graphic designer for over 6 years now and it has been sustainable. I think art can always be valued even in Corporate America. No matter what, things need to look presentable in order for the intended message to get across and as a graphic designer I make sure the message is clear, legible, accessible, and engaging. Read more>>

Adam Bevan

Unfortunately, corporate America is more focused on profitability than adding value to students and teachers within the education industry. I think that this is mostly because there are very few founders who have a background in education or that have spent time in classrooms actually teaching students on a day-to-day basis. Read more>>