Some of the most valuable lessons in business come from engaging with the people and organizations working to improve a community
Knight Stivender / MP+F Partner
Two of my colleagues, my business partner Mary Elizabeth Davis and our Knoxville office principal Tiffany Carpenter, are part of this year’s Leadership Nashville and Leadership Knoxville classes, respectively. Having been through Leadership Nashville myself, I’m enjoying reliving the experience through their eyes. It reminds me not only of how much I learned about Nashville, but also what the program taught me about leadership, growth and the responsibilities that come with owning a business in a community.
That sense of ownership began with my parents.
My mother spent her career in public education, eventually becoming a principal. My father was a geotechnical engineer who later co-owned a construction consulting firm. We couldn’t go to the grocery store without running into one of Mom’s students, and we couldn’t drive across town without passing one of Dad’s projects. Their work was woven into the fabric of the community, and ours was too.
As a journalist, I spent nearly two decades covering Nashville’s growth, politics, business community and cultural changes. Later, in leadership roles at The Tennessean and eventually at MP+F, I became involved firsthand in the partnerships, nonprofits and civic initiatives that help shape a city.
Yet it wasn’t until Leadership Nashville that I fully understood the connection between business leadership and civic leadership.
A city’s future isn’t shaped by government alone. It’s shaped by business leaders, nonprofit advocates, educators, neighborhood organizers and citizens who choose to show up.
Cities thrive when people contribute more than their opinions. They thrive when people contribute their talent, time, expertise, relationships and resources. Business owners, in particular, have unique levers to pull. We can help identify problems, support emerging leaders, strengthen nonprofit organizations, invest in promising ideas and rally support when our community faces a crisis.
Healthy businesses depend on healthy communities. We rely on strong schools, effective nonprofits, safe neighborhoods, civic institutions, a capable workforce and countless volunteers who work behind the scenes to make a city function. Community involvement isn’t separate from business success. It’s part of the ecosystem that makes business success possible.
Businesses that remain disconnected from civic life often miss valuable opportunities. They are less likely to encounter future employees, potential partners and emerging community leaders. They can lose sight of local challenges, market shifts and reputational risks. And when a crisis arises, they may find themselves without the relationships and trust needed to respond effectively.
At MP+F, we are often asked to help organizations understand the Nashville market. We can usually tell the difference between those who simply want to capitalize on Nashville’s growth and those who genuinely want to contribute to its future. We’re fortunate to be selective, and many of our peers likely feel the same way.
I’ve heard people describe Nashville and cities like it as “tough markets to break into.” I think that’s only partly true.
They’re tough to break into.
They’re not tough to be part of.
Community isn’t something you earn access to after you’ve achieved success. It’s something you help build along the way. The strongest businesses and the strongest communities grow together, each benefiting from the other’s investment and commitment.
So here’s to Mary Elizabeth, Tiffany and their classmates as they begin this journey. They’re already investing their time and talents in their communities as business leaders, nonprofit board members, parents and neighbors. Leadership Nashville and Leadership Knoxville will simply give them an even deeper understanding of why that investment matters, and why the strongest businesses help build the places they call home.
