Why the Future of Entrepreneurship Starts in Schools
Wed Feb 04 2026
In this Innovation Series episode of Parallel Entrepreneur, hosts Mark Cleveland and Johnny Anderson sit down with Dr. Jeremy Qualls, Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center (EIC) and College, Career & Technical Education at Williamson County Schools.
Jeremy leads one of the most compelling early-stage entrepreneurship models in the region—where students don’t just learn about innovation, they practice it. Inside the EIC, high school students launch real businesses, products, and services while earning academic credit and developing leadership skills that typically come much later in life.
During the conversation, Jeremy shares examples of how this model comes to life, including:
Anthony Beckett, founder of Markify → http://Markifyapp.comAbigail Goddard, National Program Champion and creator of Spikey First → http://Spikeyfirst.comThese stories reflect what the EIC is built to do: help students move from ideas to execution, and from confidence to ownership.
Under Jeremy’s leadership, the EIC has grown from 70 students to more than 500 applicants, secured over $17 million in grants, and built a mentor network of 100+ business and community leaders—all focused on developing entrepreneurial thinkers early.
In this episode, we explore:
Why entrepreneurship is a mindset, not a job titleHow leadership development changes when it starts earlierWhat founders can learn from education systems—and vice versaWhy culture and coaching matter more than curriculumHow community partnerships create real-world opportunityCHAPTERS 00:00:00 Entrepreneurship as the Heartbeat, Not a Track 00:00:50 Building the Future of Work Before It Starts 00:01:00 Jeremy Qualls and the Vision Behind the EIC 00:01:45 Rethinking Traditional Career & Technical Education 00:02:15 From Ideas to Action: National Pitch Competitions 00:03:10 Teaching Business Plans, Ownership, and Real Skills 00:04:10 Why Culture and Coaching Matter More Than Curriculum 00:05:20 Discovering What’s Possible: The Markify Story 00:06:30 Giving Students Real Responsibility Early 00:07:35 Mentorship, Trust, and Community Partnerships 00:08:50 When Student Ideas Become Real Businesses 00:10:05 Scaling Leadership Development Inside a System 00:11:40 What Schools and Founders Can Learn From Each Other 00:13:10 Building Confidence Before Credentials 00:14:30 Why Starting Earlier Changes Everything 00:15:40 Final Reflections on Leadership and Opportunity
ABOUT OUR GUESTDr. Jeremy Qualls is the Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center (EIC) and College, Career & Technical Education for Williamson County Schools. A leadership strategist, coach, and educator with more than two decades of experience, Jeremy has built a people-first model for developing entrepreneurial thinkers and future leaders. Under his leadership, the EIC has grown from 70 students to more than 500 applicants, secured over $17 million in grants, and built a mentor network of 100+ business and community leaders. His work focuses on cultivating culture, ownership, and leadership at every level.
ABOUT THE HOSTSMark A. Cleveland — Managing Director at Kensington Park Capital, entrepreneur, M&A advisor, and host of the Parallel Entrepreneur Network.https://www.linkedin.com/in/macleveland/
Johnny Anderson — Nashville tech leader, GNTC board member, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the EC, and host of The Impodsters™.https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnyonbrand/
👉 Join the Parallel Entrepreneur Network: https://www.parallelentrepreneur.com/#about-me👉 Subscribe for more stories from entrepreneurs who thrive across multiple ventures—and live aligned lives.👍 Like this episode? Leave a comment or share it with someone who leads across lanes.
👉 Join the Parallel Entrepreneur Network: (link below)👉 Subscribe for more Innovation Series conversations with builders and operators.👍 Like this episode? Leave a comment or share it with someone who’s ready to make AI practical.
#ParallelEntrepreneur, #InnovationSeries, #EntrepreneurshipEducation, #LeadershipDevelopment, #FutureOfWork
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In this Innovation Series episode of Parallel Entrepreneur, hosts Mark Cleveland and Johnny Anderson sit down with Dr. Jeremy Qualls, Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center (EIC) and College, Career & Technical Education at Williamson County Schools. Jeremy leads one of the most compelling early-stage entrepreneurship models in the region—where students don’t just learn about innovation, they practice it. Inside the EIC, high school students launch real businesses, products, and services while earning academic credit and developing leadership skills that typically come much later in life. During the conversation, Jeremy shares examples of how this model comes to life, including: Anthony Beckett, founder of Markify → http://Markifyapp.comAbigail Goddard, National Program Champion and creator of Spikey First → http://Spikeyfirst.comThese stories reflect what the EIC is built to do: help students move from ideas to execution, and from confidence to ownership. Under Jeremy’s leadership, the EIC has grown from 70 students to more than 500 applicants, secured over $17 million in grants, and built a mentor network of 100+ business and community leaders—all focused on developing entrepreneurial thinkers early. In this episode, we explore: Why entrepreneurship is a mindset, not a job titleHow leadership development changes when it starts earlierWhat founders can learn from education systems—and vice versaWhy culture and coaching matter more than curriculumHow community partnerships create real-world opportunityCHAPTERS 00:00:00 Entrepreneurship as the Heartbeat, Not a Track 00:00:50 Building the Future of Work Before It Starts 00:01:00 Jeremy Qualls and the Vision Behind the EIC 00:01:45 Rethinking Traditional Career & Technical Education 00:02:15 From Ideas to Action: National Pitch Competitions 00:03:10 Teaching Business Plans, Ownership, and Real Skills 00:04:10 Why Culture and Coaching Matter More Than Curriculum 00:05:20 Discovering What’s Possible: The Markify Story 00:06:30 Giving Students Real Responsibility Early 00:07:35 Mentorship, Trust, and Community Partnerships 00:08:50 When Student Ideas Become Real Businesses 00:10:05 Scaling Leadership Development Inside a System 00:11:40 What Schools and Founders Can Learn From Each Other 00:13:10 Building Confidence Before Credentials 00:14:30 Why Starting Earlier Changes Everything 00:15:40 Final Reflections on Leadership and Opportunity ABOUT OUR GUESTDr. Jeremy Qualls is the Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center (EIC) and College, Career & Technical Education for Williamson County Schools. A leadership strategist, coach, and educator with more than two decades of experience, Jeremy has built a people-first model for developing entrepreneurial thinkers and future leaders. Under his leadership, the EIC has grown from 70 students to more than 500 applicants, secured over $17 million in grants, and built a mentor network of 100+ business and community leaders. His work focuses on cultivating culture, ownership, and leadership at every level. ABOUT THE HOSTSMark A. Cleveland — Managing Director at Kensington Park Capital, entrepreneur, M&A advisor, and host of the Parallel Entrepreneur Network.https://www.linkedin.com/in/macleveland/ Johnny Anderson — Nashville tech leader, GNTC board member, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the EC, and host of The Impodsters™.https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnyonbrand/ 👉 Join the Parallel Entrepreneur Network: https://www.parallelentrepreneur.com/#about-me👉 Subscribe for more stories from entrepreneurs who thrive across multiple ventures—and live aligned lives.👍 Like this episode? Leave a comment or share it with someone who leads across lanes. 👉 Join the Parallel Entrepreneur Network: (link below)👉 Subscribe for more Innovation Series conversations with builders and operators.👍 Like this episode? Leave a comment or share it with someone who’s ready to make AI practical. #ParallelEntrepreneur, #InnovationSeries, #EntrepreneurshipEducation, #LeadershipDevelopment, #FutureOfWork