Parallel Entrepreneur with Mark Cleveland

Mark A. Cleveland
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  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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Mark explores the minds of visionary entrepreneurs who refuse to limit themselves to a single venture to learn how these trailblazers manage risks, innovate across industries, and turn ideas into impact. Whether you’re scaling your first business or juggling several, this podcast is your ultimate guide to thriving as a parallel entrepreneur.

  1. Designing for Trust: Customer Experience, Bias & the Human–Automation Balance

    1D AGO

    Designing for Trust: Customer Experience, Bias & the Human–Automation Balance

    Great experiences don’t happen by accident. They’re designed. In this episode of The Parallel Entrepreneur – Innovation Series, Mark Cleveland and Johnny Anderson sit down with Suzi Earhart, CCXP, a Customer Experience and Organizational Change executive who believes better experiences begin with intentional design, empathy, and mutual understanding — and end in measurable business results. Suzi started her career in computer science before realizing something foundational: technology alone doesn’t create great outcomes. People, process, and technology must work together. And if they aren’t aligned around the customer, trust quietly erodes. This conversation goes beyond surface-level CX talk. We explore how leaders unintentionally design from the inside out, how unconscious bias limits true “outside-in” thinking, and why deciding between human, assisted, or self-service interactions is one of the most strategic trust decisions a company makes. In this episode, we discuss:- Why incentives today are tied to identity and belonging- The challenge of truly thinking “outside-in”- How culture and bias distort customer-centered design- The difference between human, assisted, and automated experiences- Why innovation requires structured change management- Assessing whether employees are truly set up to deliver quality- How aligned CX creates both financial and relational wealth At just over 12 minutes, this episode delivers practical insight for founders, operators, and leaders responsible for shaping experience at scale. About the Guest Suzi Earhart, CCXP is a Customer Experience and Organizational Change executive based in Denver, Colorado. She is passionate about improving experiences through intentional design, empathy, and mutual understanding — outcomes she believes must ultimately be proven in business results. Beginning her career in Computer Science, Suzi quickly recognized that sustainable innovation requires alignment across people, process, and technology. Her work focuses on helping organizations think like their customers, challenge unconscious bias, and intentionally decide when to use human, assisted, or self-service models. She holds certifications in change management and has led initiatives including:- Strategic and technology roadmaps- Journey mapping and Voice of the Customer systems- Service delivery redesign- Organizational change management programs- Governance system creation- Employee capability and “do-ability” assessments Throughout her career, she has remained committed to servant leadership and mentoring — helping others reach their full potential while building systems that deepen trust and results. Connect with Suzi here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzi-earhart-ccxp-220663/ About the Hosts Mark A. ClevelandManaging Director at Kensington Park Capital, entrepreneur, M&A advisor, and host of the Parallel Entrepreneur Networkhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/macleveland/ Johnny AndersonNashville tech leader, GNTC board member, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center, and host of The Impodsters™https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnyonbrand/ Links & Resources 👉 Learn more about the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center (EIC):https://www.wcs.edu/secondary/entrepreneurship-innovation-center-eic 👉 Join the Parallel Entrepreneur Network:https://www.parallelentrepreneur.com/#about-me 👉 Subscribe for more conversations with leaders building aligned systems across business, education, and community. 👍 If this episode resonated, leave a comment or share it with someone shaping the future of leadership. Chapters:00:00:00 Incentives, Identity & Brand Association00:00:49 Episode Introduction00:01:41 Suzi’s Background: Tech, People & CX00:02:00 Why Innovation Demands Change00:04:01 Brand as Identity & Belonging00:05:01 The Full Customer Ecosystem00:06:00 Designing Platforms Customers Struggle With00:07:00 Fitting Into the Fabric of Customers’ Lives00:09:00 “Our Customers Don’t Understand”00:10:01 Perspective, Bias & Trust Decisions00:12:01 Innovation as Intentional Design

    13 min
  2. Why Today’s Leadership Playbook Breaks in the Age of AI

    FEB 11

    Why Today’s Leadership Playbook Breaks in the Age of AI

    The leadership playbooks that built today’s successful organizations were designed for a different world. In this episode of The Parallel Entrepreneur – Innovation Series, hosts Mark Cleveland and Johnny Anderson sit down with Amalia Goodwin, Global Managing Director of Adaptive Organizations at Slalom, to confront a reality most executives quietly avoid: Incremental change is no longer safe. It’s organizational suicide. Amalia works with C-suite leaders and boards who understand that AI transformation isn’t about tools, it’s about redesigning how organizations sense, decide, and evolve at scale. This conversation goes far beyond technology and into the deeper work of leadership courage, organizational design, and the role companies play as architects of society’s future. We explore what it actually means to build an adaptive organization, one capable of continuous reinvention rather than reactive survival. In this episode, we discuss:- Why AI transformation fails without leadership courage- The danger of applying yesterday’s playbooks to tomorrow’s problems- What “innovation metabolism” really means inside organizations- How leaders can balance quarterly performance with long-term survival- Why organizations must see themselves as civic architects, not just profit engines- Designing decision-making systems that can keep pace with exponential change- The overlooked societal impact of AI governance and organizational choices Amalia brings insights shaped by 25+ years and 100+ global transformations, blending strategic clarity with moral responsibility. This is a conversation for leaders who know the future isn’t something you react to, it’s something you design. Chapters: 00:00:00 “Courage feels a lot like fear when you’re in it.” (Cold open) 00:00:47 Episode introduction + why this conversation matters 00:01:07 The systems that made you successful won’t survive the AI age 00:01:16 Why incremental change is actually dangerous right now 00:01:37 Amalia on helping organizations succeed in a technology shift 00:03:54 “The definition of value is changing.” 00:04:22 How companies are evaluating AI strategy (M&A lens) 00:05:23 Adaptive leadership + reinvesting in continuous change 00:06:00 Learning velocity as a new measure of value 00:06:25 Decision velocity: when do leaders know enough to move? 00:07:27 “Innovation metabolism” — how leaders fuel themselves differently 00:07:56 Addressing fear in strategic decision-making 00:08:13 It’s okay to be afraid — making AI adoption fun (Bingo + games) 00:09:59 The moment AI “blew me away” (and rewrote an SOW) 00:10:29 The real leader work: humility, new mindsets, new skill sets 00:10:41 “Courage feels a lot like fear when you’re in it.” (Expanded) 00:11:28 Relearn vs. Unlearn — why unlearning is harder 00:12:23 Six-month roadmaps vs. 3-year plans 00:13:19 Massive 30-year transformative vision 00:14:01 AI as a playground — bringing back play 00:15:03 Hackathons, bake-offs, and low-code teams winning 00:16:00 Agentic workflows + giving unexpected leaders a stage 00:16:55 Closing: “A bake-off sounds like the right answer.” About the GuestAmalia Goodwin is the Global Managing Director of Adaptive Organizations at Slalom, where she partners with C-suite leaders and boards to reimagine how organizations lead through exponential disruption. Her work focuses on the intersection of AI transformation, leadership courage, and organizational responsibility, helping companies design systems capable of continuous reinvention. Amalia is a recognized thought leader on adaptive strategy and organizational courage, with insights featured in Fortune, Forbes, HR.com, Unite.AI, and Slalom’s global research on AI-enabled organizations. She is known for introducing leaders to what she calls “innovation metabolism”, the capacity to transform fast enough to survive, without being consumed by change itself. 🔗 Connect with Amalia on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/amaliagoodwin/ About the HostsMark A. ClevelandManaging Director at Kensington Park Capital, entrepreneur, M&A advisor, and host of the Parallel Entrepreneur Networkhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/macleveland/ Johnny AndersonNashville tech leader, GNTC board member, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center, and host of The Impodsters™https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnyonbrand/ Links & Resources 👉 Learn more about the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center (EIC):https://www.wcs.edu/secondary/entrepreneurship-innovation-center-eic 👉 Join the Parallel Entrepreneur Network:https://www.parallelentrepreneur.com/#about-me 👉 Subscribe for more conversations with leaders building aligned systems across business, education, and community. 👍 If this episode resonated, leave a comment or share it with someone shaping the future of leadership.

    18 min
  3. Why the Future of Entrepreneurship Starts in Schools

    FEB 4

    Why the Future of Entrepreneurship Starts in Schools

    In this Innovation Series episode of Parallel Entrepreneur, hosts Mark Cleveland and Johnny Anderson sit down with Dr. Jeremy Qualls, Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center (EIC) and College, Career & Technical Education at Williamson County Schools. Jeremy leads one of the most compelling early-stage entrepreneurship models in the region—where students don’t just learn about innovation, they practice it. Inside the EIC, high school students launch real businesses, products, and services while earning academic credit and developing leadership skills that typically come much later in life. During the conversation, Jeremy shares examples of how this model comes to life, including: Anthony Beckett, founder of Markify → http://Markifyapp.comAbigail Goddard, National Program Champion and creator of Spikey First → http://Spikeyfirst.comThese stories reflect what the EIC is built to do: help students move from ideas to execution, and from confidence to ownership. Under Jeremy’s leadership, the EIC has grown from 70 students to more than 500 applicants, secured over $17 million in grants, and built a mentor network of 100+ business and community leaders—all focused on developing entrepreneurial thinkers early. In this episode, we explore: Why entrepreneurship is a mindset, not a job titleHow leadership development changes when it starts earlierWhat founders can learn from education systems—and vice versaWhy culture and coaching matter more than curriculumHow community partnerships create real-world opportunityCHAPTERS 00:00:00 Entrepreneurship as the Heartbeat, Not a Track 00:00:50 Building the Future of Work Before It Starts 00:01:00 Jeremy Qualls and the Vision Behind the EIC 00:01:45 Rethinking Traditional Career & Technical Education 00:02:15 From Ideas to Action: National Pitch Competitions 00:03:10 Teaching Business Plans, Ownership, and Real Skills 00:04:10 Why Culture and Coaching Matter More Than Curriculum 00:05:20 Discovering What’s Possible: The Markify Story 00:06:30 Giving Students Real Responsibility Early 00:07:35 Mentorship, Trust, and Community Partnerships 00:08:50 When Student Ideas Become Real Businesses 00:10:05 Scaling Leadership Development Inside a System 00:11:40 What Schools and Founders Can Learn From Each Other 00:13:10 Building Confidence Before Credentials 00:14:30 Why Starting Earlier Changes Everything 00:15:40 Final Reflections on Leadership and Opportunity ABOUT OUR GUESTDr. Jeremy Qualls is the Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center (EIC) and College, Career & Technical Education for Williamson County Schools. A leadership strategist, coach, and educator with more than two decades of experience, Jeremy has built a people-first model for developing entrepreneurial thinkers and future leaders. Under his leadership, the EIC has grown from 70 students to more than 500 applicants, secured over $17 million in grants, and built a mentor network of 100+ business and community leaders. His work focuses on cultivating culture, ownership, and leadership at every level. ABOUT THE HOSTSMark A. Cleveland — Managing Director at Kensington Park Capital, entrepreneur, M&A advisor, and host of the Parallel Entrepreneur Network.https://www.linkedin.com/in/macleveland/ Johnny Anderson — Nashville tech leader, GNTC board member, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the EC, and host of The Impodsters™.https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnyonbrand/ 👉 Join the Parallel Entrepreneur Network: https://www.parallelentrepreneur.com/#about-me👉 Subscribe for more stories from entrepreneurs who thrive across multiple ventures—and live aligned lives.👍 Like this episode? Leave a comment or share it with someone who leads across lanes. 👉 Join the Parallel Entrepreneur Network: (link below)👉 Subscribe for more Innovation Series conversations with builders and operators.👍 Like this episode? Leave a comment or share it with someone who’s ready to make AI practical. #ParallelEntrepreneur, #InnovationSeries, #EntrepreneurshipEducation, #LeadershipDevelopment, #FutureOfWork

    16 min
  4. Why AI Strategy Fails Before It Starts | Jon Hilton

    JAN 28

    Why AI Strategy Fails Before It Starts | Jon Hilton

    Why do AI initiatives often stall? What does it take to build AI strategies that scale inside real businesses? What does responsible, human-centered AI look like in practice? In this episode of The Parallel Entrepreneur – Innovation Series, Mark Cleveland sits down with Jon Hilton, Shareholder-in-Charge of the LBMC AI Practice, to address these questions. Jon brings a rare mix of experience, enterprise data science, large-scale digital transformation, and leadership forged through military service. From this conversation with John, you'll learn: - Where AI strategy usually breaks down- How to move from pilots to production without chaos- Why clarity beats complexity every time- The leadership mindset required to scale AI responsibly- This conversation is for executives, founders, and operators who want results, not hype. CHAPTERS:  00:00:00 AI Isn’t a Technology Problem — It’s a Leadership Problem 00:00:40 Introducing Jon Hilton: Leading AI Practice at LBMC 00:01:47 The Strategy Disconnect: Executives vs. Employees 00:02:40 West Point + Combat Tours: Leading Through Fear, Chaos & Uncertainty 00:03:55 Building the Veterans Tech Peer Group in Nashville 00:04:57 Military Technology + Nashville: What’s Being Built and Why It Matters 00:06:27 The AI Tool Explosion: Don’t Chase Tools — Define the Problem 00:08:25 AI’s Expanding Attack Surface: Scams, Security & New Risks 00:09:42 “In Absence of Orders, Attack”: Courage and Forward Motion in AI 00:10:24 Avoiding Paralysis: Deliberate Action Without Rushing 00:12:03 Bringing People Along: Sentiment, Trust & Internal Buy-In 00:12:55 Leveraging Veterans Well: What Corporate Leaders Need to Understand 00:13:31 Translating Military Experience to Corporate Value (Network + Skills) 00:15:10 Closing Thanks & Service Appreciation ABOUT OUR GUESTJon Hilton helps organizations turn AI from an experiment into a scalable capability. As Shareholder-in-Charge of LBMC’s AI Practice, he works with leadership teams to define practical AI strategies, identify where automation and intelligence actually create value, and build systems that can scale responsibly across the organization. A data scientist by training with experience at ExxonMobil and EY, Jon brings a disciplined, execution-first perspective shaped by enterprise environments and military leadership. His work focuses on helping leaders make better decisions about when to use AI, where to apply it, and how to do so without creating risk, chaos, or wasted investment.https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-hilton/ ABOUT THE HOSTSMark A. Cleveland — Managing Director at Kensington Park Capital, entrepreneur, M&A advisor, and host of the Parallel Entrepreneur Network.https://www.linkedin.com/in/macleveland/ Johnny Anderson — Nashville tech leader, GNTC board member, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the EC, and host of The Impodsters™.https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnyonbrand/ 👉 Join the Parallel Entrepreneur Network: https://www.parallelentrepreneur.com/#about-me👉 Subscribe for more stories from entrepreneurs who thrive across multiple ventures—and live aligned lives.👍 Like this episode? Leave a comment or share it with someone who leads across lanes.

    16 min
  5. Stop Doing Tasks AI Can Handle: Shauna Sprague on Automation & Human Potential

    JAN 21

    Stop Doing Tasks AI Can Handle: Shauna Sprague on Automation & Human Potential

    In this special Innovation Series episode of Parallel Entrepreneur, hosts Mark Cleveland and Johnny Anderson sit down with Shauna Sprague, an AI strategist, architect, and TEDx speaker with 20+ years of experience helping Fortune 500 organizations navigate technology transformation. Shauna is known for helping leaders move beyond the AI hype and into confident execution—building clear roadmaps, designing intelligent workflows and agents, and scaling automation responsibly. She’s led AI initiatives across 49 business units and brings hands-on experience with tools like AWS, Power BI, Zapier, n8n, and LangChain. In this episode: • Why most people aren’t afraid of AI — they’re just overwhelmed by it • How to move from curiosity to confident AI execution (without getting lost in buzzwords) • The “automate the mundane” mindset that gives teams time back for meaningful work • A parent-friendly AI hack: photo → sports schedule → fully automated calendar • The first practical tools to start with, even if you don’t have a big budget or deep technical expertise • When to use workflows, automation, RPA, and when it’s time for AI agents • Why working at the top of your skill set is becoming the new competitive advantage • How to scale AI responsibly,and why human-centered, inclusive AI matters Shauna brings clarity, humility, and a deep sense of purpose to a topic that feels overwhelming for a lot of teams. If your organization has been circling AI wondering where to start, this conversation will help you take the next step ,with confidence. Chapters: 00:00:00 “Eliminate the task — make yourself valuable” 00:01:13 Introducing Shauna Sprague + what this episode is about 00:02:45 Shauna’s core idea: automate the mundane, protect the human work 00:03:34 The parent use-case: photo → sports/school schedule → calendar automation 00:04:02 Daily AI assist: meeting digest + LinkedIn “who I’m meeting with” rundown 00:05:33 Why resistance is normal (and how skeptics become champions) 00:05:52 The low-cost starting point: RPA tools for ~$20/month 00:06:09 When teams “graduate” to agents (LangChain / LangGraph) 00:06:41 Working at the top of your skill set (sales example: stop the busywork) 00:07:50 The empowering question: “Where do I start with AI?” 00:08:15 First recommendation: Zapier + plug-and-play automations 00:08:40 Practical example: Gmail automation + VIP alerts (and filtering sales emails) 00:09:13 Time back unlocks creativity (resources aren’t the limiter anymore) 00:10:02 Upskill move: build something in n8n + become the hero 00:10:26 Closing thought: “They don’t lay off valuable people” ABOUT OUR GUEST Shauna Sprague is an AI strategist, architect, and TEDx speaker with 20+ years in technology innovation. She has led AI and automation initiatives across 49 business units, built intelligent workflows and agents, and developed AI personas that streamline operations and increase efficiency. She’s also a board member, STEM advocate, and champion for inclusive innovation.https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaunasprague/ ABOUT THE HOSTSMark A. Cleveland — Managing Director at Kensington Park Capital, entrepreneur, M&A advisor, and host of the Parallel Entrepreneur Network.https://www.linkedin.com/in/macleveland/ Johnny Anderson — Nashville tech leader, GNTC board member, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the EC, and host of The Impodsters™.https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnyonbrand/ 👉 Join the Parallel Entrepreneur Network: https://www.parallelentrepreneur.com/#about-me👉 Subscribe for more stories from entrepreneurs who thrive across multiple ventures—and live aligned lives.👍 Like this episode? Leave a comment or share it with someone who leads across lanes. 👉 Join the Parallel Entrepreneur Network: (link below)👉 Subscribe for more Innovation Series conversations with builders and operators.👍 Like this episode? Leave a comment or share it with someone who’s ready to make AI practical. #ShaunaSprague #ParallelEntrepreneur #InnovationSeries #AILeadership #PracticalAI #AIStrategy #Automation #AIForBusiness #FutureOfWork #HumanCenteredAI #InclusiveAI #DigitalTransformation #NashvilleTech #Entrepreneurship #LeadershipPodcast

    11 min
  6. Why Community Is Nashville’s Superpower — A Conversation with S3 CEO Rod McDaniel

    JAN 14

    Why Community Is Nashville’s Superpower — A Conversation with S3 CEO Rod McDaniel

    In this special Innovation Series episode of Parallel Entrepreneur, hosts Mark Cleveland and Johnny Anderson sit down with Rod McDaniel, CEO of S3 Recycling Solutions and Board Chair of the Greater Nashville Technology Council. Rod’s journey, from growing up in public housing in Nashville to leading a nationally recognized, mission-driven tech recycling company, is a powerful example of what community, purpose, and leadership can create. In this episode: • Why community is Nashville’s greatest strength • How mobility, transit, and opportunity are deeply connected • What’s fueling Nashville’s new leadership renaissance • How to use “dead time”, traffic, commutes, swims, for growth • Why passion outside of work strengthens culture inside it • How companies relocating to Nashville are shaking things up • The surprising role of musicians, artists & creators in tech culture • The city’s collaborative DNA, and how to protect it Rod’s story is as grounded as it is extraordinary, and this conversation is filled with the kind of insight that only comes from someone who’s built a life on purpose, service, and second chances.Chapters:  00:00:00 Introducing Rod McDaniel: Competitive Drive & Entrepreneurial Roots 00:01:10 Early Lessons from Sports, Discipline & Team Culture 00:03:05 Learning to Win Without Burning Out 00:05:00 First Ventures and the Reality of Risk 00:07:15 Navigating Failure, Pressure & Self-Doubt 00:09:40 Building Confidence Through Repetition and Trust 00:12:05 Leadership Beyond the Title 00:14:30 Accountability, Standards & Personal Ownership 00:17:00 What Real Grit Looks Like Over Time 00:19:20 Building Teams That Actually Work 00:21:45 The Importance of Culture Before Scale 00:24:10 Why People Matter More Than Process 00:26:30 Decision-Making Under Uncertainty 00:29:00 Growth, Patience & Long-Term Thinking 00:31:25 Lessons Learned the Hard Way 00:33:40 Balancing Ambition with Perspective 00:36:00 Redefining Success at Different Stages 00:38:30 Community, Connection & Giving Back 00:41:00 Nashville’s Role in Shaping Leaders 00:43:20 Creating Impact Beyond Business 00:45:40 Advice for Founders in the Middle 00:48:10 Staying Grounded While Scaling 00:50:30 Final Reflections on Leadership & Legacy ABOUT OUR GUESTRod McDaniel is CEO of S3 Recycling Solutions, a 5x Inc. 5000 company and Best Place to Work honoree. A native Nashvillian and community advocate, Rod has driven more than 3,000% revenue growth, speaks nationally on sustainability and leadership, and serves on major boards including the Nashville Entrepreneur Center and Nashville Technology Council.https://www.linkedin.com/in/rod-mcdaniel-7478729/ ABOUT THE HOSTSMark A. Cleveland — Managing Director at Kensington Park Capital, entrepreneur, M&A advisor, and host of the Parallel Entrepreneur Network.https://www.linkedin.com/in/macleveland/ Johnny Anderson — Nashville tech leader, GNTC board member, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the EC, and host of The Impodsters™.https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnyonbrand/ 👉 Join the Parallel Entrepreneur Network: https://www.parallelentrepreneur.com/#about-me👉 Subscribe for more stories from entrepreneurs who thrive across multiple ventures—and live aligned lives.👍 Like this episode? Leave a comment or share it with someone who leads across lanes. #RodMcDaniel #S3Recycling #NashvilleTech #LeadershipPodcast #MissionDrivenBusiness #CommunityLeadership #EntrepreneurStory #Inc5000 #SustainabilityTech #FaithAndBusiness #PurposeDrivenLeadership

    26 min
  7. Nashville’s Tech Future: Why the Pieces Are All Here | Mark Blaze

    JAN 7

    Nashville’s Tech Future: Why the Pieces Are All Here | Mark Blaze

    What happens when a city stops waiting for permission and starts acting like the technology hub it already is?You get Nashville’s tech moment, and leaders willing to build it together. Mark Blaze is the kind of leader communities grow around. As President & CEO of the Greater Nashville Technology Council, he’s less interested in headlines and more focused on connection, collaboration, and long-term impact. In this Innovation Series episode, recorded live at the Greater Nashville Technology Council Innovation Summit, Mark joins hosts Mark Cleveland and Johnny Anderson for a grounded, honest conversation about what makes Nashville different, and what it will take to turn momentum into global prominence. If you care about ecosystems, talent, leadership, and building something bigger than any one company, this conversation is for you. In this episode: • Why Nashville already has “all the pieces of the puzzle” • How public–private partnership accelerates real innovation • What servant leadership looks like at a city-wide scale • The importance of finding, developing, and retaining tech talent • Why collaboration — not competition — is the region’s real advantage • How reverse mentorship strengthens modern leadership • What it will take for Nashville to earn worldwide tech prominence Chapters:  00:00:00 Welcome to the Innovation Series from the Nashville Innovation Summit 00:01:20 Introducing Mark Blaze & the Greater Nashville Technology Council 00:02:35 Why Nashville Is the Best Place to Start and Grow a Business 00:03:55 Geographic Advantage, Tax Policy & Momentum 00:05:10 “We Have the Height” — Nashville’s Natural Gifts 00:06:30 Collaboration as a Competitive Advantage 00:07:45 Servant Leadership and Mark’s Influences 00:09:10 Learning from Reverse Mentorship 00:10:40 Government as a Partner in Innovation 00:12:20 Public & Private Investment Working Together 00:13:55 What’s Still Missing — And Why Nothing Is Broken 00:15:30 Connecting Talent, Capital & Opportunity 00:17:10 The Vision for Nashville’s Tech Ecosystem in 3 Years 00:18:45 Finding, Developing & Retaining Talent 00:20:30 The Region’s “Special Sauce”: Its People 00:22:10 Final Thoughts on Community, Leadership & What’s Next Show Notes: Share and engage with this interview on LinkedIn: Click hereConnect with Mark Blaze• LinkedIn – Mark Blaze • Greater Nashville Technology Council – technologycouncil.com About Our Hosts• Mark Cleveland — Managing Director at Kensington Park Capital, founder, M&A strategist, and host of The Parallel Entrepreneur • Johnny Anderson — Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, advisor, and tech community leader 👉 Join the Parallel Entrepreneur Network: https://www.parallelentrepreneur.com/#about-me👉 Subscribe for more stories from entrepreneurs who thrive across multiple ventures—and live aligned lives.👍 Like this episode? Leave a comment or share it with someone who leads across lanes.

    12 min
  8. Michael Built a Cybersecurity Empire—Then Let Competitors Use His Tools

    05/22/2025

    Michael Built a Cybersecurity Empire—Then Let Competitors Use His Tools

    What happens when a cybersecurity veteran automates the work his competitors still struggle to deliver? He builds the future—and lets them use it. Michael Peters is a rare kind of founder: one who leads both with technical depth and creative clarity. In this episode, we dive into the frameworks behind his companies Lazarus Alliance and Continuum GRC, the origin of the HORSE Project, and how he balances operational intensity with deep personal discipline. If you're building more than one thing—and trying to stay grounded while doing it—this conversation is for you. In this episode:• How Michael turned spreadsheet pain into an AI-driven compliance platform• His decision to turn down a major buyout• What it means to lead a “family-responsible” company• How he manages time, noise, and multiple companies with intention• His upcoming leap from cybersecurity to sci-fi storytelling Chapters:00:00:00 Introducing Michael Peters: Venture Catalyst & Cybersecurity Pioneer00:01:52 Lazarus Alliance: Audits, Compliance & Global Reach00:04:15 From “Spreadshits” to Automation: Birth of Continuum GRC00:05:03 The HORSE Project: One Question, Many Frameworks00:06:21 Automating the Boring Stuff00:06:45 Pivoting to Continuum GRC and Passing on a Buyout00:09:41 Navigating Jurisdictions: From FedRAMP to GDPR00:11:07 Why We Let Competitors White-Label Our Tech00:12:18 My First Business: Cannons, Cabins & Capitalism at Age 900:13:34 Hacking Bell Labs and Exploring the Internet in the 90s00:14:49 Selling My ISP in 1995 Before the Web Was Cool00:16:00 Using AI to Transform Compliance & Technical Writing00:17:30 Time Management, Focus Time, and Email Discipline00:20:08 Structure, Boundaries, and Protecting Family Time00:22:45 Creating a Family-Responsible Culture at Work 00:25:50 Managing Auditors vs. Software Creatives00:27:20 Overcoming Upward Delegation with Great Leadership00:28:35 Aligning Vision Across Two Very Different Companies00:30:00 The Traits That Make Parallel Entrepreneurs Thrive00:31:30 Why I Work in 15-Minute Bursts00:33:01 Advice to My Younger Self: Be Bolder00:35:30 The Power of Younger Friends and a Growth Mindset00:37:21 Books on Our Nightstands00:38:50 Engineering Meets Creativity in My Daily Workflow00:40:30 Solving Problems Before They Become Disasters00:41:42 Biggest Challenge: Bureaucracy vs. Innovation00:43:29 What’s Next: A Sci-Fi Trilogy at 4 A.M.00:46:32 The Books I’ve Written and the LifeLock Exit00:48:19 Togetherness, Legacy, and Mars00:50:49 What You Didn’t Ask: The Secret Sauce I Won’t Share Show Notes: Share and engage with this interview on LinkedIn: Click hereConnect with Michael Peters - LinkedIn – Michael PetersContinuum GRC - continuumgrc.comLazarus Alliance - lazarusalliance.comTo Sell is Human: The Surprising Truth about Moving Others by Daniel Pink - https://www.danpink.com/books/to-sell-is-human/ The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind by Gustave Le Bon - https://www.amazon.com/Crowd-Study-Popular-Mind/dp/1636000169 Time Anxiety by Chris Guillebeau - https://www.timeanxiety.com/ Securing the C Level: Getting, Keeping, or Reclaiming that Executive Title by Michael Peters - https://www.amazon.com/Securing-Level-Getting-Reclaiming-Executive/dp/146796882X The Holistic Operational Readiness Security Evaluation: HORSE Project Series: Governance Documentation and Information Technology Security Policies Demystified by Michael Peters - https://www.amazon.com/Holistic-Operational-Readiness-Security-Evaluation/dp/1468063871 👉 Join the Parallel Entrepreneur Network: https://www.parallelentrepreneur.com/#about-me👉 Subscribe for more stories from entrepreneurs who thrive across multiple ventures—and live aligned lives.👍 Like this episode? Leave a comment or share it with someone who leads across lanes.

    53 min
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About

Mark explores the minds of visionary entrepreneurs who refuse to limit themselves to a single venture to learn how these trailblazers manage risks, innovate across industries, and turn ideas into impact. Whether you’re scaling your first business or juggling several, this podcast is your ultimate guide to thriving as a parallel entrepreneur.

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