Traditional banks often lack personalized service, and local businesses struggle to find true partnership in financial institutions. Meanwhile, higher education faces scrutiny over relevance and ROI in a world where information is nearly free. Harry Allen helped launch Studio Bank to blend technology with high-touch service, fueled by community investment. At Belmont, he's applying the same entrepreneurial mindset to modernize university operations and embed practical learning experiences, like a one-of-a-kind partnership with Dolly Parton, into academia. In this episode, Harry L. Allen, co-founder of Studio Bank and now CFO at Belmont University, unpacks the bold vision behind launching a community-first bank in a city dominated by financial giants. He shares the leadership lessons that shaped his journey, how to lead through crisis, and why mentorship is the key to filling today's leadership vacuum. Key Takeaways Leveraging both financial and social capital creates a unique, community-first banking model. High-tech doesn't mean low-touch, Studio Bank fused innovation with personal relationships. Leadership means showing up, especially during crisis. Universities must shift from being information hubs to delivering real-world experience. Succession and mentorship are vital to cultivating the next generation of leaders. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Harry L. Allen 01:49 The Birth of Studio Bank 04:29 Leveraging Technology in Community Banking 07:25 The Courage to Start a New Venture 10:37 Leadership Challenges in High Growth 13:02 Leading Through Crisis: The COVID Experience 17:55 Transitioning from Banking to Education 21:16 The Role of Leadership in Higher Education 25:16 Adapting to Challenges in Higher Education 30:04 The Leadership Vacuum in Society 33:17 Advice for Emerging Leaders 35:21 The American Dream and Community Impact No Limit Leadership is the go-to podcast for growth-minded executives, middle managers, and team leaders who want more than surface-level leadership advice. Hosted by executive coach and former Special Forces commander Sean Patton, this show dives deep into modern leadership, self-leadership, and the real-world strategies that build high-performing teams. Whether you're focused on leadership development, building a coaching culture, improving leadership communication, or strengthening team accountability, each episode equips you with actionable insights to unlock leadership potential across your organization. From designing onboarding systems that retain talent to asking better questions that drive clarity and impact, No Limit Leadership helps you lead yourself first so you can lead others better. If you're ready to create a culture of ownership, resilience, and results, this leadership podcast is for you.…
Unity Talks, produced by the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy, is series of conversations and interviews featuring its co-chairs—Pulitzer Prize–winning author Jon Meacham, former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Vanderbilt faculty member and entrepreneur Samar Ali—and renowned guests from the media, academia and government, focusing on the important issues facing and dividing America today. These conversation aim to restore and reinvigorate the national discourse, supplanting reflexive partisanship with reflective citizenship, anchored upon facts and evidence.
Unity Talks, produced by the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy, is series of conversations and interviews featuring its co-chairs—Pulitzer Prize–winning author Jon Meacham, former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Vanderbilt faculty member and entrepreneur Samar Ali—and renowned guests from the media, academia and government, focusing on the important issues facing and dividing America today. These conversation aim to restore and reinvigorate the national discourse, supplanting reflexive partisanship with reflective citizenship, anchored upon facts and evidence.
Episode three of Unity Talks: A Summer Series features a truly fascinating conversation between former U.S. Representative Will Hurd and former Tennessee governor and Unity Project Co-Chair Bill Haslam . In this discussion, Haslam and Hurd touch on a wide range of topics, including Hurd’s experience in the CIA and his path to Congress, the importance of competitive districts, and rebuilding trust in our government and institutions.…
In episode four of Unity Talks, Vanderbilt University Professor and Unity Project Co-Chair Samar Ali sits down with Unity Project Advisory Board member Allida Black to discuss the life and legacy of Eleanor Roosevelt. In this discussion, they explore Eleanor Roosevelt’s pathbreaking work to advance human rights and democracy both at home and abroad. Besides being a powerful champion for the downtrodden and forgotten, Roosevelt was an astute political operative who understood how to use the levers of power at her disposal to advance her unifying agenda. As a leading expert on Roosevelt and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Black’s reflections on her subject remind us of the role our country has played on the world stage as well as some of the challenges faced here at home.…
Author and journalist Keel Hunt joined co-chair Jon Meacham to discuss Hunt’s book, Crossing the Aisle: How Bipartisanship Brought Tennessee into the 21st Century and Could Save America . As he describes in his book, throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s, pragmatic politicians were able to power policymaking in issues ranging from public school funding and infrastructure development to health care reform. In addition to discussing the legacy of figures like Lamar Alexander, Ned McWherter, Howard Baker and Al Gore Jr. and reminiscing about past political campaigns, Meacham and Hunt delve into the reasons Tennessee took on its recent bright “red” hue. Perhaps more relevant for today’s political squabbles, they reflected on the need for reflective partisanship (a model that encourages individuals to reflect on the opinions of the opposing side, allowing for a more nuanced view before blindly adopting a position based solely on party affiliation).…
We are excited to share with you the first episode of Unity Talks: A Summer Series, featuring a grounded, timely discussion between Jonathan Martin , a New York Times national political correspondent and author of This Will Not Pass, and Vanderbilt University Dean John Geer . In their conversation , Martin and Geer explore the personalities driving American politics, particularly since 2020, and how the controversies of the last few years may continue to impact our country.…
In episode two of Unity Talks: A Summer Series , Bill Haslam , former governor of Tennessee and Unity Project co-chair, sits down with Yuval Levin , a political analyst and senior fellow at American Enterprise Institute to discuss a wide range of challenges on our modern political landscape, one of the most notable being the tendency of both major political parties to appeal only to their dedicated base of voters as opposed to seeking to reach a broader coalition.…
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