Business Spotlight with Jennifer Lau-Hatcher from 1 & Fund

Jennifer Lau-Hatcher, co-founder of 1 & Fund, shares her entrepreneurial journey and leadership style. From her roots in Wisconsin and her career pivot from education to finance, Jennifer emphasizes the importance of strategic growth and leadership development. She highlights her experience at Sylvan Learning Center and her tenure at a major bank, which helped her learn more about business. Jennifer’s leadership style is rooted in servant leadership, where she focuses on positively influencing others, problem-solving, and working collaboratively with her team.

Jennifer also discusses 1 & Fund, a fintech company based in Wisconsin that provides a sales enablement platform for home improvement contractors. The platform helps contractors close deals by making projects more affordable for homeowners. Jennifer’s passion for breaking barriers as a female founder in male-dominated industries like home improvement and finance is evident. She advocates for authenticity in leadership, embracing strengths, and the importance of listening to intuition. Additionally, she shares her ongoing personal goal to become a runner and her desire to become more skilled in stock trading, reflecting her continuous drive for growth both professionally and personally.

Podcast Transcript:

Jackie Zach: Hi, everyone! I’m Coach Jackie Zach, and today, I’m thrilled to have Jennifer Lau-Hatcher from 1 & Fund with us. Jennifer is a dynamic entrepreneur, co-founder of 1 & Fund, and a leader known for her expertise in building businesses, strategic programs, and overcoming challenges. She has a deep understanding of finance and training, combined with a creative approach that has established her as an authority in the home improvement industry. Jennifer empowers businesses to grow rapidly, and as a leader at 1 & Fund, she continues to add value by fostering connections. Her passion, commitment to excellence, and innovation make her a sought-after speaker and visionary leader. And in her downtime, she enjoys a scavenger hunt on Balboa Island—even while walking on a broken foot! Welcome, Jennifer!

Jennifer Lau-Hatcher: Hello, Jackie! Thanks for having me.

Jackie: So let’s jump right in. Tell us about your personal journey.

Jennifer: Sure! I’m originally from Wisconsin, so you might hear my accent come through. I was the first in my family to graduate from a four-year college, which was exciting. My career started in education, but I didn’t end up teaching. Instead, I worked at Sylvan Learning Center, where I helped families with supplemental education while learning the business side of things. That experience has stuck with me. Fast forward several years, I transitioned into the finance world, working for one of the largest banks in the U.S. for almost nine years. I developed training programs to help people understand affordability and payment options, then moved into strategic roles, building out large enterprise accounts. Now, I apply all of that at 1 & Fund.

Jackie: That’s amazing! How would you describe your leadership style?

Jennifer: My leadership style is all about servant leadership. One of my core values is to positively influence everyone I meet and society at large. I’m here to help others grow, solve problems, and make life easier for my team. I’m also not afraid to roll up my sleeves and work alongside them. We’re in this together, locked arm in arm, tackling challenges as a team.

Jackie: That’s wonderful. Tell us more about 1 & Fund—your target market, and who you serve.

Jennifer: Sure! 1 & Fund is a fintech company based in Wisconsin, and we’ve attracted top talent to our headquarters here. We’re a sales enablement platform that helps home improvement contractors and manufacturers close more deals using our tools. We focus on making home improvement projects more affordable for customers. Often, people want or need things like new decks, showers, or roofs, but affordability is the key issue. Our platform, 1Look, helps contractors offer financing options to their customers, leading to higher approval rates and more projects.

Jackie: So you help contractors by enabling them to offer financing to their customers, correct?

Jennifer: Exactly! We operate on a B2B2C model, partnering with contractors and manufacturers to help them close more deals.

Jackie: That’s fantastic. I wish I’d known about you when I needed new siding after a hailstorm! When did you realize you had the confidence to start your own business?

Jennifer: I’ve been pursuing business endeavors since I was 18. When I was in college, I became a consultant for PartyLite to make extra money after a fire destroyed my apartment. That was my first taste of running a business. In 2001, I started another company, which took off faster than expected. It was both exciting and scary. I wasn’t sure I had the confidence to leave the security I found in my professional career, but I took the leap. Confidence wasn’t always there, but I was fearless enough to go for it.

Jackie: If you could go back and do something differently in your career, what would it be?

Jennifer: I don’t believe in regrets, but there are definitely things I’d do differently. One big lesson is that youth is wasted on the young. Early in my career, I had leadership roles and responsibilities, but looking back, I could have done better. If I could go back, I would ask more questions and seek out mentors. I didn’t have formal mentors early on, and that’s something I’d recommend to anyone starting their career—find mentors who can guide you.

Jackie: Absolutely! Asking for help is so important and not a sign of weakness, but strength. What’s a common myth about being a founder that you’d like to dispel?

Jennifer: A big myth I’m passionate about is that you don’t need to be male or be named John to be a founder. And I say that with respect to all the Johns out there. Being a founder requires courage, grit, and perseverance, but gender is not a requirement. I’m especially passionate about promoting this because in my fields—home improvement and finance—there are very few female leaders. For instance, in home improvement, only about 14% of leaders are women, and they are often in supportive rather than leading roles.

As a female founder, I want to emphasize that you can be a woman and still be an exceptional leader, even if you embody qualities often seen as feminine, like empathy and emotional intelligence. If you’re unfamiliar with emotional intelligence, a quick search online will yield plenty of resources. It’s crucial to be true to yourself and embrace your strengths, regardless of gender. I spent a long time trying to fit into a mold I thought was necessary, only to realize that it’s not true. Being authentic is key.

Jackie: Yes! Being authentic is so important. What’s some advice you’ve received that you think is worth sharing?

Jennifer: Embrace your authenticity—that’s been a big lesson for me. I used to try to tone down my energy because I was told it could be distracting, but that’s just who I am. Showing up as your true self makes you more powerful. Another piece of advice I received recently is to listen to your intuition. In business, we often rely on data, but sometimes your gut instinct is just as important. Listening to it can make all the difference.

Jackie: I love that. So, outside of work, what’s something new you want to learn or experience?

Jennifer: I’ve always wanted to be a runner. I’m learning to enjoy it again, not just as something to check off a list. I’m working on finding joy in it, even if I’m never going to be the fastest runner.

Jackie: That’s fantastic! What about in business—what’s something you want to master?

Jennifer: I’ve always wanted to be great at picking and trading stocks. It’s a skill I admire, but it’s not something I’ve prioritized. Maybe someday I’ll devote more time to it.

Jackie: What’s the next big thing for you in your business?

Jennifer: We’re in the final stages of partnering with the largest home improvement lender in the U.S., which is huge for us. We’re also working on exciting technology developments to help more contractors and manufacturers. And as we continue to grow, we’re expanding our team. We have the best team in the world, and I’m excited to offer more people the opportunity to be part of our journey.

Jackie: Congratulations on the growth! What challenges do you foresee as you expand?

Jennifer: Of course, first, we focus on the 3Ps: People, Processes, and Product. We constantly ask ourselves if we have the right people in the right roles. This is something every business owner needs to periodically reassess. In our case, we use the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) model to help with this evaluation, ensuring we have the right people in place to avoid growth stalls.

Next is process. We continually review and refine our processes to make sure they align with our current needs and future goals. As a relatively young company still in startup mode, we frequently assess our processes, with a scheduled review coming up next Monday.

Lastly, scalability is crucial. We need to ensure our processes, people, and budget are all scalable. Unlike an endless money supply, we have to balance growth with financial constraints. If you ever find that endless money pot, let me know! But seriously, it’s vital to align our scalability with our budget and financial responsibilities. These are common challenges for any growing business.

Jackie: Great advice. For business owners trying to do it all on their own, what would you say?

Jennifer: First and foremost, give yourself grace. No one is running a business perfectly. We all have a vision of how things should go, but it’s never flawless. Be kind to yourself as you learn and grow. No one is running a business perfectly. We often envision how things should go, and when they don’t, it’s frustrating. So, give yourself grace. Keep working towards your goals, but remember, many things need to fall into place. Grace is key. Lastly, get some sleep.

Jackie: I love that advice. You’re so right.

Jennifer: As a recovering workaholic, I still set my alarm for 3:37 a.m. to get work done before meetings. If I go to bed early, I can function. But if I don’t, or if I’m driven by stress, my days suffer. So, get your sleep. We all need it.

Jackie: Absolutely. It sounds like you’ve had amazing support. What would you like to say to those who helped you?

Jennifer: Thank you for believing in me. I’ve had incredible mentors who reminded me that I’m worthy and deserve to be where I am. Their support has been life-changing, and I’m deeply grateful. If I can pay that forward, I will.

Jackie: That’s wonderful. Jennifer, it’s been a pleasure speaking with you. Thank you for being on the show.

Jennifer: Thank you for having me.