on the blog

Who benefits from where you are in life? That’s a question I started asking myself in college—and it changed the way I see the world. Systems aren’t random; they are built around incentives, and those incentives dictate who wins and who stays stuck. The system is set up to pay for sickness, not health, and to reward mainstream financial institutions for serving those who are financially well, while shadow lenders reap exorbitant profits from those who struggle. That’s just the reality. The real question is: What can you do about it? Because if someone else is benefiting from where you are, you should be too. Did you catch that?

I never set out to be a banker, but once I landed in the seat, I had to figure out how bankers think. That meant tuning into CNBC and trying to make sense of all those flashing numbers—Dow futures, bond yields, and implied market openings. At first, it felt like a foreign language. But over time, I started to see the bigger picture.

Rising bond yields, interest rates moving up or down—these aren’t just headlines. They hit Main Street in real ways. If rates go up, banks might see short-term gains, but only if people keep borrowing. And that’s the catch—when borrowing slows because rates are too high, Main Street struggles. And when Main Street struggles, banks feel it too.

The lesson? Banks and Main Street are tied together more than people realize. When one wins, the other usually does too. And when one suffers? The effects ripple through everything.

When I stepped into banking, I wasn’t a traditional insider. I was a nonnative to the industry—someone who built a career in community leadership, not financial services. That meant I asked questions that seasoned bankers often took for granted. One of those questions led me to a realization: even within the banking world, the tools we use to manage liquidity, like the discount window, are often misunderstood. And maybe that misunderstanding persists because we, as an industry, haven’t done enough to foster real understanding. What if we changed that? What if we started educating before the next crisis, instead of reacting when one hits? Now is the time.

Did you know unchecked management decisions were a big part of the 2008 financial crisis? Families lost nearly $20 trillion in wealth while powerful institutions got bailed out. It’s a reminder that good governance matters—not just for Wall Street, but for all of us on Main Street. Let’s talk about why oversight, ethical choices, and smart leadership make all the difference.

Did you know that every time you deposit money in the bank, you're essentially lending it to them? Your deposits fuel loans, mortgages, and investments that power the economy—right in your community or beyond. Understanding how your money moves isn’t just for bankers; it’s a lesson in how your financial choices shape Main Street’s future.

Dr. King taught us that love and justice are inseparable. His legacy reminds us that progress isn’t just about tearing down barriers—it’s about building bridges to equitable opportunities. Today, as wealth inequality reaches unprecedented levels, we must ask ourselves: Are we creating systems that uplift everyone, or are we allowing prosperity to remain concentrated in the hands of a few? Justice demands bold action. Let’s honor Dr. King’s vision by mentoring those in need, advocating for fair policies, and investing in businesses that lift entire communities—not just individuals. Together, we can build a world where justice flows like a river and righteousness stands firm.

Leadership is leadership. The fundamentals don’t shift just because the metrics do. But here’s the thing—priorities, pressures, and perceptions in nonprofits and for-profits couldn’t be more different. Nonprofit leaders juggle some of the most complex challenges, balancing shifting funding mix, diverse stakeholders, and mission-driven mandates. If you can lead at a high level within a nonprofit, you can lead anywhere—because mission-driven leadership fosters resilience, engagement, and long-term success.

St. Louis has the potential to be an economic powerhouse, but reaching that potential requires vision, inclusivity, and commitment. By learning from others, investing in people and place, and fostering bold leadership, we can transform St. Louis into a thriving, inclusive, and vibrant city. The time to act is now.