The CEO who listens

July 23, 2026

Fintech CEO Tad Phelps, even at the helm of a 400-employee financial technology company, is something of a man of the people. He holds CEO sessions open only to non-management employees. He has a CEO Council of future leaders. And he loves to quote University of Georgia football coach Kirby Smart. Hear his leadership strategies in this conversation with Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon.

3 Takeaways

(05:20) Be visible for your employees, answer questions
(08:00) Create ways for your employees to grow
(14:00) Integrity and emotional intelligence are must have leadership characteristics

Timestamps

(00:00) Introducing Tad Phelps, CEO, Fintech
(02:30) What is Fintech?
(05:00) What is a CEO session?
(07:40) What is the CEO council?
(10:45) Making a large organization feel small
(12:25) How did you get into this business?
(13:45) Must have leadership characteristics
(15:00) Leadership influences
(16:40) Hard to hear feedback
(17:50) Leadership legacy
(18:45) What is coming up for Fintech?

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