S2 Ep 6: Progress Starts with Partnership: Rethinking How Communities Grow with Cornell Wesley

In this episode, we sit down with a dynamic leader whose impact on economic development speaks for itself. With more than two decades of experience shaping urban growth, fostering business expansion, and building powerful public-private partnerships, Cornell Wesley, executive director of Prosper Portland, brings both insight and real-world results to the conversation. During his time leading economic development for the City of Birmingham, his strategic vision helped generate $2 billion in economic impact and $1.2 billion in new investments. Combined with his strong academic foundation from Morehouse College and Mercer University, Cornell’s story is one of leadership, innovation, and measurable success. If you’re curious about what it really takes to drive meaningful economic growth in today’s landscape, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.