Urban Game Changers Podcast Archive - Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative

Where the Farm Meets the City

https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Ffarm-meets-city%2F&linkname=Where%20the%20Farm%20Meets%20the%20Cityhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Ffarm-meets-city%2F&linkname=Where%20the%20Farm%20Meets%20the%20Cityhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/x?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Ffarm-meets-city%2F&linkname=Where%20the%20Farm%20Meets%20the%20Cityhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/threads?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Ffarm-meets-city%2F&linkname=Where%20the%20Farm%20Meets%20the%20Cityhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Ffarm-meets-city%2F&linkname=Where%20the%20Farm%20Meets%20the%20Cityhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/bluesky?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Ffarm-meets-city%2F&linkname=Where%20the%20Farm%20Meets%20the%20Cityhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/mastodon?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Ffarm-meets-city%2F&linkname=Where%20the%20Farm%20Meets%20the%20Cityhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/whatsapp?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Ffarm-meets-city%2F&linkname=Where%20the%20Farm%20Meets%20the%20Cityhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Ffarm-meets-city%2F&linkname=Where%20the%20Farm%20Meets%20the%20Cityhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/instapaper?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Ffarm-meets-city%2F&linkname=Where%20the%20Farm%20Meets%20the%20Cityhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/kindle_it?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Ffarm-meets-city%2F&linkname=Where%20the%20Farm%20Meets%20the%20Cityhttps://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Ffarm-meets-city%2F&title=Where%20the%20Farm%20Meets%20the%20City AUDIO ---------------------------------------- Bill Brinkerhoff and Kathy Sample are the co-founders of Argus Farm Stop, a pioneering local food business designed to strengthen regional farms while expanding community access to fresh, locally sourced food. Since launching Argus in 2014, they have developed a farmer-first model that has returned millions of dollars to producers and helped demonstrate how mission-driven business can support both economic and social impact. Through their work in food systems innovation, entrepreneurship, and community development, they continue to advance a replicable model for building stronger local economies from the ground up. ---------------------------------------- EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Urban Game Changers, host David Tarver sits down with Bill Brinkerhoff and Kathy Sample, co-founders of Argus Farm Stop, to explore how a mission-driven grocery model can strengthen local economies, support small farms, and expand food access. From the origins of Argus to the mechanics of its farmer-first 70/30 revenue model, the conversation reveals how entrepreneurship, systems thinking, and community values come together in practice. Bill and Kathy share how Argus has grown into a replicable model for local food infrastructure, discuss scaling through impact rather than extraction, and reflect on what it means to build a business where success is measured not just by profits, but by the strength of the ecosystem it helps create. ---------------------------------------- * Urban Game Changers Episode 12 * Where the Farm Meets the City * Guests: Bill Brinkerhoff and Kathy Sample, co-founders of Argus Farm Stop * Release date: May 21, 2026 * Length: 1:06:22 ---------------------------------------- * Executive Producer & Host: W. David Tarver * Producer & Editor: Ben Reynolds * Associate Producers: Anshiqa Miskowski and Felipé Furtado, MD ---------------------------------------- CHAPTER MARKERS 00:00 Introduction to Argus Farm Stop and the farm stop model 03:42 How the idea for Argus began 10:18 Building a farmer-first business model 18:34 Why local food systems matter for communities 26:55 Can the farm stop model scale? 30:02 Inside the 70/30 revenue model and how Argus makes money 34:52 Tour of the market: sourcing, merchandising, and local producers 42:00 Reducing food waste and managing operations 51:35 Produce boxes, logistics, and growing the model 55:05 Measuring impact and growing the local food ecosystem 58:08 What Argus can teach us about business and community 1:03:43 Venture capital, impact capital, and protecting the mission 1:06:04 Closing reflections The post Where the Farm Meets the City [https://urbanei.org/podcast/farm-meets-city/] appeared first on Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative [https://urbanei.org].

Anchor for Innovation

https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fanchor-for-innovation%2F&linkname=Anchor%20for%20Innovationhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fanchor-for-innovation%2F&linkname=Anchor%20for%20Innovationhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/x?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fanchor-for-innovation%2F&linkname=Anchor%20for%20Innovationhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/threads?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fanchor-for-innovation%2F&linkname=Anchor%20for%20Innovationhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fanchor-for-innovation%2F&linkname=Anchor%20for%20Innovationhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/bluesky?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fanchor-for-innovation%2F&linkname=Anchor%20for%20Innovationhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/mastodon?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fanchor-for-innovation%2F&linkname=Anchor%20for%20Innovationhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/whatsapp?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fanchor-for-innovation%2F&linkname=Anchor%20for%20Innovationhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fanchor-for-innovation%2F&linkname=Anchor%20for%20Innovationhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/instapaper?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fanchor-for-innovation%2F&linkname=Anchor%20for%20Innovationhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/kindle_it?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fanchor-for-innovation%2F&linkname=Anchor%20for%20Innovationhttps://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fanchor-for-innovation%2F&title=Anchor%20for%20Innovation AUDIO LISA PRASAD BEGAN HER ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY FACILITATING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AROUND “ANCHOR” INSTITUTIONS. NOW SHE IS LEADING A NEW WAVE OF INNOVATION AT ONE SUCH INSTITUTION. Lisa Prasad emigrated to Michigan from India at age 10. She learned English by watching episodes of Gilligan’s Island, an experience that was an early indication of Lisa’s voracious curiosity about her newfound home and the world in general. By the time Lisa completed her college education at University of Michigan and University of Pennsylvania, she had the analytical and business skills to turn her curiosity into real value. Lisa cut her teeth as an urban innovator by first working in the consulting industry, then working for a pioneering U Penn initiative to revitalize the West Philadelphia neighborhood around the university. She later took what she learned from that effort to co-found U3 Ventures, a company dedicated to revitalizing the community around “anchor institutions” like universities and hospital systems. This work brought Lisa back to Michigan, where she is today the Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer at Henry Ford Health. In her current role, Lisa is leading a new wave of health care innovation and incubating a new cadre of health care entrepreneurs. ---------------------------------------- EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Urban Game Changers, Lisa Prasad, Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer at Henry Ford Health, shares her journey from consulting and academia to entrepreneurship and healthcare leadership. She discusses how innovation happens inside complex systems, the role of anchor institutions in driving economic development, and how Detroit is emerging as a hub for healthcare innovation. Lisa breaks down the realities of building and scaling new ventures—emphasizing that the most successful founders start with a clearly defined problem, not just a compelling idea or technology. She also offers a behind-the-scenes look at how health systems evaluate, pilot, and commercialize new technologies, and what it takes for startups to successfully navigate highly regulated environments. From lessons learned during the 2008 financial crisis to building innovation ecosystems that connect clinicians, entrepreneurs, and investors, this conversation highlights the intersection of entrepreneurship, healthcare, and community impact—and what it really takes to turn ideas into meaningful change. ---------------------------------------- * Urban Game Changers Episode 11 * Anchor for Innovation * Guest: Lisa Prasad, Vice-President and Chief Innovation Officer at Henry Ford Health * Release date: April 2, 2026 * Length: 56:41 ---------------------------------------- * Executive Producer & Host: W. David Tarver * Producer & Editor: Ben Reynolds * Associate Producers: Anshiqa Miskowski and Felipé Furtado, MD ---------------------------------------- If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe to Urban Game Changers and share this episode with someone building or supporting ventures in their community. ---------------------------------------- CHAPTER MARKERS 00:00 — Why startups fail to define the problem 00:26 — Introduction to Lisa Prasad & Henry Ford Health 01:08 — A non-linear career across consulting, startups, and healthcare 02:10 — Growing up between India and the U.S. & embracing uncertainty 03:15 — Education: University of Michigan & UPenn 04:24 — Starting in consulting: lessons from early career 06:05 — The pros and limits of consulting work 08:20 — Moving to University of Pennsylvania & community development 09:24 — Transforming West Philadelphia: anchor institution strategy 13:05 — How institutions catalyze private investment 15:53 — Becoming an accidental entrepreneur (U3 Ventures) 18:00 — The realities of starting a company 21:24 — Navigating the 2008 financial crisis as a founder 23:20 — Applying anchor strategies to cities like Detroit 25:03 — Commercializing innovation inside healthcare systems 28:00 — Returning to Michigan & building Henry Ford Innovations 29:25 — What the Innovation Institute actually does 32:30 — Example: solving hospital inefficiencies (OR delays) 34:49 — How healthcare systems generate ROI from innovation 36:00 — How startups partner with large health systems 37:00 — The #1 mistake founders make 38:30 — Evaluating startups: what makes the cut 39:40 — Turning ideas into real-world healthcare solutions 41:00 — Building an innovation ecosystem in Detroit 43:00 — Measuring success in innovation programs 46:30 — What founders don’t understand about healthcare adoption 50:00 — Lessons from a career across sectors 52:00 — Empathy for entrepreneurs navigating uncertainty 54:00 — Scaling innovation at Henry Ford Health 55:00 — Final advice: just start The post Anchor for Innovation [https://urbanei.org/podcast/anchor-for-innovation/] appeared first on Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative [https://urbanei.org].

Sustainable Samaritan

https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fsustainable-samaritan%2F&linkname=Sustainable%20Samaritanhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fsustainable-samaritan%2F&linkname=Sustainable%20Samaritanhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/x?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fsustainable-samaritan%2F&linkname=Sustainable%20Samaritanhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/threads?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fsustainable-samaritan%2F&linkname=Sustainable%20Samaritanhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fsustainable-samaritan%2F&linkname=Sustainable%20Samaritanhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/bluesky?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fsustainable-samaritan%2F&linkname=Sustainable%20Samaritanhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/mastodon?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fsustainable-samaritan%2F&linkname=Sustainable%20Samaritanhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/whatsapp?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fsustainable-samaritan%2F&linkname=Sustainable%20Samaritanhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fsustainable-samaritan%2F&linkname=Sustainable%20Samaritanhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/instapaper?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fsustainable-samaritan%2F&linkname=Sustainable%20Samaritanhttps://www.addtoany.com/add_to/kindle_it?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fsustainable-samaritan%2F&linkname=Sustainable%20Samaritanhttps://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fsustainable-samaritan%2F&title=Sustainable%20Samaritan AUDIO JONATHAN KUMAR BUILT A SUSTAINABLE, FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS THAT ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF HOMELESS PEOPLE. Jonathan Kumar was born in Buffalo, New York, where his parents had landed after migrating from India. His father was a student, his mother a homemaker. They barely had enough to get by, but supportive community organizations and people made an important difference and enabled the family to survive and later thrive in their adopted country. Jonathan didn’t forget that lesson. As a business school student at the University of Michigan, he grew familiar with entrepreneurship as a career path. Though he had not intended to be a “social entrepreneur,” his early experiences in business and advice from a trusted mentor pushed him in that direction. He moved to Seattle after graduation, and seeing the large numbers of people living on the streets there motivated him toward finding a solution. ---------------------------------------- EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Urban Game Changers, Samaritan founder Jonathan Kumar shares a candid look at what it takes to build and sustain a venture in a field that doesn’t seem amenable to entrepreneurial solutions. He unpacks the realities of addressing homelessness through technology and business model innovation, and highlights challenges related to public perception, access to capital, and limitations of traditional philanthropy. The conversation explores a key shift in thinking: moving from donor-dependent models to customer-driven, sustainable solutions. Jonathan reflects on his career journey, which didn’t initially include thoughts of being a “social entrepreneur.” He emphasizes resilience, adaptability, and the satisfaction he derives from solving important problems for “real people.” This episode offers a grounded perspective on what it means to build for impact—balancing mission with strategy, and vision with execution. ---------------------------------------- * Urban Game Changers Episode 10 * Sustainable Samaritan * Guest: Jonathan Kumar, Founder of Samaritan.city * Release date: March 19, 2026 * Length: 1:09:26 ---------------------------------------- * Executive Producer & Host: W. David Tarver * Producer & Editor: Ben Reynolds * Associate Producers: Anshiqa Miskowski and Felipé Furtado, MD ---------------------------------------- If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe to Urban Game Changers and share this episode with someone building or supporting ventures in their community. ---------------------------------------- CHAPTER MARKERS 00:00 – The Reality of Homelessness in Seattle Opening reflection on visible human suffering and the problem that sparked the mission 00:14 – Introduction to Jonathan Kumar & Samaritan Overview of Samaritan as a for-profit solution to homelessness 01:24 – Immigrant Upbringing & Early Exposure to Poverty Growing up on public assistance and the impact of community support 03:25 – Education & Early Entrepreneurial Path (University of Michigan) Informatics, interdisciplinary learning, and startup exposure 06:59 – First Ventures & Entrepreneurial Origins North Campus community building, TEDx, and self-created opportunities 09:00 – Building a Startup Without a Path Creating your own internship → documentary → early startup thinking 11:00 – Food Circles: First Startup & Key Pivot From “eBay for restaurants” to a social impact business model 13:00 – Solving Needs vs Wants The critical shift toward meaningful, mission-driven entrepreneurship 14:30 – Expansion Challenges & Business Model Failure Scaling to new markets and why unit economics didn’t work 16:00 – Moving to Seattle & Facing Failure Second market struggles and questioning long-term direction 19:00 – Food Circles as “Grad School” for Entrepreneurship Lessons learned from failure, sales, and building 20:00 – Identifying the Real Problem: Homelessness Observing systemic issues and missed opportunities to help 21:00 – The Idea Behind Samaritan Making giving easier, more effective, and more human 22:00 – Customer Discovery on the Streets Conducting hundreds of interviews with unhoused individuals 23:30 – Key Insight: Relational Poverty Why lack of social capital—not just money—drives homelessness 26:30 – Why It’s So Hard to Escape Homelessness The compounding barriers: health, sleep, logistics, and stigma 28:00 – Can You Build a Business Solving This? The challenge of making impact both scalable and sustainable 29:00 – For-Profit vs Nonprofit Decision Why scale, technology, and sustainability led to a for-profit model 30:00 – Funding Challenges in Social Innovation Why traditional philanthropy doesn’t fund tech solutions 32:00 – Customers vs Donors Mindset Shift Building a repeatable, scalable business vs relying on donations 34:30 – The Origin of Samaritan (Pitch Story) Rewriting a pitch mid-flight → silent pitch → early traction 36:00 – Startup Weekend & First Team Formation Finding a technical co-founder and building the first prototype 37:00 – Initial Business Model: Transactions & Donations Bluetooth beacons + app-based giving experiment 39:00 – Why the First Model Failed User adoption challenges and unsustainable monetization 40:00 – First Breakthrough Story (Charles) How trust + consistent engagement led to housing outcomes 44:00 – Proving Value to Nonprofits How Samaritan improved engagement and outcomes 45:00 – Early Funding & Survival Living lean + small angel investments 46:00 – First Real Customer: Paul Allen’s Real Estate Group $100K pilot validating the model 48:00 – Evolving Toward a Sustainable Model Shifting from philanthropy to outcome-driven funding 50:00 – The Pivot to Healthcare as a Customer Why hospitals and insurers became the key revenue driver 52:00 – How the Healthcare Model Works Reducing ER visits → saving money → creating a viable business The post Sustainable Samaritan [https://urbanei.org/podcast/sustainable-samaritan/] appeared first on Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative [https://urbanei.org].

Queen of Clean (*energy) – Pt. 2

https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-2%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%202https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-2%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%202https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/x?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-2%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%202https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/threads?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-2%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%202https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-2%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%202https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/bluesky?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-2%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%202https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/mastodon?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-2%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%202https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/whatsapp?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-2%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%202https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-2%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%202https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/instapaper?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-2%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%202https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/kindle_it?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-2%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%202https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-2%2F&title=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%202 AUDIO CARLA WALKER MILLER BUILT A COMPANY THAT UTILIZES CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE LIVES AND CREATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. Carla Walker-Miller is Founder and CEO of Walker-Miller Energy Services, a Detroit-based energy efficiency and clean energy solutions company focused on helping utilities, communities, and businesses reduce energy burden while expanding economic opportunity. A civil engineer by training, she began her career in the power and electrical equipment industry with Westinghouse (later ABB), where she spent nearly two decades in sales engineering and distribution leadership roles across the United States. Known for her leadership at the intersection of energy, entrepreneurship, and community impact, Carla has built a career centered on advancing access, innovation, and long-term economic vitality in Detroit and beyond. This episode is the second in a two-part series. Episode 1 focused on Carla’s origin story. This episode focuses on Carla’s experience building Walker Miller Energy Services. ---------------------------------------- EPISODE SUMMARY Carla Walker-Miller explains how she left her corporate position at ABB after spotting a gap: manufacturers sold complex utility equipment but often neglected after-sale service and reliability. She built Walker-Miller Energy Services around that missing support layer and kept the company name to honor her father and father-in-law. She describes the hard transition into entrepreneurship, including learning that large-company cost assumptions did not translate to a small business. The 2008–2009 financial crisis then wiped out demand, triggered cancellations, and pushed her into debt, forcing her to improvise new revenue streams and rebuild. The conversation shifts to Michigan energy policy creating an energy efficiency market through utility mandates. Walker-Miller entered first as a trade ally, then scaled into a prime implementation contractor managing utility contracts, budgets, and KPIs at large scale. She emphasizes workforce development through BPI certification, and says the company’s advantage is a values-driven culture focused on equity, stewardship, and delivering results with low stress, anchored by her line: courage is a renewable resource. ---------------------------------------- * Urban Game Changers Episode 9 * Queen of Clean (*energy) – Pt. 2 * Carla Walker Miller, Founder and CEO of Walker Miller Energy Services * Release date: March 5, 2026 * Length: 57:34 ---------------------------------------- * Executive Producer and Host: W. David Tarver * Producer: Ben Reynolds * Associate Producers: Anshiqa Agrawal and Felipe Furtado, MD ---------------------------------------- The post Queen of Clean (*energy) – Pt. 2 [https://urbanei.org/podcast/queen-of-clean-energy-pt-2/] appeared first on Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative [https://urbanei.org].

Queen of Clean (*energy) – Pt. 1

https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-1%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%201https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-1%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%201https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/x?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-1%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%201https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/threads?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-1%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%201https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-1%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%201https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/bluesky?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-1%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%201https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/mastodon?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-1%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%201https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/whatsapp?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-1%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%201https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-1%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%201https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/instapaper?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-1%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%201https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/kindle_it?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-1%2F&linkname=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%201https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Furbanei.org%2Fpodcast%2Fqueen-of-clean-energy-pt-1%2F&title=Queen%20of%20Clean%20%28%2Aenergy%29%20%E2%80%93%20Pt.%201 AUDIO CARLA WALKER MILLER BUILT A COMPANY THAT UTILIZES CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE LIVES AND CREATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. Carla Walker-Miller is Founder and CEO of Walker-Miller Energy Services, a Detroit-based energy efficiency and clean energy solutions company focused on helping utilities, communities, and businesses reduce energy burden while expanding economic opportunity. A civil engineer by training, she began her career in the power and electrical equipment industry with Westinghouse (later ABB), where she spent nearly two decades in sales engineering and distribution leadership roles across the United States. Known for her leadership at the intersection of energy, entrepreneurship, and community impact, Carla has built a career centered on advancing access, innovation, and long-term economic vitality in Detroit and beyond. This episode (pt. 1) focuses on Carla’s origin story. The next episode (pt. 2) will focus on her experience building WM Energy Services. ---------------------------------------- EPISODE SUMMARY This episode (part 1) focuses on Carla’s origin story. The next episode (part 2) will focus on her experience building WM Energy Services. In this episode, Carla Walker-Miller, reflects on her journey from growing up in a large, hardworking family in Nashville to navigating the realities of corporate America as a young engineer. She shares how a full-ride scholarship shaped her path into engineering, the lessons she learned during nearly two decades in the energy industry with Westinghouse and ABB, and the emotional toll of constantly proving she belonged in spaces where she was often the only one. Through candid stories—including a pivotal moment when a distributor refused to work with her—Carla explains why performance alone is not always enough for success. The conversation follows her move to Detroit in 1990, where family, resilience, and community ultimately reshaped her perspective and laid the foundation for her future as an entrepreneur. ---------------------------------------- * Urban Game Changers Episode 8 * Queen of Clean (*energy) – Pt. 1 * Carla Walker Miller, Founder and CEO of Walker Miller Energy Services * Release date: February 13, 2026 * Length: 38:41 ---------------------------------------- * Executive Producer and Host: W. David Tarver * Producer: Ben Reynolds * Associate Producers: Anshiqa Agrawal and Felipe Furtado, MD ---------------------------------------- The post Queen of Clean (*energy) – Pt. 1 [https://urbanei.org/podcast/queen-of-clean-energy-pt-1/] appeared first on Urban Entrepreneurship Initiative [https://urbanei.org].