Welcome to episode twenty five of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief! Joining me today is Jill Feiler, the new CEO of ZSuite Technologies. On this show, I’ve been unpacking the stories, decisions, and influences that make people successful leaders.

Jill has spent more than two decades in significant leadership roles at banks and fintech companies. As the eldest daughter of a single mother raising six children, her leadership skills were honed at a young age. And today it is with great pleasure that I get to interview her for the final episode of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief.

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

Whether you start with her role as a cashier at a local grocery store, or working until 2am at a Häagen-Dazs in college, it’s clear that Jill has understood the value of hard work and using the workplace as a platform to grow and develop relationships and the skills that go with them.

Before Jill stepped into fintech (or the “dark side” of banking, as I like to joke), she was the president of a community bank. Her move to becoming an individual contributor was driven by a remarkable level of self-awareness: it was time for her to take a break from leadership and recoup.

But it wasn’t long before the metaphorical phone rang and leadership wanted Jill to throw her hat back in the ring.

In fact, it was an Austin startup named Kasasa, that I first met Jill and asked her to help lead a department that was undergoing massive change.

It was in those years together that we formed a strong friendship and when I left Kasasa, I knew it wouldn’t be the last time Jill and I worked together.

I’m so happy to hand over the reins of ZSuite to Jill. There’s no one who deserves it more and who I would rather see guiding the company. Her talent for leadership and her proficiency in banking are just some of the qualities that I would have wished for in a successor. But Jill brings so much more than that.

We’ve weathered more than few storms together, and to hear her tell it, I once tried to throw her off a cliff, but I know there’s nothing that Jill can’t accomplish. ZSuite’s future is bright.

If you’re a new listener to Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief, you’re listening to the final episode of the series. I encourage you to go back to the beginning and hear the full complement of incredible leaders that we interviewed. There is a lot of treasure to be found in these conversations.

Resources:

The Midnight Library – by Matt Haig [https://a.co/d/5PmL9H0]

Atmosphere – by Taylor Jenkins Reid [https://a.co/d/5PmL9H0]

Connect:

Jill Feiler LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-feiler-48368127/]

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]

Jill Feiler – Answering the call to leadership, balancing high standards with love, and becoming the new CEO of ZSuite | Episode 25

Welcome to episode twenty-four of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief! Joining me today is Laura Kornhauser, CEO of Stratyfy. On this show, I’m unpacking the stories, decisions, and influences that make people successful leaders.

Although it may have started by accident, Laura’s parents launched and ran their own company for years, eventually achieving a successful financial exit. That environment was a proving ground for many of the values Laura would take into her career her own startup.

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

While earning her undergraduate degree from Princeton, Laura wrote a senior thesis that correctly predicted the housing bubble and crash of 2007/2008. Rather than dwell on any missed opportunity Laura decided to dive headfirst into investment banking and spent more than a decade at JPMorgan in their derivatives division.

Faced with a challenge to her core value of caring for her co-workers as family, Laura quit JPMorgan, and decided to get her MBA. Eventually she would decide to found Stratyfy with a classmate and tackle the challenge of fundraising while pregnant.

As CEO of Stratyfy, Laura brings an immense depth of experience and competencies to her work, in addition to a deeply empathic approach to work and leadership. Stratyfy is a company where people can do meaningful work without sacrificing what’s most important.

What’s clear is that Laura’s success is not a function of her ability to mask and cater to other people’s expectations. It is a vibrant expression of her uniqueness and drive to capture the excitement and joy that life holds. This episode will give you a tiny glimpse into her world — but that glimpse feels like a burst of sunlight on a cloudy day.

Resources:

Laura’s book recommendation:

When the Going Was Good by Graydon Carter [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593655907?ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_MQAGY43HJ72XJ6P48P99&bestFormat=true]

Connect:

Laura Kornhauser LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-kornhauser/]

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]

Laura Kornhauser – The gift of a family business, calculated risk-taking, and the importance of finding your people | Episode 24

Welcome to episode twenty-three of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief! Joining me today is Julieann (Julie) Thurlow, President and CEO of Reading Cooperative Bank.

On this show, I’m unpacking the stories, decisions, and influences that make people successful leaders.

Growing up in the tiny seaside town of Lubec, Maine, Julie Thurlow quickly learned independence and reliance on family values. It was an idyllic upbringing for a child, but held scarce opportunities for a smart young woman eager to make a career. Despite her college scholarship for music, Julie eventually found her way to banking

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

Her time playing music was formative for her work as a leader, giving her an understanding of when to stand in the spotlight and when to step back and let the band or someone else play.

Many bankers find themselves forced to work at the FDIC as a result of working at a failed bank and being taken over by the FDIC. Julie voluntarily left her first banking job and took a role at the FDIC during the New England Banking Crisis of the 1990s. This allowed her to take a front-row seat in learning what caused banks to fail and how it could be avoided in the future. It shaped her love for the people working in banking, and her commitment to running a healthy, stable institution.

Today, Julie is running a bank that has been cooperatively owned by its customers for more than a hundred years. Her approach to innovation has led Reading Cooperative Bank to become a pioneer, showing community banks everywhere that personal banking services and modern technology are mutually beneficial, not mutually exclusive.

Julie is no stranger to upending stereotypes and creating opportunities for people who might not otherwise have a chance to grow and take their own turn in the spotlight. For now, we’re thankful that we could shine a light on her journey and share it with you.

Resources:

Julie’s book recommendations:

Walden by Henry David Thoreau [https://a.co/d/eMzrsnf]

Daniel Silva (author website) [https://danielsilvabooks.com/]

Connect:

Julieann Thurlow LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieann-thurlow-readingcooperativebank/]

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]

Julie Thurlow – Gaining a holistic perspective, surviving trial by fire at the FDIC, and keeping things interesting as CEO | Episode 23

Welcome to episode twenty-two of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief! Joining me today is Jeffery Kendall, Chairman and CEO of Nymbus. On this show, I’m unpacking the stories, decisions, and influences that make people successful leaders.

As is often the case, when you’re young, it’s difficult to see your own potential, but your friends and mentors can see it clearly. Such was the case for Jeffery Kendall as a kid growing up on skateboard in rural Idaho. He had a seemingly innate sense of vision that helps leaders rally others to their cause.

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

In what some might see as an existential 360°, Jeffery discovered a deep love for philosophy and enrolled at one of the most conservative colleges in the US. After that he joined the workforce as a graphic designer, later working as a chief of staff and as a sales leader – all of which prepared him to take the helm as CEO of nascent core banking startup known as Nymbus.

Along the way Jeffery’s background in philosophy gave him helpful frameworks to handle the opposing forces of innovative chaos and scalable systems that both need to operate if a young fintech company is going to thrive.

As in skateboarding, the key to running a successful company is a willingness to take risks and a relentless focus on the techniques that allow you to avoid catastrophic failure.

Jeffery’s approach to leadership is all about creating opportunities for the people around him to take on new risks and hone their techniques. It’s not about flashy tricks or trying to bring about world peace, for now he’s building a company that is doing its part to make the world a better place—one bank or credit union balance sheet at a time.

Resources:

Jeffery’s book recommendations:

Freedom’s Forge [https://a.co/d/1Pgr34T]

Connect:

Jeffery LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffery-kendall/]

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]

Jeffery Kendall – Jumping from skatepark to philosophy, the meandering path to leadership, and giving people hope for the future | Episode 22

Welcome to episode twenty-one of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief! Joining me today is Kris Bishop, CEO of FIntegrate.

On this show, I’m unpacking the stories, decisions, and influences that make people successful leaders.

Kris grew up on a farm in Mississippi, working from “can to can’t” as his father would say. Although he fully absorbed the relentless work ethic of his family, Kris knew his destiny wasn’t going to be at the wheel of a tractor or on an assembly line. His affinity for technology is what eventually got him into the world of banking.

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

As you’ll see, like some of our other guests, Kris has been involved in pivotal moments in banking technology, ushering banks and credit unions through digital transformations from the days of DOS to the era of the cloud. And however technical and difficult the work gets, it just elevates the enjoyment Kris feels in tackling the challenge.

But over and over again Kris discovered that some of his biggest learning curves didn’t happen with migrating data centers but with navigating the intricacies of people leadership.

FIntegrate is a company build around serving institutions that are undergoing huge transitions, such as mergers, acquisitions, or simply digitizing their back office. It’s a niche that Kris and his team have worked hard to perfect.

Whatever high-tech domain that Kris is working in, he never loses the qualities that have helped him along the way, like thinking the best of people and being willing to admit mistakes and ask for forgiveness.

Resources:

Kris’ book recommendations:

The Noticer [https://a.co/d/dWPp2vM] by Andy Andrews

The Ideal Team Player [https://a.co/d/auZQJjZ] by Patrick Lencioni

Connect:

Kris Bishop LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kris-bishop/]

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]

Kris Bishop — The folly of prejudgment, enjoying the chaos, and the unsung power of intuitive decision-making | Episode 21

Welcome to episode twenty of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief! Joining me today is Carson Lappetito, President of Sunwest Bank.

On this show, I’m unpacking the stories, decisions, and influences that make people successful leaders.

As a preschool, Carson was tasked with managing the cash register of the pretend grocery store because he fully understood how to transact and make change. This might have foreshadowed his career as a successful investor, banker, technologist, and entrepreneur. But it was Carson’s father and grandfather trained him for those roles.

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

Many people become successful investors by studying the stock market and trading in the abstract. Carson has an unusual command of the underlying fundamentals that cause businesses to grow or fail. This has allowed him to trade securities on a major scale, invest in tech startups, and become a leader in the day-to-day operations of a commercial bank like Sunwest.

Although one of his first jobs out of college was helping restructure balance sheets in the wake of the 2007/2008 financial crisis, Carson biggest leadership transformation didn’t happen until he became a parent many years later.

His ability to build successful teams and partnerships lies in his understanding of how to tap into the motivations of each person and help them feel fulfilled.

As something of a “most interesting man in banking” Carson Lappetito brings wit, humor, and an incredibly sharp understanding of business, banking, technology. His perspective on the industry is rare and borders on clairvoyant.

Resources:

Carson’s recommendations:

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. [https://a.co/d/3pQbzbu]

Connect:

Carson Lappetito LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carsonlappetito/]

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]

Carson Lappetito – Innovating from first principles, becoming a parent, and the difference between humility and ignorance | Episode 20

Welcome to episode nineteen of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief! Joining me today is Hank Seale, Founder and CEO of Hapax.

On this show, I’m unpacking the stories, decisions, and influences that make people successful leaders.

As a young boy, Hank Seale fully expected that his destiny was to run the family’s cattle ranch, as generations of Seale men had done, going back before to the Spanish land grant. His only interest in banking came at the direction of his father, who taught Hank how vital it was for the ranch to have a relationship with the bank.

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

Although Hank never took over the family ranch, for reasons you’ll learn in this episode, he also never forgot the role of community banking in supporting local economies. Hank doesn’t present himself as a tech wizard, but he’s certainly a prophetic figure when it comes to banking technology.

His companies have been instrumental in two of the most significant shifts to happen to the banking industry: telephone banking and internet banking. As the leader of Q2 for nearly 20 years, Hank’s influence over how banks serve consumers cannot be overstated.

Today, his latest company, Hapax is poised to complete a hat-trick of transformations, using artificial intelligence.

With all of his success, and the challenges he’s overcome, including betrayal by his first business partner, Hank pulls from a deep well of leadership and life wisdom. Don’t let his humble, self-effacing manner fool you, Hank Seale is far more than meets the eye.

Resources:

Hank’s recommendations:

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie [https://a.co/d/2j5vHQO]

Connect:

Hank Seale LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hank-seale-a939729/]

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]

Hank Seale – Outworking the competition, partnership wisdom, and the source of true happiness. | Episode 19

Welcome to episode eighteen of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief! Joining me today is Kim Snyder, Founder and CEO of KlariVis.

On this show, I’m unpacking the stories, decisions, and influences that make people successful leaders.

Kim Snyder fell out of banking into founding a fintech startup right as the COVID pandemic struck the globe. Luckily, her upbringing as a Virginia farm girl gave her the work ethic and determination to chart a path through the chaos. Her team members are hand-picked for their unique abilities to push through hardship and deliver results for clients.

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

Both of Kim’s parents worked full-time to support her and her two older brothers. Kim’s mother also went to school part-time. This imbued her with a deep conviction that she could accomplish anything she wanted to.

After completing her accounting degree at James Madison University, she went to work for KPMG and eventually become the Chief Financial Officer of Valley Bank in Roanoke, VA, near where she grew up.

When Valley Bank was sold, and Kim’s position eliminated, along with many of her team-mates, she decided to launch a consulting business.

It wasn’t long before the seed of a product idea sprouted in her mind. A seed that had been planted back her days at Valley Bank.

Along with a few of her trusted colleagues, Kim launched KlariVis to help banks and credit unions transform their data into meaningful insights. That was in 2019, a scant year before the COVID pandemic threw the global economy into chaos and many startups failed to survive.

But Kim Snyder and her team forged their way through and have grown KlariVis into one of INC’s 5000 fastest growing companies.

Although Kim may not have unlocked the secret to getting in extra time at the gym and running a successful startup, her insights on leadership and building a motivated team serve as a far more lasting inspiration to us all. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Kim Snyder.

Resources:

Kim’s recommendations:

Books By Kristin Hannah:

The Women [https://a.co/d/fD9Rszb]

The Nightingale [https://a.co/d/17x6c9Q]

Connect:

Kim Snyder LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlybsnyder/]

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]

Kim Snyder – Balancing love with high standards, hanging out your shingle, and learning to communicate | Episode 18

Welcome to episode seventeen of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief! Joining me today is David Reiling, Chairman and CEO of Sunrise Banks.

On this show, I’m unpacking the stories, decisions, and influences that make people successful leaders.

David may have worked in banking his entire life, but it wasn’t until he was running a bank of his own that he realized he is actually an entrepreneur who happens to enjoy banking. The thread becomes obvious when learn about his passion for creating win-win scenarios and going far outside the walls of the bank to serve his client.

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

A self-described “shy, Catholic, military school kid from Minnesota,” David proved over and over that his willingness to work hard and think differently than his peers would help him achieve great things. He grew up in an ethnic Italian community, swinging a hammer for his uncle’s construction company and even witnessing a bank robbery one summer as a bank teller – that proved to be a formative experience.

After getting his college degree in sunny San Diego, David went to work as a banker in south-central LA and cut his teeth during the infamous bank robbery epidemic of the 1980s and 90s.

He also learned how to navigate the chaotic, diverse, urban core that was and is urban Los Angeles. Whether it was serving a grieving gang member with dignity and respect, or figuring out how to help Taiwanese businessmen spend quality time with their favorite pets, David saw the value in people, no matter their social status or net worth.

That theme continued to play out when he moved back to Minnesota to buy a troubled bank smack in the middle of an ethnic Hmong neighborhood.

That institution is now Sunrise Banks, a certified B-corporation, Community Development Financial Institution, and a beacon of financial support for people of all cultures and backgrounds.

David has so much wisdom to offer on leadership, finding your tribe, and building a mission-driven organization – this conversation is a rare gift. We’re proud to share it with our listeners.

Resources:

David’s recommendations:

Books:

The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness [https://a.co/d/7hquAUf]

Younger Next Year: Live Strong, Fit, Sexy, and Smart – Until You’re 80 and Beyond [https://a.co/d/55yDnDE]

Connect:

David Reiling LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-reiling-7a60a14/]

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]

David Reiling – Surviving the bank robbery epidemic, the gift of respect, and finding a tribe that loves doing good. | Episode 17

Welcome to episode fourteen of Builder, Banker, Hacker, Chief! Joining me today is Steve Robert, Co-Founder and CEO of Autobooks.

On this show, I’m unpacking the stories, decisions, and influences that make people successful leaders. Steve has always had a strong drive to succeed, whether that was jumping into the workforce at the earliest opportunity or teaching himself how to write code. Today he’s still got that same ambition, it’s just tempered by a deep understanding of the difference between building fast and burning out.

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

Steve grew up in Detroit at a time when it’s economy was heavily dependent on the big automakers. Either you worked directly for the big three or you worked at a supplier for the big three. His father worked as a plant manager for one such supplier. It was there that Steve forged his indomitable work ethic, gained hard skills like driving a forklift and the knowledge that he didn’t want to work in a factory forever.

Eventually he made his way into IT and taught himself to code. That him to co-found a company known as Billhighway, an early fintech company that launched only a year after Paypal.

After a successful exit from Billhighway Steve could have stepped back from entrepreneurship and lived comfortably. That wasn’t in Steve’s nature as a leader. He felt a strong desire to create new opportunities for others, sending the elevator back down so to speak.

He founded Autobooks in 2015 and the company has enjoyed rapid growth, multiple awards, and consistent recognition as a leader in the fintech industry.

While Steve doesn’t take apart VCRs or troubleshoot broken software tools anymore, he’s gathered a talented team that is transforming the way banks and credit unions serve their business clientele. Together they’re building a company that is solving real-world problems with advanced technology.

Momentum for the Starship Autobooks is approaching warp speed and this episode is your opportunity to hear about from its captain firsthand.

Resources:

Steve’s recommendations:

Book: Adventures in Contentment by David Grayson [https://a.co/d/0ATE1x8].

Also available for free [https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10605] from the Gutenberg Project.

Connect:

Steve Robert LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenrobert/]

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]

Steve Robert – Solving puzzles not mysteries, sweeping floors, and moving from the engine room to the bridge | Episode 16

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.