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.

Victoria Maurer

After spending 10 years in professional services at one of the largest Big 4 accounting firms in both the US and Australia, I’ve learned the thing that Corporate America gets wrong is well-being. When I first moved to Sydney, Australia I was a manager and had spent 5 years in New York working on one of the largest global banking clients. I was just about burnt out when the opportunity to move to Sydney came up and I thought “When else will I get the chance to live in Australia?” and so, I decided to take the plunge. Looking back now it is easy to say that was the best decision I ever made. Moving overseas unlocked a different side of me, I finally was able to experience what it was like to enjoy my life. This was not because I had less work to do or fewer client commitments but because I was able to see a path where enjoying the journey is more important than the destination, which at the time was to make Partner at the firm.  Read more>>

Dr. Marisol Santana

We may have heard Aesop’s fable “The Goose and the Golden Egg” when were children; a cautionary tale about greed, exploiting a goose that lays golden eggs. There comes a point where many artists, designers and artisans start to feel like the exploited goose. They make the gold, but sometimes have to sell themselves short to galleries, buyers, or corporate businesses in order to survive financially. Corporations behave as the greedy countryman who owns the gold laying goose, looking to make more and more profits at the artist’s expense. The artist that produces the gold is seen as a factory machine. Everyone and everything is expendable.  Read more>>

Jonathan Blackmore

I worked for a large company in a corporate context for 14 years overseeing creative teams. Creativity and corporate thinking often don’t mix well. Creativity can’t me quantified, measured or fit neatly into a calendar. Corporate America often doesn’t take the time to understand creatives or recognize that we’re a different breed. A structured one-size-fits-all approach often doesn’t work for creatives. Getting the most from creatives when it comes to productivity and engagement requires corporate systems tailored to their uniqueness. Read more>>

Alex O’neil

There are lots of misconceptions when it comes to marketing. A few common ones I’ve seen include: 1. “All marketing is measurable” A lot of it is, but there are also nuances when it comes to consumer behavior. Maybe a buyer saw your product on a billboard and was interested but couldn’t scan the QR code on it because they were driving. In this case, the data would attribute the lead to a web search, overlooking the billboard’s influence in initiating interest. 2. “I need to hire a social media manager to make sales” More often than not, social media is for brand awareness. It’s a great way to show your followers your sense of humor, behind-the-scenes footage, but the more you post about how people can buy without offering value, the less likely you are to drive a sale. Read more>>

Jase Lucas

The public relations industry is known for long hours, minimal benefits, and low pay. I’ve seen agencies that max PTO at 3 days per year, pay under minimum wage, and expect 60 hour work weeks. Overall, it’s an industry that simply does not take care of its people. This trend for employee abuse is leading to a new problem for PR firms in this post-pandemic world – mass exodus. Publicists are leaving PR is huge quantities for better pay and improved work-life balance. Of 5 public relations professionals I’ve spoken with who were at the mid-to-senior level in 2020, 4 have left the industry altogether. Read more>>

Andreea Borcea

Marketing is a unique field in so many ways. It’s one of the first departments to be cut during lay-offs and yet also one of the first to be invested in when funding comes in. The biggest difference between Start-ups, SMBs and Corporate America is the willingness to take a risk. Large Corporations and enterprises have spent years, maybe even decades, building their empire. While they want to grow and stand out, they also don’t want to upset the apple cart and cause damage. This leaves room for smaller businesses to be a lot more experimental and attention-grabbing. There’s so much less to lose and so much more to gain. As an example, a brand like Liquid Death has quickly become the second most popular non-alcoholic drink (behind Monster) in an over-saturated bottled water market. Read more>>

S. Lovey Parker

After performing my master’s thesis in the Global Hospitality Leadership program at Georgetown University, I realized the barriers and lack of opportunities that exist for Black owners of independent, hotel and resort brands. I was determined to level the playing field, advocating for the proper capitalization of this emerging domestic market. Since starting Black Hoteliers & Investors Association, I’ve remained focused on championing for the true value of the independent, Black-owned hotel and resort markets, and driving meaningful change throughout the hospitality industry – the ownership echelon. Read more>>