In this episode, we sit down with a leader who walked away from a $7B role to start again in a kitchen with two young founders. He shares the raw truth about what makes great founders win, why most people who “work hard” never achieve real outcomes, and how to see the world differently when the stakes are high.

We go deep into the moments that shaped billion-dollar fintech moves — including the split-second choice that saved $700M during the SVB meltdown, and the internal mistake that triggered one of the toughest days of his life. 

You’ll hear how he recruits top talent without relying only on money, why curiosity matters only when aimed at the right things, and what it means to truly understand the details that run a business. He also shares the childhood lesson that shaped his leadership style and gave him the courage to ask the questions others avoid.

Tune in to hear the thinking, the risks, and the uncommon moves behind true entrepreneurial excellence.

Key Topics:

- The hidden traits that separate great founders from everyone else

- Real meaning of hard work and why most people get it wrong

- Decisions that saved Brex during high-stakes crisis moments

- Truth about recruiting A players B players and building the right team

- Mindset shift needed to grow fast and lead through massive change

Quote  From The Episode:

“When something doesn’t make sense, a lot of people are afraid to ask. I don’t have that fear.”

- Michael B. Tannenbaum

Timestamp:

[00:20] Why a $7B CRO Walked Away to Start in a Kitchen — And What He Learned About Founders Who Win

[11:04] The Harsh Truth About “Hard Work” — And Why Most People Never Produce Real Outcomes

[20:05] How Brex Survived the SVB Meltdown—And the One Decision That Saved $700 Million

[30:41] Inside the Decision That Nearly Broke Brex—And the Leadership Blind Spot No One Saw Coming

[41:28] The Childhood Lesson That Turned a CFO’s Son Into One of FinTech’s Boldest Leaders

[52:50] Outro

Connect with - Michael B. Tannenbaum:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/michaeltannenbaum

Website - www.figure.com

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

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Website - https://www.levy.company/entrepreneurial-excellence