THE FINTECH INTERVIEW
“Socially responsible lending means we pick a side , the side of how to lift people up ”
Q . WHAT ’ S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED ?
» First , don ’ t take things personally . Second , speak from a place of knowing when you ’ re speaking in a public setting . When I was in grad school , a mentor helped me overcome a fear of public speaking by sharing this perspective . And lead with something embarrassing to break the ice and make everyone comfortable .
Q . IF YOU HAVE ANY WORDS OF WISDOM FOR YOUR EIGHT-YEAR- OLD SELF , WHAT WOULD IT BE ?
» Don ’ t be afraid of failure . You ’ ve got to risk it for the biscuit . Don ’ t focus on the fear of failure but the joy of success .
Q . CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT SUNRISE BANKS ’ SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE LENDING MISSION , HOW THAT PLAYS OUT IN YOUR GROWTH PLANS , AND HOW IT DIFFERENTIATES YOU FROM MAINSTREAM LENDERS ?
» Socially responsible lending means we pick a side , the side of how to lift people up . For example , small-dollar lending allows us to extend credit to folks without a qualifier like a credit score . Often , a credit score can stand in the way of someone who has a low-to-moderate income and is underbanked . This impacts the options available to them and their quality of life . So , when we talk about socially responsible lending , this is our differentiator and growth driver . We ’ re looking at quality-of-life improvements and products that support our community .
16 December 2023