Faith Driven Entrepreneur

From Sports Anchor to FinTech Pioneer: Building Payment Infrastructure for the Next Billion Join host Justin Forman as he sits down with Benjamin Fernandes, founder of Nala and Rafiki, for an extraordinary conversation about resilience, rejection, and revolutionizing cross-border payments. From covering the World Cup as a 21-year-old sports anchor in Tanzania to building infrastructure that serves millions across Africa and Asia, Benjamin's journey is filled with divine appointments, Stanford miracles, and the grit required to solve problems for the next billion customers. This episode explores the massive diaspora remittance market ($129 billion to India alone), the entrepreneurial challenge of building FinTech infrastructure in emerging markets, and why the greatest export from developing nations might just be talent. Benjamin vulnerably shares the power of rejection as fuel, the importance of gratitude, and why sometimes you have to build the bridge for the next 200 entrepreneurs coming after you. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "There's something that's very powerful when someone tells you you can't do something." - Benjamin Fernandes "With privilege comes responsibility." - Benjamin Fernandes "I don't believe the lowest income region the world should be charged the most amount for fees, for payments." - Benjamin Fernandes

Breaking the Silence: Why Pastors and Entrepreneurs Need Each Other Join host Justin Forman for an enlightening conversation with Carey Nieuwhof, leadership expert and former lead pastor, as they tackle one of the most important conversations in the modern church: bridging the gap between pastors and entrepreneurs. From his unique perspective of having served in both pastoral ministry and entrepreneurial ventures, Carey reveals why there's mutual intimidation between these two groups and how churches can unleash the untapped potential of their entrepreneurial members. This episode explores the crisis of community in entrepreneurship, why 50% of retired CEOs die within two years, and how churches possess the "convening power" to create lasting connections. Carey shares practical insights from leading churches that are successfully engaging their business leaders beyond "handing out programs and parking cars." Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "I think for entrepreneurs, there's no default community. You're on your own. It's sort of the hero's journey. You start by yourself, that pioneer spirit. Within two years of retiring as a CEO, 50% of CEOs are dead." - Carey Nieuwhof "Pastors are thinking, I don't make a million dollars a year like I haven't got staff and employees like you do. I don't feel like I measure up, and I don't know, I've talked to so many pastors who are like, I know this guy or woman could give $3 million I'm terrified of making the ask." - Carey Nieuwhof "You've got some in your church, and they don't know how to contribute, and they're feeling alone and they're feeling isolated." - Carey Nieuwhof

Join host Justin Forman as he sits down with Jordan Raynor to explore why most biographies fail to inspire and how reimagining these stories can transform faith-driven entrepreneurs. Through the lens of LEGO's miraculous founding story and innovative AI-powered storytelling, discover how play, perseverance, and proximity to our heroes can reshape how we view our calling in the marketplace. Jordan shares his mission to create "binge-worthy biographies" that compete with Netflix and TikTok for attention, revealing untold stories of mere Christians who weren't pastors but transformed industries. From CS Lewis's scandalous past to Ole Kirk Christiansen's Job-like trials in building LEGO, these stories prove that the same Holy Spirit who empowered history's heroes is at work in today's entrepreneurs. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "It wasn't the founder of Lego going to work every day. It was the Holy Spirit in him." - Jordan Raynor "We can play within the business. We can play within the four walls of the mission." - Jordan Raynor "Entrepreneurs every day say, I go into a space talking to people that don't think like me, don't act like me, don't talk to me, don't get me." - Justin Forman

From Pastor to President: Transforming Africa Through Faith-Driven Investment Join host Justin Forman from a stunning lakeside location in Malawi as he sits down with President Lazarus Chakwera, one of the rare world leaders who transitioned from pastoral ministry to the presidency. In this remarkable conversation, President Chakwera shares his extraordinary journey from leading the Assemblies of God for over 30 years to answering God's call to "pastor the nation." This episode explores the critical shift happening across Africa—from aid dependence to investment partnerships—and reveals why Malawi's vision for becoming an "inclusively wealthy, self-reliant economy" represents a blueprint for continental transformation. President Chakwera offers profound insights on how faith-driven investors can partner with African nations to create lasting impact while maintaining dignity and mutual respect. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "I didn't leave ministry. This is ministry." - President Chakwera "You cannot reap without sowing... we can prosper together, just like God can prosper everyone without him running out of stuff." - President Chakwera "Investing for me is using what God has given me in order that I might be a blessing to other people." - President Chakwera

Navigating Pandemonium: How Faith-Driven Entrepreneurs Can Rebuild Trust in a Broken World Join host Justin Forman for a compelling conversation with Andy Crouch, bestselling author and senior fellow at Praxis, about the cultural moment we find ourselves in—one he describes as "pandemonium." In this thought-provoking episode, Andy unpacks why institutional trust has collapsed, what it means for entrepreneurs, and how the church's calling to serve offers a pathway forward. Drawing from his deep understanding of cultural dynamics and three-generation rebuilding cycles, Andy reveals why small businesses and the military are the only institutions maintaining trust above 50%—and what that means for Kingdom-minded entrepreneurs navigating uncertain times. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "Institutionalism is when the actual mission of the institution becomes less important than just protecting the institution itself. You go off mission, and your mission becomes just protect our thing." - Andy Crouch "In the kingdom of God, anyone can be great because anyone can serve." - Andy Crouch (quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) "If you aim for community, sometimes you get community, but rarely do, but if you aim for mission, oftentimes community is just a natural byproduct, and you're probably gonna get mission too." - Justin Forman Andy Crouch is a bestselling author, cultural commentator, and senior fellow at Praxis. His books include "Culture Making," "Strong and Weak," and "The Tech-Wise Family." He brings decades of experience analyzing cultural shifts and helping leaders navigate complex societal changes with wisdom and faith.

Join host Justin Forman for a crucial conversation with Dave Blanchard, CEO of Praxis, as they pause to reflect on where the faith-driven entrepreneurship movement stands today. In a year marked by uncertainty and rapid change, Dave shares insights from Praxis's annual letter, exploring how entrepreneurs can navigate challenges while staying true to their calling. This episode dives deep into the "moral ecology" that defines authentic faith-driven entrepreneurship - moving beyond buzzwords to examine what it truly means to build redemptively in today's marketplace. From practicing what we preach to embracing meaningful risk, Dave and Justin unpack the essential code that separates genuine Kingdom builders from those merely using faith as a marketing tool. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "People are eternal and projects are temporal. So how do we operationalize that?" - Dave Blanchard "Culture is not codified until someone loses their job because they violated it." - Dave Blanchard "There's a chance anytime the door opens up for us that we say, 'Oh, man, we felt exploited for so long by not being able to say this.'" - Dave Blanchard "When you find yourself exploding at a situation, something's gone haywire with your need for an outcome, your desire for control." - Dave Blanchard

When Church Meets Business: Unlocking the Power of Partnership Join host Justin Forman as he reunites with Mark Grunden, who brings a unique perspective from both the business world and pastoral ministry. Their unexpected connection at the DMZ in South Korea leads to a compelling conversation about why society trusts entrepreneurs twice as much as pastors—and how this presents an unprecedented opportunity for Kingdom impact. Drawing from groundbreaking research with Barna Group, this episode reveals how 70% of entrepreneurs believe that when churches and business leaders partner together, they can solve the world's greatest problems. Mark shares practical insights from his journey through missions, entrepreneurship, and ministry at Saddleback Church, offering a roadmap for churches ready to empower their entrepreneurial members. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "Society at large, they respect entrepreneurs two times more than pastors of the community." - Mark Grunden "The way that we're gonna make a positive contribution or impact in the communities that our churches sit within, is really by empowering the entrepreneurs, business leaders of our communities and of our congregations to take that front row leadership voice." - Mark Grunden "Nearly seven out of 10 entrepreneurs believe that when the church and when business leaders and entrepreneurs kind of come together that man, there's a really good chance of solving some of the big problems of the world." - Justin Forman

Join host Justin Forman as he sits down with Sadiq Edu, co-founder of Pika, in Lagos, Nigeria, for an extraordinary conversation about faith transformation, entrepreneurial courage, and the power of data to lift nations. Sadiq shares his remarkable journey from being the grandson of a Sultan to encountering Christ through a series of miraculous events, including being baptized by the Archbishop of Canterbury. This episode explores how God works through business to address both spiritual and financial poverty, the challenges of building a fintech startup in Africa's informal economy, and the importance of staying true to your calling even when it costs everything. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "You don't have the license to speak on someone's spiritual poverty until you've addressed their financial poverty." - Sadiq Edu "Entrepreneurship is pulling back all the noise to see what's true - whether in faith or business." - Justin Forman "If we lost everything tomorrow, doesn't matter. We know that the most important thing we have is Jesus." - Sadiq Edu

Join hosts Justin Forman and Dana Roefer as they go behind the scenes with Coby Cotton, one of the founders of Dude Perfect, to explore his journey from college basketball tricks to building one of the world's most trusted family entertainment brands reaching millions globally. This episode dives deep into recognizing and nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit in children, even when it shows up in unexpected ways. Through Coby's story and practical parenting insights, discover how to identify creative seeds in your kids and foster their God-given talents. Key Topics: Notable Quotes: "Entrepreneurship is a funny word. What was the word that was upstream of that? It's really just creativity." - Justin Forman "They start to show themselves really early on. And so as a parent, the hat that we're wearing is how do I see the ways that God has wired my kid? And then how do pull that out?" - Dana Roefer "I feel strongly that God has used Dude Perfect, which is a business for His glory in a way that if I had gone and done vocational Ministry, I don't think would have happened." - Coby Cotton

In this powerful episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast, hosts Justin Forman and Kevin Kim sit down with Chi-Ming and Juliette Chien to explore their radical decision to relocate their successful tech company from San Francisco's financial district to Bayview - a neighborhood where 25-30% of children live below the federal poverty line. Chi-Ming shares how Dayspring Technologies embodies "bearing witness to God's redeeming of the workplace, marketplace, and community" through unconventional business practices like refusing to use leverage in negotiations, maintaining only three months of cash reserves, and implementing a pay structure where CEO compensation is capped at 3x the lowest paid employee. Juliette reveals how their partnership with Redeemer Community Church led to the founding of RISE, a Christian high school where 80% of seats are reserved for first-generation college students from low-income families, with a mission of 100% four-year university admission. Key Highlights: Quotable Moments: "I think a lot of times we call something impractical when it's largely left untried." - Juliette Chien "In order to love a place, you need to know it. In order to know it, you need to learn it, so you gotta spend time." - Chi-Ming Chien "If somebody takes your coat then give them your tunic also... That actually has implications for how we think about relating to our marketplace neighbors." - Chi-Ming Chien Watch the full episode on YouTube or continue to stream audio on your favorite podcast platform.

In this profound episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast, host Justin Forman sits down with Raymond Harris, a distinguished architect, executive producer, and venture capitalist who founded one of the largest architectural firms specializing in corporate architecture. Raymond shares his remarkable journey from questioning whether he missed his calling to building an 8,000-project portfolio with Walmart while revolutionizing his understanding of wealth, stewardship, and Kingdom impact. From giving away his entire wedding gift with only $600 in the bank to developing the concept of "Kingdom currency," Raymond's story challenges conventional thinking about success, generosity, and the true purpose of business. Key Highlights: Quotable Moments: "Did I miss the turn by not going into ministry? And I didn't want to. I wanted to be an architect... about 25 years after running a firm, the Lord said, no, you never missed the turn. You've always been on the right road. You've been trying to drive the car by looking in the mirror, look through the windshield." "Why does he entrust wealth to people? But he gave it to us. So that we could steward it into his kingdom to take care of those that can't take care of himself." "If we think that we can keep hold of earthly money and make more money on earth and then give away more money and that's really pleasing to God, I think he's more interested in us giving early so that he can compound what is really his money anyway." "I call it kingdom currency. What is kingdom currency? Kingdom currency in my thinking is wealth and assets on this earth that will transfer into the next kingdom, which is eternity." Watch the full episode on YouTube or continue to stream audio on your favorite podcast platform.

In this powerful episode recorded at SXSW, host Justin Forman sits down with Renji Bijoy, founder and CEO of Immersed, the most-used application in the AR/VR space. Renji shares his journey from PhD student to tech entrepreneur, his mission to build faith-driven technology that brings people together rather than isolates them, and why he believes believers should be at the forefront of building the next generation of computing platforms. Key Highlights: Quotable Moments: "If we do what I think the Lord calls us to do, which is to separate our identity from what our work is... actually it's a lot more freeing." "I'm building Immersed because I hate remote work... I think that there is a more God-glorifying version of that that makes us all feel very connected." "I believe that if you have a world that the most common devices that we use, built by believers, I think that's going to be a lot more of a optimistic, bright future." Watch the full episode on YouTube or continue to stream audio on your favorite podcast platform.

Recorded live at SXSW, this episode features Clint Phillips, the healthcare entrepreneur who broke a Guinness World Record and is now revolutionizing medicine with AI technology. Clint shares his journey from South African rugby player to treating billionaires in Aspen, and how his daughter's stroke led him to create solutions that could make healthcare "practically free" worldwide. Discover how Dr. Gabby, an AI doctor, can analyze your health through a 30-second facial scan and provide personalized medical advice 24/7. Learn why Americans take 22 times more drugs than the rest of the world and how technology could change everything. [Chapters] 00:00 Introduction and SXSW 01:32 Breaking the Guinness World Record for pushing a car 05:11 Sports background and rugby foundation 07:11 South African entrepreneurial mindset 10:01 Meeting world-class entrepreneurs in Aspen 10:29 First business venture and FBI investigation 15:00 Building a dream clinic treating billionaires 18:33 The healthcare crisis in America 19:59 Personal tragedy: daughter's stroke 21:21 Creating Second MD to connect patients with specialists 23:57 Demonstrating the AI health scanning technology 28:09 How the facial scan works and what it reveals 30:00 Dr. Gabby: The world's smartest preventive AI doctor 32:36 Global impact potential and African expansion 34:09 Fighting the $5 trillion healthcare industry 36:02 How AI could help doctors be doctors again 39:01 Biggest challenges: lobby groups and regulation 42:42 Mission work in Zambia: schools, clinics, and Miracle Dam 46:13 How mission trips transformed his marriage 50:54 App download and free access code

Key Topics Discussed The Current Challenges Facing Teens: The Three-Part Framework: Identity DiscoveryRedemptive ImaginationConversation StartersAI and the Future of Work: Featured Stories and Examples Practical Applications Key Quotes

In this special episode recorded at SXSW in Austin, Texas, hosts Justin Forman and Richard Cunningham sit down with Brent Beshore, founder and CEO of Permanent Equity, to discuss what it means to take a long-term, cathedral-like perspective in business and investing. Brent shares his transformation from an achievement-driven atheist to a faith-focused entrepreneur, highlighting how his approach to private equity challenges industry norms with long-term capital, zero debt, and transparent fee structures. Throughout the conversation, Brent reveals how vulnerability and authentic relationships have been crucial both in his personal faith journey and in building a successful investment firm. Key Highlights:

In this episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur Podcast, host Justin Forman sits down with Steve Preston, CEO of Goodwill Industries, to discuss his remarkable journey from Wall Street executive to nonprofit leader. Unlike the typical path of chasing wealth and status, Steve shares how he made intentional decisions to prioritize purpose over prestige throughout his career. After starting at Lehman Brothers, Steve felt a tug that his faith was calling him toward a different path. He made a deal with God that he would "never make a decision for money, for prestige, or for power," which ultimately led him to leave banking on the cusp of making partner. His journey continued through corporate America, government service (including running the Small Business Administration during Hurricane Katrina recovery), and eventually to Goodwill, where he now leads one of America's most recognized nonprofit organizations. Key Highlights: Quotable Moments: "I felt like God said, I've taken you thus far. Will you really go where I'm taking you? And worse, most of the people in my close-in circle said, you're crazy... And I had this moment where I thought to myself, I have been like every other American watching these horrific stories on television and wondering what I could do." "Our founder's story and our founder's vision 125 years later is still very much a part of who we are... It was all deeply based in the conviction that every human being has embedded potential." "I often say, when somebody comes through our door, we often see more in them than they see in themselves."

Mark McClain, founder and CEO of SailPoint Technologies, shares his non-traditional path to entrepreneurship after 10 years in corporate America. He discusses building a successful tech company with faith-based values, navigating multiple funding rounds (VC, PE, IPO, and back again), and balancing business ambition with family priorities. [Chapters] 0:00 - Introduction 2:10 - Mark on South by Southwest and Austin's tech scene 6:08 - The evolution of faith in the workplace 10:26 - Mark's journey from corporate career to entrepreneurship 15:32 - Understanding SailPoint's identity management technology 18:47 - AI as both threat and opportunity in cybersecurity 20:34 - Navigating different funding methods as an entrepreneur 24:15 - The value of community vs. coaching for entrepreneurs 29:01 - The importance of staying connected to church community 31:40 - Building a successful business without sacrificing family 35:29 - Four S's of Christian leadership: Son, Sheep, Stock, and Stewardship 39:02 - A biblical perspective on retirement and stewardship 44:23 - Closing thoughts on community and faith In this authentic conversation, Mark reveals: #FaithDrivenEntrepreneur #EntrepreneurialJourney #BusinessLeadership #FaithAndWork #ServantLeadership

Key Moments Business Insights Faith Perspective Quotable Moments

Every entrepreneur dreams of the freedom that comes with success, yet Lloyd Reeb discovered a surprising paradox - the very prosperity he worked so hard to achieve was quietly eroding his freedom and purpose. Instead of letting money become his master, he made the counter-cultural choice to design a life where wealth serves his deeper values rather than dictating his choices. His journey reveals that true entrepreneurial freedom might look radically different than what we've been conditioned to pursue. Lloyd shares the meaningful artifacts in his office that guide his decisions and keep him grounded in his purpose - from a crystal light bulb gift that reminds him of his unique contribution to a 300-year-old French Bible that represents God's unchanging wisdom to a wooden "Amazing Grace" plaque honoring William Wilberforce's 30-year commitment to ending the slave trade. Key Highlights: Quotable Moments: "Build a successful business in the context of focusing on building a successful life." "It's an interesting question to ask: What level of lifestyle is in your family's best interest? That's different from how much can we afford." "What would I do if I wanted to squander the rest of my life? I would get my life complicated, comfortable, and let my heart become uncompassionate." "Money is a great servant, but a terrible master. We wanted to really demote money from mastery to servant." Watch the full episode on YouTube or continue to stream audio on your favorite podcast platform.

In this powerful episode of the Faith Driven Entrepreneur podcast, host Justin Forman sits down with Cheri Garcia, founder of Cornbread Hustle, a staffing agency that has placed nearly 3,000 people with criminal records into jobs over the past decade. Cheri shares her remarkable journey from selling drugs (including becoming her father's meth dealer as a teenager) to getting sober, founding a multi-million-dollar company, and helping thousands of formerly incarcerated individuals find meaningful employment and rebuild their lives. Key Highlights: Quotable Moments: Watch the full episode on YouTube or continue to stream audio on your favorite podcast platform.