We are excited to introduce a new feature in our weekly Monday Morning Report newsletter to showcase our highest-level members. Leaders You Should Know highlights community leaders who are making a notable impact in the Nashville region.
Click here to join our e-newsletter subscriber list.
Tell us about yourself?
Sam Davidson is CEO of Nashville Entrepreneur Center (The EC). Prior to that, he has been a four-time entrepreneur and believes that the height of one’s success is directly related to the depth of their community.
In 2006, he began his entrepreneurial journey by founding Cool People Care, a media and merchandise company that leveraged new technology to connect thousands of individuals to causes and nonprofits in local communities around the US. Cool People Care’s line of eco-friendly and cause-related merchandise raised over $125,000 for causes ranging from disaster relief to hunger awareness.
He then went on to co-found three additional companies, including Batch, a national gift and retail business that connects entrepreneurs with new customers. Batch sources its line of gifts from small businesses around the United States to provide customers the ability to give a sense of place in order to connect, stand out, and create meaningful interactions. In 2022, Davidson led the company through an acquisition by a private equity group.
Davidson has twice been named a “Most Admired CEO” by the Nashville Business Journal. Both Davidson and his companies have appeared in numerous media outlets, including The New York Times, Southern Living, The Boston Globe, NPR, and USA Today. In 2020, Davidson founded SmallBusinessPledge.org to raise awareness about the positive impact small businesses have on communities all across America, especially as so many closed permanently due to COVID-19.
Sam graduated from Samford University and lives in Nashville with his family.
Tell us about your business/industry?
The EC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that is working to make Nashville the best place to start and grow a business by increasing the likelihood of success for entrepreneurs. Sam became its CEO in July 2022 and is leading a passionate team as they develop and oversee world-class programming and a rich membership community. To date, the EC has worked with 14,000 entrepreneurs who have raised $300M in capital and generated over $400M in revenue and over $100M in exits.
What should we know about you?
The height of my success is directly related to the depth of my community.
How did you get to your current position?
A lifetime of trying new things, being willing to learn from others, and finding greatness in those around me.
What value do you see in Chamber involvement?
Not only is the Chamber a valuable voice for what matters to the Nashville business community, but it also has the unique superpower of convening leaders and learners who are invested in making Nashville a great place to live and work.
What is your leadership style? How does that motivate yourself and your team?
My leadership style seeks to always dream but never fail to act. I hope that by encouraging dialog and setting collective goals, our team can plan the work and then work the plan that achieves that.
All voices and ideas are welcome, but once a decision is made and a course is planned, it’s time to get to work.
How does your business support the Chamber’s mission of creating economic prosperity by facilitating community leadership?
Nashville Entrepreneur Center exists to help make Nashville the best place to start and grow a business by increasing the likelihood of success for entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurship can be a ticket to a better tomorrow, a brighter future, and a bigger opportunity. We’re here to build the entrepreneurial ecosystem in and around Nashville to create even more economic prosperity.
What is your perspective on growth in Nashville?
Keep it going, but be smart about it. We’re at a critical juncture where our growth will ultimately hinder future growth, or propel all of us beyond our wildest dreams. Making smart choices now about issues such as transit, affordable housing, workforce development, and education can ensure that our growth helps us rather than hurts us.
What is your favorite leadership book?
Atomic Habits – I read it every January as a refresher so I can be as focused as possible while creating routines that maximize my capability.
