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.

Insight: Don’t abandon your why

Workforce strategies are often shaped by funding cycles, shifting priorities, and external pressure. The ones that create lasting impact are anchored in something deeper.

As Cornell Wesley shared on TalentWise, leadership in workforce development requires clarity of purpose and the discipline to stay grounded in it. “Never abandon your why. Your why will keep you working toward impact when distractions arise.”

That principle shows up in how strong workforce systems are built. They connect education to real economic demand. They invest intentionally in communities that have historically been overlooked. They align partners around a shared goal rather than competing priorities.

When that alignment happens, workforce development becomes a system designed to create access, mobility, and long-term economic resilience.

In this episode of TalentWise, Cornell Wesley shares how cities can build workforce strategies that are both inclusive and future-focused, and what it takes to sustain that work over time.