Will didn't set out to become Richmond's leading voice on artificial intelligence. A chance encounter during a Chamber RVA trip to DC, a conversation with Senator Mark Warner fresh off a meeting with Sam Altman, and a community ready for a catalyst moment changed everything. Will shares the origin story of AI Ready RVA and why he believes Richmond is at a turning point.

From raking leaves as a kid in a cash-strapped household to buying into a business at age 20, Will has always been wired to build. He opens up about the tension between founding and operating, why great teams matter more than great founders, and what it actually takes to move a status quo business into a growth business.

Will's honest take on AI adoption, learning by doing, and finding a buddy to grow alongside makes this a practical, grounding episode for any leader navigating change right now.

Resources & Links

• Exponent 21: exponent21.com
• AI Ready RVA: [aireadyrva.com]
• Will on LinkedIn: [linkedin.com/in/willharris]
• Leadership Metro Richmond: [leadershipmetrorichmond.org]

Episode Timestamps

• 00:21 - How Will became Richmond's AI voice
• 01:30 - The Chamber RVA DC trip that started it all
• 02:45 - Why Richmond's poverty rate fueled Will's mission
• 04:00 - AI Ready RVA: what it is and how it runs
• 04:41 - How other cities and regions are funding AI hubs
• 07:35 - Will's entrepreneurial roots and a cash-strapped childhood
• 09:10 - Why he has always preferred starting over managing
• 11:20 - Founders who stay too long and the status quo trap
• 12:21 - Why great teams are the real answer for founders
• 14:27 - The Tim Ferriss myth and appreciating operational discipline
• 17:51 - What Will would tell his 20-year-old self
• 19:54 - Why fear of the unknown only shrinks by doing
• 21:38 - How the brain shortchanges us from starting
• 23:34 - Will's one piece of advice for the AI-skeptical: find a buddy
• 25:36 - On giving yourself permission to quit and try something new

Mack Garrison didn't plan to become an entrepreneur. He decided the day before launching Dash Studio.

What started as a single CNN project with his co-worker turned into a nearly 10-year journey building one of the leading animation and motion design agencies in the Southeast.

Mack shares how Dash Studio has thrived on a foundation of creativity and community. With 84% of their work coming through referrals, he breaks down why relationships matter more than sales tactics. From throwing the annual Dash Bash animation festival in Raleigh to building intentional remote team culture, Mack reveals the systems that keep distributed creative teams connected and productive.

The conversation tackles AI's impact on creative work, why supporting your competition pays off, and the research showing givers outperform takers in the long run. Mack offers practical frameworks for leaders navigating change, building networks, and fostering collaboration across departments.

Resources Mentioned

• Dash Studio: https://dashstudio.net
• Dash Bash Festival (Raleigh, NC): DashBash.net
• "The Art of Gathering" by Priya Parker
• Mack on LinkedIn: Mack Garrison
• Instagram: @dash_nc

Key Moments

00:00 - The accidental entrepreneur: deciding to start a business overnight

02:30 - Winning the Riot Games project with impossible deadlines

04:15 - Building on creativity and community as core pillars

08:30 - Remote team rhythms: Monday photos, Tuesday inspiration, monthly recaps

11:20 - Getting the whole team together twice a year

16:00 - How 84% of projects come from referrals and relationships

20:45 - Trial and error in building company culture

24:30 - Where meetings actually begin: the power of intentionality

28:00 - Balancing visionary thinking with operational structure

31:15 - AI won't replace creativity—it will evolve it

35:45 - Leaders should experiment first, then empower teams

40:20 - The future is collaborative: boutique agencies working together

43:30 - Givers vs. takers: the long-term business strategy that wins

Cory Nichols knows something most leaders miss: the debt stacking up in your organization isn't just financial. As a financial advisor turned entrepreneur, Cory breaks down how avoidance — whether in finances or leadership — creates compounding problems that become harder to solve over time.

In this conversation, Cory introduces the concept of "leadership debt" and shares his philosophy on getting people to take action through moments of realization rather than force. He unpacks the critical difference between wringing the sponge (extracting short-term results at the cost of people) versus creating a warm, dry environment where productivity happens naturally.

From his firing at a small company to launching his own practice, Cory reveals what he learned about values-driven leadership, the dangers of metrics-only management, and why remembering your team members' kids' names matters more than utilization rates. He also discusses Cash Camp, his financial literacy program teaching kids foundational money skills that most adults still haven't mastered.

Resources We Mentioned:

• Die with Zero (book)
• Shoe Dog by Phil Knight (book)
• Cash Camp Financial Literacy Program

Connect with Cory Nichols

• Instagram: @cory__nichols
• Cash Camp Kids: Available via Cory's Instagram or CashCampKids.com

Key Moments:

• 00:00:22 - Leadership debt vs. financial debt: how avoidance compounds problems
• 00:03:45 - Creating moments of realization instead of forcing change
• 00:05:30 - The vital signs approach: tracking income, expenses, and savings rate
• 00:08:30 - The sponge analogy: wringing profits vs. sustainable growth
• 00:12:15 - Boeing's "finds a way" value and its unintended consequences
• 00:15:40 - Human-first leadership: values that prioritize people over metrics
• 00:18:40 - Taking 60 employees to birthday lunches across Virginia
• 00:24:50 - Getting fired and the myth of six-figure satisfaction
• 00:31:20 - Roller coaster investing: managing risk so people don't jump off
• 00:38:15 - Cash Camp: teaching kids financial skills vs. giving handouts
• 00:42:30 - Financial anxiety affects everyone, regardless of wealth level
• 00:46:10 - Vital signs approach: tracking your financial health quarterly
• 00:48:35 - The 1% annual increase strategy for retirement savings
• 00:51:20 - Advice to younger self: it's gonna get messy, and that's okay

What happens when you stop drifting in your learning—and start paying attention on purpose?

In this year-end review episode of The New Generation Leader Podcast, Aaron reflects on one simple but transformative habit: tracking what he read in 2025. What started as a sobering realization — he only read 6 books in all of 2024! — turned into an unexpected journey through 61 books, spanning leadership, sales, culture, memoirs, history, fiction, and everything in between.

Read the full list > AaronLee.co/61-books

In this episode, Aaron shares:

• Why he set a bold reading goal (and how it quietly reshaped his mindset)
• The themes that surprised him most
• The books that left a lasting imprint
• How reading outside your comfort zone expands leadership perspective
• Why slowing down, changing pace, and even reading fiction matters

Whether you’re a lifelong reader or someone trying to rediscover the habit, this episode is an invitation to keep learning, stay curious, and enter the new year with a wider lens.

Show Outline

00:00 – Year-End Reflection & the Reading Wake-Up Call

03:30 – Setting an Audacious Goal: A Book a Week

08:30 – The System That Made 61 Books Possible

14:30 – Foundational Leadership & Mindset Reads

21:00 – Expanding Perspective Through History & Memoir

28:30 – Brand Stories, Culture & Long-Term Vision

36:30 – The Unexpected Sales Theme of the Year

44:30 – Fiction, Downshifting & Reading for Enjoyment

51:30 – Final Reflections & Looking Ahead

Top 5 Books

1. Slow Productivity — Cal Newport

2. Shoe Dog — Phil Knight

3. Love as a Business Strategy — Mohammad Anwar

4. It Takes What It Takes — Trevor Moawad

5. The Barn — Wright Thompson

Anna and Dan lead one of the most impressive teams I have ever met.

They lead with passion and from the heart, and their staff's dedication to their shared mission is evident. They are committed, and their drive to lead with both the head and the heart is unmatched.

We regularly discuss their business challenges, the transitions their team experiences, and the hardships they overcome. Despite all these challenges, their team continues to persevere and grow stronger.

In this episode, Anna and Dan dive into their Soccer Shots franchise, what they've built, and how they, as a married couple:

• got into this entrepreneurship journey
• launched their business
• what they are building for a brighter future

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The New Generation Leader Podcast: Powered by the 5 Voices

Discover the power of the 5 Voices. Find Your Leadership Voice today with the free assessment.

[ Take The Assessment ]

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Show Outline

• 0:00 - Soccer Shots Franchise Journey and Entrepreneurial Beginnings
• 2:42 - Early Life Experiences and Entrepreneurial Influences
• 6:13 - Developing People and Team Growth
• 10:17 - Soccer Shots Program Overview
• 14:14 - Learning and Complementing Each Other
• 18:59 - Building a Strong Team
• 23:43 - Lessons Learned and Leadership Insights
• 27:06 - Support and Challenge Balance

Quotes from the Show

"If you want to see certain leadership qualities or values in others, you have to model them because they're looking up to you and you have to pour into other people."

"Great leaders want to be held accountable. Right? When you want to get better, you hire the life coach, the fitness coach, the business consultant, because you want to be held accountable to a higher potential, and I think you need to instill that in your organization as well."

Tools from the Show

1. Provisional - Plan - Promise
2. 70:30

Episode 73 – Full Transcript

Coming soon!

Patricia Bradby Moore has leveraged her natural people skills to navigate a diverse career path. From the music industry to the tech world, Patricia shares her insights on the power of building meaningful connections in the digital age.

Patricia has turned her gift for networking into a platform to guide others - from young professionals to corporate teams - to overcome networking anxiety and maximize opportunities from solid relationships.

We explore the intersection of technology and human connection, offering strategies for using digital tools to facilitate in-person interactions.

Whether you consider yourself an extrovert or an introvert, this conversation is packed with practical tips and inspiring stories that will have you rethinking the role of connections in your personal and professional life.

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Lead Local Presented by Leaders Rising Network

Discover the power of the 5 Voices. Find Your Leadership Voice today with the free assessment.

[ Take The Assessment ]

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Show Outline

• 0:00 - Connections and Networking Insights
• 2:37 - The Role of Connectors in Teams
• 6:19 - Patricia's Career Journey
• 16:26 - The Intersection of Technology and Human Connections
• 21:37 - Encouraging Networking and Overcoming Fear
• 23:12 - The Future of Work and AI Integration
• 29:48 - Social Media and Networking Tools
• 34:14 - Final Thoughts

Quotes from the Show

• "I spend a good amount of time in my current role having one-on-ones with people in other departments...I want to understand when someone new comes into our company, are they having a good experience? Do they feel like they've really connected with people, or do they feel like they've just come into a place where they're just another number and they're given tasks to do, because the staying power is in feeling connected to other people."
• "The thing about tech is it now allows us to connect with so many more people than we would be able to otherwise. Instagram is technology, right? I wouldn't have the job I have now if technology hadn't connected me to a person who was somewhat in my social circle."

Connect with Patricia

• LinkedIn @PatriciaBMoore
• Instagram @patricia.b.moore

Episode 71 - Full Transcript

Coming soon!

Banks walk a delicate tightrope today: they need to be engaging to attract and retain customers across generations, but also maintain a fortress-like security to combat fraud.

National Exchange Bank and Trust cracked the code on increasing engagement, building a strong customer base, and keeping customers' wallets safe.

Tammy Pitts and Tami Christian of National Exchange Bank and Trust join Dr. Tom Nebel, founding partner of Leaders Rising Network, to discuss how the bank has transformed its culture by embracing the 5 Voices framework to develop more engaged, empowered, and collaborative leaders.

Their discussion provides valuable insights for any organization looking to foster a more engaged, high-performing culture through the power of self-awareness and intentional leadership development.

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Lead Local Presented by Leaders Rising Network

Tami and Tammy discuss the power of the 5 Voices. Discover Your Leadership Voice today with the free assessment.

[ Start Your Audit ]

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Show Outline

• 0:00 - Leadership development and culture change in a bank.
• 5:29 - Leadership roles and communication styles in a financial organization.
• 11:03 - Vulnerability, self-awareness, and trust in a bank's leadership team.
• 15:13 - Leadership development, employee engagement, and embedding GiANT tools in the organization.
• 19:40 - Employee engagement and culture building at a bank.
• 24:34 - Leadership, compliance, and teamwork.

Quotes from the Show

• "Engagement has become increasingly critical to the overall success of any organization, especially a bank because you're challenged with so many different demographics where you need to provide care. But you also have to have Guardian tendencies to watch out for fraud."
• "I fell in love with the language very quickly. Tom and I, being wired very similarly, had a good connection. I really knew that this had the potential to very quickly make an impact, not only for the organization but for individuals as well."

Full Transcript - Episode 68

Coming soon!

Dr. Danny Avula shares his inspiring leadership journey from his roots as an immigrant child from India to top roles in public health and social services in Virginia.

Danny dives into how experiences like moving to an underserved community influenced his approach to serving communities. Avula also reflects on key lessons like listening to lived experiences and adapting to technology.

Listen in for insights on navigating diverse career paths and building more inclusive communities.

Show Outline

• 0:00 - Danny's career path
• 2:56 - Personal journey from immigrant kid to medical school, then to non-clinical work in public health.
• 9:29 - Career development in public health.
• 15:16 - Public health, and politics with a focus on bridging gaps and connecting communities.
• 21:51 - Community and social justice in Richmond, Virginia.
• 27:57 - Technology and community engagement.

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Lead Local Presented by Leaders Rising Network

Our People System Audit is your next step to creating a bigger future and building a thriving culture. Take 10 minutes and see what your future could hold.

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Connect with Danny

• @DannyAvula on Instagram

Full Transcript

Coming soon!