In this episode, Adam Lister sits down with Sunny Bray, founder of Catalyst Collective and a champion for nonprofits and mission-driven organizations, from her early days in corporate sales to launching a community-first consultancy, Sunny shares how grief, grit, and bold purpose shaped her path. With honesty and insight, she reflects on building a business rooted in values, relationships, and the belief that nonprofit work deserves abundance, not scarcity.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why Sunny built a consultancy that puts nonprofit missions, not metrics, at the center of the work.
• How grief, motherhood, and mentorship reshaped her approach to leadership and boundaries.
• Why nonprofits need trusted partners, not just service providers—and how to find the right support.
• How to lead authentically, say no with confidence, and prioritize what truly matters.

In this episode of Catalysts for Change, host Adam Lister welcomes Harry Allen—sixth-generation Nashvillian, co-founder of Studio Bank, and now Chief Financial Officer at Belmont University. Known for his values-based leadership and belief in building relationship capital, Harry shares how intentionality, service, and clarity of mission have guided every step of his unconventional journey. From launching a billion-dollar bank during a time of uncertainty to helping reimagine higher education, Harry opens up about risk, resilience, and the quiet power of staying true to your purpose.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How relationship capital compounds like financial capital—and how to build it authentically
• The founding story of Studio Bank and what it taught Harry about risk, service, and purpose
• What leadership looks like when you prioritize impact over recognition

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