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.

Petra Lopez

Corporate America often overlooks the unsung heroes who keep our hospitals and schools clean—and no, we’re not talking about the janitors with capes (though they totally deserve them). The reality is, janitorial services are often overworked, understaffed, and given little to no formal training, leaving them to manage critical environments without the resources they need. Imagine asking someone to perform brain surgery without a scalpel—it’s like that, but with germs and viruses. In hospitals, a missed spot can be the difference between life and death; in schools, it could mean the difference between a flu outbreak or a safe learning environment. When we fail to equip these professionals with the right tools and support, we’re playing a high-stakes game of ‘clean up’—and the cost is too great to ignore. Far too often I am staring at places that should have a higher level of cleanliness. Or maybe they just need a deep clean.  Read more>>

Geneisha Rosales

Corporate America often gets it wrong in the wellness industry by prioritizing profits over people—both clients and employees. This approach leads to overworking therapists, underpaying them, and stripping the job of its personal, healing touch. When I worked for a corporate company, it felt like I was just a “number.” They emphasized quotas and sales, not the actual care or well-being of clients. I was expected to squeeze in as many clients as possible during a shift, often with little time to reset physically or mentally between sessions. It was exhausting, both physically and emotionally, and left me feeling more like a robot than a therapist. Read more>>

Kelsey Black

Corporate America often misreads the nature of bookselling and indie bookstores, which are distinct from other consumer-driven industries. Here are some key things they often get wrong: 1. The Importance of Community and Experience Corporate models tend to focus on efficiency, scalability, and margins, which can overlook the unique role that independent bookstores play in their communities. Indie bookstores aren’t just businesses; they’re cultural hubs. They foster relationships between readers and authors, and create spaces for events, discussions, and discovery that can’t easily be replicated by big-box stores or online retailers. The personal connection with customers—curating recommendations, hosting book clubs, or facilitating author meet-and-greets—matters. Yet corporate thinking often assumes that books are just products, not experiences or conversations. Read more>>

Jonathan Wiens

Most everything we see and hear about the fitness industry is through the lens of Corporate America. From workout clothes, to equipment, to advertisements on how you can get ‘sculpted and toned’, all the way to the age-old diet/detox regimens. Given this, Corporate America controls a lot of how we perceive fitness and exercise; it tells us what time of year we should start working out, when we should feel good about our bodies, and it even gives labels and morality to different types of food. All this without giving helpful instruction on how to workout or the health benefits of getting stronger. We started Archway Fitness as a strength-based alternative to what we hear from Corporate America. Our mission is to build sustainable strength and care for one’s health. We also focus on creating a safe place for women. We know that gyms can be intimidating, but at Archway Fitness we are building a community where everyone feels welcome. Read more>>