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 Guest
Amalia 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 Hosts

Mark 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 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.

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.com
• Abigail Goddard, National Program Champion and creator of Spikey First → http://Spikeyfirst.com

These 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 title
• How leadership development changes when it starts earlier
• What founders can learn from education systems—and vice versa
• Why culture and coaching matter more than curriculum
• How community partnerships create real-world opportunity

CHAPTERS
 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 GUEST
Dr. 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 HOSTS
Mark 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

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 GUEST
Jon 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 HOSTS
Mark 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.

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 HOSTS
Mark 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

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 GUEST
Rod 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 HOSTS
Mark 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

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 here

Connect 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.

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 Pioneer
00:01:52 Lazarus Alliance: Audits, Compliance & Global Reach
00:04:15 From “Spreadshits” to Automation: Birth of Continuum GRC
00:05:03 The HORSE Project: One Question, Many Frameworks
00:06:21 Automating the Boring Stuff
00:06:45 Pivoting to Continuum GRC and Passing on a Buyout
00:09:41 Navigating Jurisdictions: From FedRAMP to GDPR
00:11:07 Why We Let Competitors White-Label Our Tech
00:12:18 My First Business: Cannons, Cabins & Capitalism at Age 9
00:13:34 Hacking Bell Labs and Exploring the Internet in the 90s
00:14:49 Selling My ISP in 1995 Before the Web Was Cool
00:16:00 Using AI to Transform Compliance & Technical Writing
00:17:30 Time Management, Focus Time, and Email Discipline
00:20:08 Structure, Boundaries, and Protecting Family Time
00:22:45 Creating a Family-Responsible Culture at Work
00:25:50 Managing Auditors vs. Software Creatives
00:27:20 Overcoming Upward Delegation with Great Leadership
00:28:35 Aligning Vision Across Two Very Different Companies
00:30:00 The Traits That Make Parallel Entrepreneurs Thrive
00:31:30 Why I Work in 15-Minute Bursts
00:33:01 Advice to My Younger Self: Be Bolder
00:35:30 The Power of Younger Friends and a Growth Mindset
00:37:21 Books on Our Nightstands
00:38:50 Engineering Meets Creativity in My Daily Workflow
00:40:30 Solving Problems Before They Become Disasters
00:41:42 Biggest Challenge: Bureaucracy vs. Innovation
00:43:29 What’s Next: A Sci-Fi Trilogy at 4 A.M.
00:46:32 The Books I’ve Written and the LifeLock Exit
00:48:19 Togetherness, Legacy, and Mars
00:50:49 What You Didn’t Ask: The Secret Sauce I Won’t Share

Show Notes:

• Share and engage with this interview on LinkedIn: Click here
• Connect with Michael Peters - LinkedIn – Michael Peters
• Continuum GRC - continuumgrc.com
• Lazarus Alliance - lazarusalliance.com
• To 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.

In this episode of The Parallel Entrepreneur, Mark Cleveland welcomes Carla Bailo—an industry visionary who’s helped shape the future of mobility, from General Motors and Nissan to leading the Center for Automotive Research and winning the USDOT Smart City Challenge for Columbus, Ohio. Carla shares stories of innovation, mentorship, boardroom leadership, and the importance of building systems that serve every citizen.

Carla's bold curiosity and relentless learning has had great impact on transportation, public policy, and corporate governance. From deploying bus rapid transit in underserved neighborhoods to baking the perfect baguette, this episode celebrates the human side of engineering and entrepreneurship.

Chapters List:

00:00:00 – Introduction to Carla Bailo
00:01:00 – Carla's Impact on Cities and Roads
00:03:19 – Columbus Wins the Smart Cities Challenge
00:06:50 – Rethinking Mobility for Underserved Communities
00:10:13 – Logistics Innovation: Rickenbacker Middle-Mile Project
00:12:45 – A Flyer on the Door: Communication Gaps in Tech Projects
00:15:23 – Paralleling Transportation, Economic Access, and Planning
00:18:36 – Start Small, Learn Fast: Scaling Smart City Systems
00:21:24 – Asking Better Questions: Carla’s Mentoring Style
00:23:33 – Think in Seven Generations: Long-Term Urban Planning
00:25:58 – Carla on Joining Corporate Boards and Boardroom Roles
00:28:00 – Lessons from Her Father on Responsibility and Preparation
00:32:29 – Learning Upstream Oil & Gas Through Hands-On Curiosity
00:34:20 – CEO Oversight and Navigating Shifting Political Climates
00:37:22 – What Makes a Great Board and a Good CEO
00:40:55 – Mentoring Done Right: Listening and Mutual Learning
00:46:50 – Grandparent Wisdom and Generational Teaching
00:49:49 – The Joy of Embracing the Unknown
00:53:07 – Baking Baguettes & Balancing Curiosity with Relaxation
00:54:40 – Surviving as a Woman Engineer in the ‘70s and ‘80s
00:57:54 – Final Reflections: Making a Difference at Scale

Show Notes:

• Share and engage with this interview on LinkedIn: Click here
• Carla Bailo, NACD.DC on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-bailo-nacd-dc-604ba19/ 
• Smart Columbus - https://smartcolumbus.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com 
• US Department of Transportation’s Smart City Challenge - https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/us-department-transportation-announces-columbus-winner-unprecedented-40-million-smart 
• Society of Automotive Engineers – https://www.sae.org/ 
• Automotive Women’s Alliance Foundation - https://awafoundation.org/ 
• The Road to the Top is Not on the Map: Conversations with Top Women of the Automotive Industry by Carla Bailo – https://www.amazon.com/Road-Top-Not-Map-Conversations/dp/0768000920
• The Road Forward: More Conversations with Top Women in the Automotive Industry by Carla Bailo –  https://www.sae.org/publications/books/content/r-513/ 
• Women in Mobility Bundle by Carla Bailo - https://www.amazon.com/Women-Mobility-Bundle-Carla-author/dp/1468603574/ 

Enjoy this episode? Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share with fellow entrepreneurs! For more insights and to join our community, visit parallelentrepreneur.com.

Welcome back to The Parallel Entrepreneur for part 2 with British-American polymath Matthew Joynes.

In this fast-paced sequel we dive into:

• How Matthew rescued a bankrupt currency-trading firm and scaled it to $1 B+ in volume.
• Why he calls Bitcoin “a collectible—like Beanie Babies” and predicts its slide back to reality.
• Dollar dominance, tariffs as modern-day tribute, and the hidden mechanics of fiat liquidity.
• AI-driven disruption—from accountants to animation studios—and the rise of “one-person unicorns.”
• Freedom as America’s true currency, and how Gen-Z parallel entrepreneurs can seize the moment.

Stick around to the end for Matthew’s no-BS advice on patents, cap tables, and turning unused assets into new revenue with AI.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Matthew Joynes Show Teasers
00:00:32 Part 2 Kick-Off With Matthew Joynes
00:01:19 From Law to Saving a Bankrupt FX Firm
00:04:28 Market Manipulation: Gold, Silver, Currencies
00:06:12 Bitcoin Debate: Commodity or Currency?
00:09:39 Crypto Regulation & Generational Wealth Gaps
00:11:20 Money Creation: Share Price as Printing Press
00:13:00 “Bitcoin Is a Beanie Baby”
00:13:54 Why the Dollar’s Purchasing Power Rose
00:14:44 Tariffs, China’s Trap & Deflation Forces
00:17:11 Digital Dollar, CBDCs & Surveillance Risks
00:18:28 Freedom as America’s Ultimate Currency
00:22:21 Rethinking Value in an AI-Robot Economy
00:23:59 Tariffs Through a Business Lens
00:25:15 Tribute Economy & the Stock-Market Train
00:31:01 Adapt, Adopt, Change: Redefining Failure
00:33:54 Patent Wars Versus Creative Marketing
00:35:37 Why Patents Usually Waste Money
00:38:50 Gen-Z’s Parallel Entrepreneurship Boom
00:41:54 Pinpoint Apps & the Free-Service Model
00:45:40 Renting Idle Assets With AI Matching
00:47:27 Knowledge Is Cheap, Everything as a Rental
00:49:12 Phones, Cubes & Voice-First Futures
00:51:38 “Spend the $20 and Learn AI”
00:53:37 Animation Disrupted: IP vs. Algorithms
00:56:00 Final Takeaways & Thanks to Matthew

Show Notes:

Matthew Joynes – LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjoynes
Gamevice - https://gamevice.com 
LifeMed AI - https://lifemed.ai/
Pulley - https://pulley.com/
CompaniesHouse.gov (free UK company filings)

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What happens when super-AI makes lawyers, accountants—and even capitalism—obsolete?
British-American “apex” parallel entrepreneur Matthew Joynes (PGA producer, GameVice inventor, LifeMed AI founder) joins host Mark Cleveland to smash the china shop of old-school business.

In this high-voltage conversation you’ll learn:

▸ Why Joynes says the real product of your company is its share price
▸ How LifeMed AI replaces 90,000 manual billing jobs with 120 staff and a neural network
▸ The fatal cap-table mistakes that make a start-up “un-investable”
▸ Post-capitalist realities: one-person, billion-dollar AI companies, robot labor, 7-day weeks disappearing
▸ Practical first steps for founders—tokenization, options, warrants, “buying your own time,” and more

Chapters:

00:00:00 Matthew Joynes Show Teasers
00:00:26 Meet Matthew Joynes, “Apex” Parallel Entrepreneur
00:02:31 Why AI Will Rewrite History
00:09:29 The Fear (And Opportunity) in AI
00:12:27 From Blind to Seeing: AI As New Vision
00:13:30 Work, Creativity, and Post-Capitalism
00:15:54 Parallel Entrepreneurs as Creators
00:17:24 What Matthew’s Reading Now
00:18:50 Why Every Tech Founder Is Parallel
00:22:00 “Your Product Is Your Share Price”
00:25:32 Biggest Mistakes in Forming a Company
00:29:10 Turning Shares Into Currency
00:30:27 Building an Investable Cap Table
00:37:52 Competing With (And Eating) Yourself
00:38:45 AI As Your Personal Teacher
00:44:10 Follow Your Curiosity, Not Just Passion
00:49:30 Selling a Film With Just Script & Poster
00:52:20 AI Accelerates Every Creative Idea
00:56:55 Letting Go, Buying Your Own Time
00:57:30 Stop Spending on Others—Invest in Yourself
00:59:17 Teaser for Part Two

Show Notes:

• Share and engage with this interview on LinkedIn: Click here
• Matthew Joynes – LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjoynes
• Gamevice - https://gamevice.com  
• Stolen (2012) - http://www.stolen-movie.com/ 
• Bullet (2014) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdF9Vcv4cCo 
• I Am Soldier (2014) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LIqnkUl0zA 
• Marmadue (2022) - https://scfilmsinternational.com/current-films-animation-titles/marmaduke-3d/
• Dragonkeeper (2024) - https://dragonkeepermovie.com/ 
• LifeMed AI - https://lifemed.ai/ 
• Pulley - https://pulley.com/
• Brendan Iribe - https://brendaniribe.com/ 
• Backbone One - https://playbackbone.com/ 

Join the Parallel Entrepreneur Network: https://www.parallelentrepreneur.com/