This week on Mission CTRL, Ramon and Jorge sit down with Jay Norris - founder of Startup Westport, creator of ThoughtPartnr, chairman of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, and the visionary behind multiple ventures at the intersection of innovation, commerce, and community.

Jay shares his journey from Detroit’s Motown roots to Howard University, from shaping cultural currency in the music industry (helping launch artists like Alicia Keys) to transforming real estate through tech-enabled transparency. Along the way, he reveals a consistent thread: building ecosystems where innovation drives economic opportunity and strengthens community.

At the heart of the conversation is AI. As small and mid-sized businesses face a widening technology gap, Jay explains why AI is the next essential business channel and why adoption can’t be left to large enterprises alone. Through ThoughtPartner, he’s creating “training wheels” for SMBs by partnering with chambers of commerce nationwide, blending AI tools with human coaching to ensure businesses don’t just access information - they act on it.

Whether you’re a founder, small business owner, or innovation leader, this episode is a blueprint for staying relevant in a rapidly evolving economy - proving that sustainable growth happens when humans lead technology, and community fuels progress.

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Find full episodes of Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website.

Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture.

Subscribe for more weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here! To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com.

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