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Flex and the City - Great leadership in financial services
Flex and the City puts the human back at the heart of financial services.
Rachel Treece, CEO of The Henka Institute, sits down with some of the industry's most remarkable leaders. Not to talk about markets or metrics, but about who they are, how they lead, and what they believe it will take to make financial services something worth being proud of again.
Because the people shaping this industry have fascinating stories. They've navigated crises, made hard calls, got things wrong, and kept going. They've built teams, changed their minds, and found a leadership style that's entirely their own. And most of the time, none of that makes it into a conference panel or a press release.
This is where those conversations finally happen.
Honest, human, and long overdue.
Flex and the City - Great leadership in financial services
Flex and The City with Albert Howard - Episode 79
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Some of the best leadership lessons come from the most unexpected places.
In this new episode of Flex and the City, I had the pleasure of speaking with Albert Howard, Co-Founder and Director of Business Development at MiniBranch.
Albert’s career path is anything but ordinary. From his early days in sales to his time in banking and now business development, every step of his journey has been guided by one simple idea — people come first.
What struck me most in our conversation was his ability to draw leadership lessons from everywhere, even from selling mattresses. Albert shared how listening, curiosity, and genuine care are the foundations of trust, whether you’re serving customers or leading teams.
We also talked about how credit unions are redefining connection and community in financial services, and how adaptability, honesty, and empathy continue to shape meaningful leadership.
In this episode, we explore:
➡️ What the financial world can learn from the mattress industry
➡️ How curiosity and empathy build loyalty that lasts
➡️ Why trust is still the ultimate competitive advantage
➡️ The human side of leadership, business, and growth
Albert’s story is a powerful reminder that leadership is not about titles or hierarchy. It’s about presence, curiosity, and the courage to keep learning.