Summary

In this episode of Business & Brews, Matt Pierce sits down with Jordan Wright to discuss entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation, and building a transparent company culture. Jordan shares how his entrepreneurial mindset started as early as childhood, eventually leading him into fintech through companies like Unbill and now Atomic.

The conversation explores how Atomic evolved from simplifying direct deposit switching into a broader infrastructure company helping consumers better manage their financial lives through connected systems and data intelligence. Jordan also shares lessons on product-market fit, customer obsession, startup resilience, and how Atomic competed against much larger players in the market.

Matt and Jordan dive into leadership philosophies around transparency, empowering teams, and creating organizations where people can do the best work of their lives. They also discuss the growing role of AI inside modern businesses and how both leaders are using it to create efficiencies and improve execution.

The episode closes with a thoughtful conversation about balancing ambition with family, recognizing what truly matters, and intentionally creating space for life outside of work.

Key Takeaways

Customer conversations fuel innovation: Atomic’s leadership team stays deeply connected to customers to uncover real needs and shape product direction.
Startups can outperform larger competitors: Jordan shares how Atomic successfully competed against Plaid by staying agile and customer-focused.
Transparency strengthens culture: Open communication around company priorities, metrics, and leadership decisions helps build trust and alignment across teams.
AI is most valuable when applied practically: The conversation highlights real operational uses for AI, from RFP workflows to productivity tracking.
Success means more than business growth: Jordan reflects on prioritizing family and making time for what matters most outside of work.