How Multipreneur Christian Paro Built the Coolest Co-Working Space in Nashville
Parallel Entrepreneur with Mark Cleveland
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Show Notes
Get ready for a masterclass in multi-venture entrepreneurship from Christian Paro, founder of Center 615, Studio 615, Five Points Alley Shops—three of the most dynamic co-working and creative spaces in Nashville—and a new 49-acre trail-oriented development, featuring artist lofts. Hosted by Mark Cleveland, this episode of Parallel Entrepreneur explores how Christian turned a park-management background into a cutting-edge real estate empire that thrives on community, collaboration, and creativity.
What You’ll Learn:
• Banker Skepticism → Big Vision: How Christian overcame early financing doubts to build Nashville’s go-to coworking hub.
• The Power of Celebration: Why throwing parties and embracing small wins keeps your team and tenants inspired.
• Mindful Pauses & Ping Pong: Christian’s secret to staying calm under pressure (including his favorite “reset” technique).
• Mentoring vs. Micromanaging: How giving autonomy attracts long-term staff and nurtures a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• Expanding Into Events & Arts: From a single building to 49 acres of innovation—Christian’s massive new development plan.
Chapters List:
00:00:00 Meet Christian Paro: The Man Behind Nashville's Most Innovative Collaboration Spaces
00:01:28 From NYU Parks & Rec to Property Investor
00:03:06 Discovering Coworking: The Birth of Center 615
00:05:19 Banking Skepticism & the Power of Relationships
00:08:29 Studio 615: Expanding into Creative Production Spaces
00:12:05 Patterns, Parties & Parallel Lessons
00:13:48 Biggest Lessons & Avoiding Over-Leverage
00:14:54 Mentoring, Not Micromanaging
00:16:32 Mindfulness Practices & the Entrepreneurial Journey
00:22:13 Designing a New 49-Acre Community
00:24:13 Mindful Pauses: Staying Centered Under Pressure
00:27:25 Rapid Fire Insights: Gifts, Mantras, Books & Jedi Wisdom
00:32:36 Do What Scares You
00:37:12 Facing Fears & Final Thoughts
Show Notes:
- Share and engage with this interview on LinkedIn: Click here
- C615, a driving force in building and shaping community in Nashville - https://c615.co/
- Artist Sergey Gordienko (the art behind Mark) - https://www.instagram.com/dowhatyoulove.artist/
- Joanna Barbera, Nashville Musician and Mindfulness Mentor - https://www.joannabarbera.com/
- 8 Decisions (Conscious Entrepreneur Tribe) by Robert Hartline - https://8decisions.com/
- Nasty Girl by Iglesias - https://open.spotify.com/track/5MghBTWUogtorQqmKBwaBn
- All about Love: New Visions by Bell Hooks - https://www.amazon.com/All-About-Love-New-Visions/dp/0060959479
- The Optimist by Sophie Kipner – https://www.amazon.com/Optimist-Sophie-Kipner-author/dp/1783525584
- The Madness of Crowds: A Novel by Louise Penny - https://www.gamacheseries.com/books/the-madness-of-crowds/
- Do One Thing Every Day That Scares You: A Journal - https://www.amazon.com/One-Thing-Every-That-Scares/dp/0385345771
- “Jenny’s Answer (867-5309)” female empowerment parody song by Jenny Pruitt - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi2Ru6vvZo0
- Tiny Happy Things: Poems by Jenny Pruitt - https://www.amazon.com/Tiny-Happy-Things-Jenny-Pruitt/dp/B0DLD78L24