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.

Randall J. Slavin

Winn Slavin Fine Art started because, after twenty years as a fine art agency and wholesaler, I realized that no one in the retail gallery market could represent our artists better than we could. The journey was an evolution, motivated in part by inspiration and in part by necessity. Masterpiece Publishing, Inc. (the agency and parent company of WSFA) began in 1997 in Laguna Beach, CA. For two decades, it was strictly an agency and wholesaler. The company promoted and marketed the artists we represented and sold their work to retail galleries that then sold to the retail collector. Read more>>

Tiffany Pek

In the beauty and cosmetic industry, large corporations have the ability to shift the landscape of accessibility to sustainable products. An industry leader such as Estee Lauder has both the R&D and supply chain infrastructure to manage significant shifts in the market. Better ingredient souring and sustainable packaging design are part of many corporate initiatives, but many of the internal efforts fall flat when the products enter the market. Read more>> 

Bethany DeCola

Corporate America tends to put the cart before the horse when it comes to the development of products and services. I have worked in several industries and the number one issue I’ve noticed is that everyone tends to be so excited to get their new idea or product out to the public that they fail to do the behind the scenes work that it takes to make product launches a success. Read more>>

Sha’Ron Robertson

As a small business owner in the fashion industry, I believe that Corporate America often prioritizes profit over ethics, sustainability, and inclusivity. Many larger fashion brands engage in fast fashion, which has a devastating impact on the environment and exploits workers in developing countries. By prioritizing fast fashion, these companies contribute to a culture of disposable clothing that has harmful long-term effects on the planet. Read more>>

Brian Lambert

I think that while Corporate America provides opportunities for many artists and creators, there’s also a massive amount of gatekeeping. Not just the industry itself but also what stories can be told and how they should be. If you compare the ideology of Western comics versus manga, it’s very easy to see that manga creators are given more range for their bodies of work. I also don’t believe Corporate America took comic books and comic IPs seriously until recently. Read more>>

 Sammie Lewis

In the United States, insurance companies dictate healthcare practices and access. Despite inflation, reimbursement for physical therapy services has only gone down in the last decade. This forces PT’s to see multiple people an hour, often overlapping, in order to make a living. So not only does this cause burnout for practicioners, but also causes poor quality of care to patients. It’s a system that rewards quantity over quality. Read more>>