Description

Episode Summary
In this episode of Catalysts For Change, host Adam Lister sits down with longtime Nashville civic leader Ralph Schulz, former CEO of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. With decades of experience navigating growth, crisis, and transformation, Ralph shares what it takes to guide a city through massive change—without losing its soul. From economic development to situational leadership, Ralph reflects on the Nashville of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, offering practical wisdom and personal stories from his own journey.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• How Ralph Schulz helped lead Nashville through booms, floods, and pandemics
• What “situational leadership” looks like in practice—and why empathy matters
• Why films like 12 Angry Men and Twelve O’Clock High are in his leadership toolkit
• The vision behind Nashville’s long-term economic transformation
• Why investing in people—not credit—is the key to lasting impact

Catalysts for Change is an initiative of One 12 Strategies, brought to you in part by the Southern Research Collaborative