Faith-Driven Leaders W/Henry Kaestner

Mar 19

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Episode Description

In this episode of the On The Rise Podcast's Faith-Driven Leaders Series, host Nick Stromwall sits down with Henry Kaestner — entrepreneur, investor, co-founder of Bandwidth, Sovereign's Capital, Faith Driven Entrepreneur, and Faith Driven Investor. Henry shares his remarkable journey from Wall Street to faith-fueled entrepreneurship, including the moment at age 28 that transformed his relationship with God and the question at age 38 that completely changed how he thought about money and generosity. He unpacks what it means to lead with purpose, invest for kingdom impact, and why he believes faith-driven entrepreneurs are uniquely equipped to solve the world's greatest problems. A deeply inspiring conversation for any leader looking to integrate faith and work.

Summary

1. Every Person Is Already a Leader Henry challenges the assumption that leadership is reserved for those with a title or a large platform. Whether you're selling t-shirts in a college dorm or running a publicly traded company, every interaction is an opportunity to lead someone toward something — and being conscious of that reality is the first step toward leading well.

"I once read that even somebody who is reasonably introverted is going to influence 10,000 people over the course of their life. So we're all influencing people."

2. Faith Becomes Real When You Encounter It Personally Henry grew up with a nominal Christian faith — present but not transformative. It wasn't until age 28 that he encountered a preacher who taught as if the Bible were actually true, prompting him to read Scripture for himself. That journey ultimately changed everything about how he viewed his life, his work, and his purpose.

"The second time reading through, I'm like, oh my goodness, you can't make this stuff up. And if it's true, it changes everything. And it did."

3. Vision Starts With Asking What Is Really Going On Henry describes vision not as a strategic plan but as a growing clarity about the larger story you are participating in. By anchoring himself in Scripture and asking what role God has given him to play, he is able to cast a compelling vision for the communities he leads — one rooted in eternal purpose rather than quarterly results.

"I really have come to believe that for the 80 or 90 years that I'm on this earth, I am to know God and enjoy him forever. Everything else might be a distraction if it doesn't lead to that one big purpose."

4. The Question That Changed How Henry Thought About Money At age 38, a single question from a mentor — "Why do you give?" — set off six months of Scripture study that fundamentally reshaped Henry's theology of generosity. The story of the boy who gave Jesus his five loaves and two fish became the defining image of what it means to be truly all in.

"He doesn't need my money. He wants my heart. And he had 100% of that boy's heart. He had 20% of mine."

5. Stewardship Over Ownership Changes Everything Henry draws a sharp distinction between seeing yourself as an owner of resources versus a steward of them. When leaders embrace the steward identity, generosity becomes natural and joyful rather than obligatory — and the impact of even small contributions can be multiplied in ways no individual could engineer on their own.

"Jesus could take five loaves and two fish and feed 5,000. He doesn't need my money. He wants my heart."

6. Faith-Driven Entrepreneurs Are Equipped to Solve Real Problems Henry believes the entrepreneurial skill set — innovation, risk tolerance, systems thinking, capital deployment — is uniquely suited to addressing the world's most pressing issues. Through initiatives like Faith Driven Entrepreneur and Solving the World's Greatest Problems, he is mobilizing communities of believers to tackle trafficking, hunger, foster care, and joblessness through the marketplace.

"I believe that faith-driven entrepreneurs can solve the world's greatest problems under God's power for his glory."

7. Africa Represents One of the Greatest Kingdom Opportunities After learning that 80% of the world's poor will be in Africa by 2030, and that 99.5% of global private equity bypasses the continent entirely, Henry redirected significant attention and capital toward African entrepreneurs. He sees it as a direct response to Scripture's consistent call to care for the poor — through marketplace investment, not just aid.

"How can the Christian faith-driven entrepreneur lift themselves out of poverty if they don't have anybody to financially partner with them?"

8. The Most Important Leadership Habit Is Also the Most Neglected Drawing from the kings of the Old Testament, Henry identifies the single most common failure among even the best leaders — not asking God before making major decisions. He holds this up as his own greatest area of growth, and challenges every listener to make asking God the first step in every significant choice.