CEO Interview Series: Susan Ehrlich, CEO of Earnest

About the CEO Interview Series:

This educational series is intended for women who are aspiring to be CEOs. We talk to leaders and ask them about their leadership style, how they have handled difficult situations in their role and with their board, what they have learned through their journey, what advice they would give to aspiring CEOs, and what keeps them up at night.

About Susan:

Susan Ehrlich is the CEO of Earnest, a company helping people with student loans chart a path to financial wellness. She has led the development of innovative payment solutions with profitable bottom-line results in fintech (Amazon, Lending Club, Simple), retail (H&R Block, Sears) and banking (Providian, Chase, Citi). She joined Earnest closely following an acquisition where she had to transform the culture then lead through a pandemic, all while making time for walks and golf with her friends.

Key Takeaways:

🗼How she creates a company culture that is highly competitive but also highly collaborative

🏆Why she cannot have a bad day

📚Books that have changed her life

🙋‍♀️How she transformed from a shy kid who wouldn’t raise her hand in class to a CEO

⭐️The unique proposition she had to agree to before taking the Earnest CEO role

💤How she sleeps so well at night and how she stays calm under pressure