Welcome to episode fourteen of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief! Joining me today is Craig Montanaro, President and CEO of Kearny Bank.

On this show, I’m unpacking the stories, decisions, and influences that make people successful leaders. Craig got an early start in banking, like at age five or six. Since then, he’s reached the top and brought a lot of people with him.

My name is Nathan Baumeister; I am the Co-founder and CEO of ZSuite Tech and the host of this podcast.

Having your father as a boss at your day job isn’t a guarantee of a long and happy career. Craig even got confrontational when he felt that his upward journey at the bank wasn’t happening fast enough. Thankfully, a trusted mentor stepped in and helped Craig reevaluate the situation.

Eventually, Craig moved into the Chief Operating Officer role and helped facilitate a merger with a much larger bank. And when the CEO of the larger bank was ready to retire, it was finally Craig’s chance to lead the organization.

Craig knows the business of banking inside and out. He’s got technical prowess and leadership experience. And he’s committed to empowering his team and letting them take chances and make mistakes.

As a family man and avid golfer, Craig Montanaro exudes the wisdom of a man who has been humbled by life and loves helping others succeed. Kearny Bank is big bank that has performed a miracle – it still feels like a small, community bank with a focus on personal relationships. This combination is a credit to Craig’s leadership and a testament to where Kearny is headed.

Resources:

Craig’s recommendations:

Book: The Match: The Day the Game of Golf Changed Forever [https://a.co/d/f4gGc4H]

Book: My Life [https://a.co/d/fQ5Kqhi]

Connect:

Craig Montanaro LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-montanaro-69165223/]

Nathan Baumeister LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-baumeister/]

ZSuite Tech LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/zsuite-tech]

ZSuite Tech on X (formerly Twitter) [https://twitter.com/ZsuiteTech]

Craig Montanaro – Mowing lawns, confronting your parents, and building a team that gets things done | Episode 14

Welcome to episode thirteen of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief! Joining me today is Alice Frazier, President and CEO of Bank of Charles Town.

On this show, I’m unpacking the stories, decisions, and influences that make people successful leaders. Alice doesn’t fit the modern profile of a disruptive personality. But that’s because we’ve confused ostentatious behavior with innovation and change.

My name is Nathan Baumeister; I am the Co-founder and CEO of ZSuite Tech and the host of this podcast.

When Alice entered the world of banking as an external auditor, she learned the business of community banking by looking deep into the numbers. But she craved the opportunity to take her findings as an auditor and turn them into meaningful changes for the institution. Her opportunity came in the aftermath of the Savings and Loan Crisis of the late 1980s.

At every step of her career, Alice brought the steady excellence and clear thinking that she learned showing horses as a teenager. She has also invested heavily in building relationships with colleagues outside the workplace – a vital skill that she encourages her entire team to exemplify.

In this episode you’ll hear how sometimes the disruption a company needs is not the disruption it deserves, why it’s important to get comfortable with discomfort, and what it takes to become Batman after years of playing Robin.

Alice Frazier is a queen among bankers, guiding BCT with a firm and loving hand that has positioned it for decades of growth.

Resources:

Alice’s recommendations:

Book: The 5AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life [https://a.co/d/iZ9vXRn]

Book: No Regrets: A Practical Guide to the 4th Quarter of Your Life [https://a.co/d/5x6iF1m]

Connect:

Alice P. Frazier LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-p-frazier-b637bb23/]

Nathan Baumeister LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-baumeister/]

ZSuite Tech LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/zsuite-tech]

ZSuite Tech on X (formerly Twitter) [https://twitter.com/ZsuiteTech]

Alice Frazier – Breaking glass ceilings, becoming Batman, and the unsung power of quiet disruption | Episode 13

Welcome to episode twelve of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief! Joining me today is John Sorrell, President and CEO of Core Bank.

On this show, I’m unpacking the stories, decisions, and influences that make people successful leaders. John dreamed of becoming a professional water-skier, but discovered his true niche in banking.

My name is Nathan Baumeister; I am the Co-founder and CEO of ZSuite Tech and the host of this podcast.

John Sorrell is all about legacy. Whether it’s continuing the model of hard work and generosity that his father set, or the expanding commitment to build wealth and giving away set by the Omaha business community – John has a passion for serving others.

Core Bank is a bright example of a financial institution centered on clear values and the collaboration of every employees unique gifts and talents. They may specialize in banking services for medical practitioners, but they’re not exclusive about serving the community.

In this episode John offers encouragement to anyone struggling to find their purpose and passion in work. Step out in courage, lean into your network, and always be teachable when opportunity knocks on your door.

John’s example of humility and persistence is a leadership lesson that never gets old, and his wisdom is a gift to every one of our listeners.

Resources:

John’s recommendation:

Book: From Strength to Strength [https://a.co/d/8DDZHpS]

Connect:

John Sorrell LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-sorrell-corebank/]

Nathan Baumeister LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-baumeister/]

ZSuite Tech LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/zsuite-tech]

ZSuite Tech on X (formerly Twitter) [https://twitter.com/ZsuiteTech]

John Sorrell – Building for future generations, finding your niche, and letting family help you recalibrate | Episode 12

Welcome to episode eleven of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief! Joining me today is Kathleen Craig, founder and CEO of Plinqit.

On this show, I’m unpacking the stories, decisions, and influences that make people successful leaders. Kathleen came into the banking world with a wealth of customer experience knowledge gained from her years in the restaurant industry. That foundation has informed everything she’s done since.

My name is Nathan Baumeister; I am the Co-founder and CEO of ZSuite Tech and the host of this podcast.

Kathleen Craig understands that if you truly care about a person’s wellbeing, you’ll muster the courage to tell them the truth. True compassion isn’t blind to conflict or issues, it brings them into the bigger picture of what’s best for that person. Niceness is often the downfall of what could be a beautiful relationship.

At Plinqit, the company Kathleen founded on nights and weekends while working for a bank, her team equips financial institutions with retail tools to reach their goals. They’re changing the way that banks and credit unions attract and manage their retail deposits.

In this episode you’ll learn that founding a business doesn’t have to take priority over raising a family or being a well-rounded person. It’s does take a deep commitment to your vision and a willingness to face uncomfortable truths head on.

Kathleen is a rare breed of CEO and founder – bringing kindness and candor to the workplace so that everyone can become better.

Resources:

Kathleen’s recommendation:

Book: Unbroken [https://a.co/d/indEdlt]

Connect:

Kathleen Craig LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleenecraig/]

Nathan Baumeister LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-baumeister/]

ZSuite Tech LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/zsuite-tech]

ZSuite Tech on X (formerly Twitter) [https://twitter.com/ZsuiteTech]

Kathleen Craig – Saying no to hustle culture, the road to true kindness, and solving the mystery of product market fit | Episode 11

Welcome to episode ten of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief! Joining me today is Kelly A. Brown, CEO of Ampersand Incorporated and a Senior Advisor at Patriot Financial.

On this show, I’m unpacking the stories, decisions, and influences that make people successful leaders. And when Kelly realized she wanted to start a bank, it wasn’t to make a pile of money, it was to protect other people and their money.

My name is Nathan Baumeister; I am the Co-founder and CEO of ZSuite Tech and the host of this podcast.

Kelly Brown leads from such a deep sense of purpose and passion that no matter how much success she achieved, she doesn’t lean back into a state of comfort or coasting. That’s not to say that she’s burning the candle at both ends – her focus is on relationships, not accolades. Kelly’s joy and enthusiasm have been forged through a life of trauma, difficulty, and determination to maximize every opportunity.

The most recent company she founded and leads, Ampersand Incorporated, offers treasury management and loan solutions to organizations with specialty deposit needs. They’re creating a bedrock of deposit stability in an industry that was rocked by the bank failures of early 2023.

This episode is a testament to what you can accomplish if you’re willing to stay humble, teachable, and hungry for opportunity. Kelly Brown’s life and career are paving the way for a new generation of people to enter the banking industry – making it a safer for everyone.

Resources:

Kelly’s recommendations:

Author: Robert Greene [https://powerseductionandwar.com/books/]

Book: What Men Don’t Tell Women About Business [https://a.co/d/eDHrHLm] (Chris Flett)

Connect:

Kelly Brown LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hawleybrown/]

Nathan Baumeister LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-baumeister/]

ZSuite Tech LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/zsuite-tech]

ZSuite Tech on X (formerly Twitter) [https://twitter.com/ZsuiteTech]

Kelly Brown – The perpetual joy of banking, protecting people, and pouring yourself out as a leader| Episode 10

Welcome to episode eight of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief! Joining me today is Zach Duke, Co-Founder and CEO of Finosec.

On this show, I’m unpacking the stories, decisions, and influences that make people successful leaders. For Zach, the turning point in his career came at age 41 when he decided that it was time to launch his own cybersecurity company.

My name is Nathan Baumeister; I am the Co-founder and CEO of ZSuite Tech and the host of this podcast.

If you look at Zach’s resume, you’ll see a long, successful career working in financial technology, including a successful acquisition by one of the major core processing providers. What you don’t see is the many times he pivoted and leaned into his own shortcomings to become a better leader. Today, Zach has assembled a team where every employee can play to their strengths and relax in the knowledge that their weaknesses won’t be used as leverage.

Finosec, is helping financial institutions transform their approach to cybersecurity governance. This service will only become more important as cyber-attacks grow more frequent and sophisticated. Creating secure IT systems requires humility and continuous improvement, qualities that Zach Duke has in spades.

This episode is a reminder that it’s never too late to chase your dreams, and that sometimes the thing you’re running away from is the thing you should be running toward.

Resources:

Zach’s recommendations:

Jack Carr’s Terminal List Book Series [https://www.officialjackcarr.com/books/]

Enneagram Personality System [https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/]

CliftonStrengths (formerly Clifton StrengthsFinder) [https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/254033/strengthsfinder.aspx]

Connect:

Zach Duke LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachduke/]

Nathan Baumeister LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-baumeister/]

ZSuite Tech LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/zsuite-tech]

ZSuite Tech on X (formerly Twitter) [https://twitter.com/ZsuiteTech]

Zach Duke – Breaking technology, the journey of self-awareness, and embracing failure through baby steps | Episode 9

Welcome to episode eight of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief! Joining me today is Tim Hamilton, Founder and CEO of Praxent.

On this show, I’m unpacking the stories, decisions, and influences that make people successful leaders. Even among long-time CEOs, it’s rare to find one who has been running his own company since he was 16. Tim is a first-generation immigrant to the US who has been building with technology since the late 90s.

My name is Nathan Baumeister; I am the Co-founder and CEO of ZSuite Tech and the host of this podcast.

Leaders often talk about their early failures in business and how those paved the way for future success. Tim experienced almost a decade of unimpeded success before things got messy. Rather than pack up shop and do something else, Tim bet on his passion for learning. Today, he’s leading an IT consulting firm building digital products for major players in the fintech, real estate, insurance, and wealth management industries.

Praxent is known for their core values, often referred to as CAN DO, which stands for Care Deeply, Always Deliver, Never Settle, Do It Together, and Own The Outcome. Their high-integrity approach to partnerships has positioned them to help usher in the next wave of digital finance technology.

Tim is a voracious reader, perpetual learner, and a consummate builder. But above that, he’s dedicated himself to solving the human challenges that impede progress, not just the technical ones.

Resources:

Tim’s recommendations:

Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders [https://a.co/d/a7G19qr]

Traction [https://a.co/d/5NSxakW]

Author: Marcus Buckinham [https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001H6NQ20/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=dc8c5f04-59f1-4888-b4c9-8cb871e50bc7]

The Ideal Team Player [https://a.co/d/4fFyR6Y]

Rocket Fuel [https://a.co/d/hdfImDw]’

Cynefin Framework [https://hbr.org/2007/11/a-leaders-framework-for-decision-making]

Sapiens [https://a.co/d/3Tp89Y0]

Connect:

Tim Hamilton LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/timham/]

Nathan Baumeister LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-baumeister/]

ZSuite Tech LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/zsuite-tech]

ZSuite Tech on X (formerly Twitter) [https://twitter.com/ZsuiteTech]

Tim Hamilton – Learning on the fly, the difference between technicians and managers, and the miracle of collective human action | Episode 8

Welcome to episode seven of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief! Joining me today is Eric Sprink, CEO of Coastal Community Bank.

On this show, I’m unpacking the stories, decisions, and influences that make people successful leaders. Eric belongs to the class of CEOs who start their journeys at the bottom of the corporate ladder and work their way up to the very top. And he accomplished this by thinking divergently, not by embracing the mindset of a stereotypical banker.

My name is Nathan Baumeister; I am the Co-founder and CEO of ZSuite Tech and the host of this podcast.

Often creative and unconventional thinkers are cast as loners. Isolated geniuses putting a dent in the universe by executing a futuristic vision that nobody else fully understands. Eric Sprink has demonstrated that creativity and vision can and should be a team effort. He’s currently leading one of the foremost institutions in the banking-as-a-service space, including collaborating with Greenwood, a fintech built for underserved communities.

Coastal Community Bank’s notoriety and influence is an inevitable consequence of a leadership team that skates to where the puck is going to be in 15-20 or even 30 years, not where the puck is today.

Eric is a sought-after speaker and investor, thanks to his focus on relentless improvement at the organizational level and the personal level.

If you’re curious about the future of banking, look no further than the mind of Eric Sprink.

Resources:

Eric’s book recommendations:

Only the Paranoid Survive: How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company [https://www.amazon.com/Only-Paranoid-Survive-Exploit-Challenge/dp/0385483821]

Requisite Organization: A Total System for Effective Managerial Organization and Managerial Leadership for the 21st Century [https://www.amazon.com/Requisite-Organization-Effective-Managerial-Leadership/dp/1886436045]

Let Us Put Our Money Together: The Founding of America's First Black Banks (Request a free copy) [https://www.kansascityfed.org/about-us/let-us-put-our-money-together-founding-americas-first-black-banks/]

The Inheritance Games [https://a.co/d/0vYMJCs]

Connect:

Eric Sprink LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-sprink-0710677/]

Nathan Baumeister LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-baumeister/]

ZSuite Tech LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/zsuite-tech]

ZSuite Tech Twitter [https://twitter.com/ZsuiteTech]

Eric Sprink – Jumping between time scales, collaborating with your board of directors, and firing yourself | Episode 7

Welcome to episode six of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief! Joining me today is Nicky Senyard, CEO and founder of Fintel Connect, a partner marketing agency for banks, credit unions, and fintechs.

On this show, I’m unpacking the stories, decisions, and influences that make people successful leaders. Nicky charted her path to leadership using hard-won experience and a deep trust for her own intuition. Her willingness to be uncomfortable and take on big risks has set her and her businesses far apart from the competition.

My name is Nathan Baumeister; I am the Co-founder and CEO of ZSuite Tech and the host of this podcast.

Growing up in Brisbane, Australia before the internet, Nicky easily have settled for a life of safety and security, close to family and familiar surroundings. Instead she threw herself into a public relations career and moved across the globe to London, where she took over the helm of an existing PR firm. Nicky then built and sold an affiliate marketing business after capturing 85% of the market. At that point she could have chosen to advise other companies and invest from the sidelines. But her passion and curiosity led her to found and lead another company, this time in the fintech space.

Nicky loves developing long-term relationships with her employees and helping each person unlock their unique superpower. For her, commercial success requires leaders to be constantly uncomfortable, but it doesn’t need to come at the cost of heart and empathy.

Nicky Senyard is a rare voice in the fintech space and I believe that her story will inspire more people to embrace the risks of leadership without the need to figure everything out in advance.

Here is my conversation with Nicky Senyard.

Resources:

Nicky’s book recommendations:

The [https://a.co/d/2d4jFsZ] E-Myth Revisited

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People [https://a.co/d/hD7wj9i]

Connect:

Nicky Senyard LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickysenyard/]

Nathan Baumeister LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-baumeister/]

ZSuite Tech LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/zsuite-tech]

ZSuite Tech Twitter [https://twitter.com/ZsuiteTech]

Nicky Senyard – Leading from your family of origin, electric fences, and the importance of escape | Episode 6

Welcome to episode five of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief! Our guest is Burt Hicks, President and Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at Encore Bank, a modern boutique bank that aims to be the best bank, not the biggest.

On this show, I’m unpacking the stories, decisions, and influences that make people successful leaders. Burt has the résumé of a dyed-in-the-wool banker, but his global perspective and understated competence make him the kind of leader who turns tiny ripples into big waves.

My name is Nathan Baumeister; I am the Co-founder and CEO of ZSuite Tech and the host of this podcast.

You could easily mistake Burt for a salt-of-the-earth banker from Arkansas who has never strayed more than a day’s drive from his hometown – content to build deep roots in one place. But that’s not Burt Hicks. He earned his law degree while studying and working in Africa and Southeast Asia, he also worked at Merrill Lynch in New York City during the height of the financial crisis. He’s a husband and father, who is also an avid solo outdoorsman.

Burt had the ambition to run a bank from a young age, lured by the wealth and influence it offered. Now that he’s helping lead one of America’s fastest growing financial institutions, it isn’t prestige that drives him – it’s helping the team win, regardless of who gets the credit.

The privilege of spending an hour with Burt to learn from his adventures in life and work is something that I’m honored to share with you.

Resources:

Burt’s book recommendation:

Into the Wild [https://a.co/d/5DQpTnM]

Connect:

Burt Hicks LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/burt-hicks-41a7ba1/]

Nathan Baumeister LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-baumeister/]

ZSuite Tech LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/zsuite-tech]

ZSuite Tech Twitter [https://twitter.com/ZsuiteTech]

Burt Hicks – Unknowable potential, understanding what really matters, and the thrill of winning together | Episode 5

Join ZSuite Tech CEO Nathan Baumeister as he explores what it means to be a leader in financial technology and banking through the perspective of people who built, banked, reinvented, and led the industry.

ZSuite Tech

Shows