Serving the American Dream Through CDFIs with Chris Levy | CSTMR Mighty Finsights

Описание: In this episode of Mighty Finsights, Rory Holland explores the human side of fintech leadership with Chris Levy, President and CEO of Pursuit. Chris’s story is a rare example of internal mobility—he joined Pursuit as a summer intern in 2010 and climbed the ranks to become CEO by 2022.
Discover how Chris balanced a full-time career in credit underwriting with the rigors of completing a law degree part-time, and why he chose to stay at a mission-driven organization rather than join a traditional firm. Chris and Rory discuss:

The massive challenge of rebranding a 70-year-old financial institution
How unifying three legacy entities helped the organization better serve its communities.
Pursuit’s extraordinary effort during the COVID-19 pandemic, where they deployed $780 million in PPP loans to help more than 11,000 small businesses survive
From the discipline of the golf course to the impending joys of first-time fatherhood, Chris shares the values and lessons that have shaped his journey to the C-suite.

[00:00] A Rebrand During COVID
[00:27] The Mighty Finsights Introduction to Chris Levy
[01:46] Opening Remarks
[04:57] An Introduction to Pursuit
[07:53] The History of Pursuit Before the Name Change
[10:48] The Difference Between Mission-Driven and Conventional Lending Business Models
[14:35] The Market Challenge that CDFIs Grapple With
[17:03] The Pursuit Logo and Flight Graphic
[17:59] The Decision to Rebrand the Company
[20:51] How Rebranding Has Helped Pursuit Grow
[24:38] Working on PPP with Pursuit
[27:53] Accepting Hard Feedback and Making Hard Choices
[32:17] The Role of "Mission" in Finance and Fintech
[34:39] Where Pursuit's Marketing is Now and What's Next
[37:22] SMBs are a Vital Economic Driver in the USA
[39:57] The Joy of Becoming a Father
[42:09] Final Remarks and How to Connect with Pursuit


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► Looking to Connect with CSTMR? LinkedIn:   / cstmr   Website: https://cstmr.com/ Podcast Transcript: See our website for the full transcript of this episode.
► Want to Reach Out to Pursuit? Chris Levy LinkedIn:   / chris-levy-874831228   Website: https://pursuitlending.com/