Pathfinders: The Changing Face of Leaders in Business

A former senior executive with Sony Pictures Entertainment, Weaver is also the co-founder, along with his wife, Fawn, of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. Uncle Nearest is considered the fastest growing American whiskey or bourbon in U.S. history. In this episode of Pathfinders: The Changing Face of Leaders in Business, host Crystal Edmonson speaks with Weaver about his early journey, where things stand with DEI and more. 

At 12, Dawn Davis started welding. Now president and CEO of the company her father started, Lowers Welders and Fabrication, she’s now not only a business leader, but a leader among women in construction. In this episode of Pathfinders: The Changing Face of Leaders in Business, host Crystal Edmonson speaks with Dawn about her journey from apprentice to CEO, the role of family and mentors, and spirit of continuous learning.  

In 2024, John Hope Bryant was named by Time Magazine to the inaugural list of The Closers, 18 global leaders working to close the racial wealth gap. From his “Financial Literacy for All” book and the 1 Million Black Businesses by 2030 initiative through Operation Hope, Bryant is flexing his Business Plan for America, focused on diversity and inclusion. In this episode of The Business Journals’ new podcast series, Pathfinders: The Changing Face of Leaders in Business, host Crystal Edmonson speaks with  Bryant about his journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a transformational business leader. Bryant discusses the importance of financial literacy, entrepreneurship and makes the case for a diverse workforce.

In May 2024, Accenture appointed its first Chief Responsible AI Officer, Arnab Chakraborty, a new role and sign of the times. As Chakraborty shares, “this is the summer of AI.” As fast as artificial intelligence (AI) is catching on, ChatGPT recently passed 200 million monthly active users, Chakraborty stresses the importance of responsible AI and “making sure that you have got the right guardrails” in place. In this episode of The Business Journals’ new podcast series, Pathfinders: The Changing Face of Leaders in Business, host Crystal Edmonson speaks with Arnab Chakraborty about responsible AI, how companies large and small should think about AI adoption, how AI will affect the workforce, and what he attributes to his career ascension into this newly-designed role. 

The popularity of women’s sports is on the rise as evidenced by the audience viewership of the most recent NCAA Women’s Championship game surpassing all previously televised basketball games on ESPN with 18.9 million viewers. This is not a “moment but a movement” says Jenny Nguyen, founder of The Sports Bra in Portland, Oregon. In 2022, Nguyen had an idea for a sports bar that only televised women’s sports, the first of its kind, and captured the attention of people across the globe through her Kickstarter campaign. In this episode of The Business Journals’ new podcast series, Pathfinders: The Changing Face of Leaders in Business, host Crystal Edmonson speaks with Jenny Nguyen about her path to entrepreneurship, supporting other women entrepreneurs, the rise in popularity of women’s sports and more. 

In this episode of The Business Journals’ new podcast series, Pathfinders: The Changing Face of Leaders in Business, host Crystal Edmonson speaks with Kim Roxie about her resilient life and career, building a beauty brand she can be proud of, and aspirations for her business.

In this episode of The Business Journals’ new podcast series, Pathfinders: The Changing Face of Leaders in Business, host Crystal Edmonson speaks with Pinky Cole about her entrepreneurial journey, overcoming failure and bringing along future generations of entrepreneurs. 

 On the inaugural episode of The Business Journals’ new podcast series, Pathfinders: The Changing Face of Leaders in Business, host Crystal Edmonson speaks with Calvin Butler about his leadership journey, commitment to creating a positive impact in business and in his community, bringing along future generations and how business leaders continue the fight to create a diverse workforce.  

The journey to the top can be challenging, enlightening and everyone’s leadership journey is different. There are leaders that have made it to the top of their organizations or started successful companies, defying norms, that are driving change as a result of obtaining a position of influence. Host Crystal Edmonson, senior editor of The Business Journals, will interview leaders from all walks of life who have broken barriers and are helping to change the face of business leadership and the businesses themselves. We’ll learn about their story, pivotal moments in their careers, what they see for the future of leadership, the social impact they’re making and advice for up-and-coming leaders. By sharing their leadership philosophies, lessons learned, and practical advice, "Pathfinders" will bring exclusive access to top leaders across the country, equipping emerging leaders from all backgrounds with the knowledge and motivation to forge their own paths and drive positive change in their respective industries.