Interview Q&A and Career Summary

When did you first decide to pivot your career towards impact?I always wanted alignment from day one at Lehman Brothers, initially planning to move into academia to make a broader contribution beyond just commercial returns, which eventually led me to Oxford for PhD studies.

What did you do next?I started planting seeds early with an ESG fund non-exec position, began impact investing personally, and maintained my commercial career while building a network and advisory relationships in the impact space.

What are you doing now?I'm CEO of Lendable, providing credit to businesses across frontier emerging markets. We started with financial inclusion focus, expanded to include sustainable investments, and are proving commercial viability at scale.

What advice would you give looking back at that moment or realization now?I'd tell myself to think carefully about niche specialization, ensure strong belief in growth opportunity and alignment with my objectives, and be patient while picking the right dedicated opportunity.

Key Quote

"Make sure that you have the belief that it's gonna align with the objectives you're trying to do non-financially, and that as a career path, you can see growth."

Career Summary

Chris Wehbe's professional path began at Lehman Brothers, where he was clear from the outset about his desire for alignment between his work and broader values. Initially, Chris envisioned a transition from finance to academia, aiming to make a broader contribution. After achieving financial stability, he pursued a PhD at Oxford, but found the pace of academia unsatisfying. This realization led Chris to explore impact investing, starting with personal investments and advisory roles in ESG funds. His involvement with Lendable began organically, as he invested his own money and contributed to projects he found meaningful. Over time, Chris became CEO, leading Lendable's mission to provide credit to businesses in frontier emerging markets, with a focus on financial inclusion and sustainable investments. Chris's advice is to carefully consider niche specialization, ensure alignment with personal objectives, and be patient in finding the right opportunity. His career exemplifies the value of organic growth, adaptability, and a commitment to scalable impact.

Companion Analysis: Lessons from Chris Wehbe's Impact Career Pivot

Chris Wehbe's journey from traditional finance to impact leadership is a nuanced case study in intentional, values-driven career evolution. His story offers a rich set of insights for professionals contemplating a similar transition.

Motivations and Mindset Shifts

Chris's desire for alignment between his work and broader societal contribution was present from the outset of his career. Even while thriving in a high-performance environment at Lehman Brothers, he was candid about his long-term goal: to move beyond commercial returns and make a meaningful difference. This early clarity is notable-many professionals only discover such motivations later, often after a period of disillusionment. For Chris, the drive was proactive, not reactive.

His initial plan to transition into academia reflects a common belief that intellectual contribution and societal impact are best achieved outside the commercial sector. However, his experience at Oxford revealed a mismatch between the pace and structure of academia and his personal working style. This realization was pivotal, prompting a reassessment of how best to achieve impact.

Navigating the Transition: Experimentation and Organic Growth

Rather than making a dramatic leap, Chris adopted a strategy of "planting seeds." He took on non-executive roles in ESG funds, began personal impact investments, and built relationships in the sector-all while maintaining his commercial career. This approach allowed him to test assumptions, build credibility, and develop a nuanced understanding of the impact landscape without sacrificing financial stability.

His eventual move to Lendable was not the result of a targeted job search, but rather the organic outcome of sustained engagement and contribution. By investing his own capital and working on projects he found meaningful, Chris built trust and demonstrated value, which naturally evolved into a leadership opportunity. This pathway highlights the power of patience, network cultivation, and letting opportunities emerge from authentic involvement.

Trade-Offs and Compromises

Chris's journey was not without trade-offs. The move from a lucrative, established finance career to the uncertain world of impact investing required a willingness to forgo short-term security for long-term purpose. His experience in academia also surfaced the reality that not all "impact" sectors are equally suited to every personality or ambition-fit matters, and self-awareness is critical.

He also emphasizes the importance of niche specialization and belief in the growth potential of one's chosen area. The impact sector is broad, and not every niche offers the same opportunities for scale or alignment with personal objectives. Chris's advice to be patient and selective is a counterpoint to the "leap and the net will appear" mentality often promoted in career change narratives.

Practical Strategies and Toolkit for Transitioners

Start Early, Start Small: Begin building experience and networks in the impact space before making a full transition. Advisory roles, personal investments, and side projects can provide valuable learning and credibility.

Test for Fit: Don't assume that any impact role will be fulfilling. Experiment with different sectors and roles to find the right match for your skills, values, and working style.

Prioritize Alignment and Growth: Choose opportunities where you can see both personal alignment and the potential for meaningful, scalable impact. Be wary of roles that offer one without the other.

Emotional and Psychological Dimensions

Chris's story underscores the importance of patience and self-belief. The transition to impact is rarely linear or immediate. It requires resilience, openness to learning, and the humility to recalibrate when initial plans (such as academia) don't deliver the expected fulfillment. Building a new professional identity in a different sector can be daunting, but Chris's experience shows that organic, relationship-driven growth can lead to deeply rewarding outcomes.

Looking Forward: Implications for the Future of Impact Careers

Chris Wehbe's journey reflects broader trends in the professional world: a growing desire for purpose, the blurring of boundaries between commercial and impact sectors, and the increasing viability of scalable, profitable impact business models. For those considering a similar path, his experience suggests that the most successful transitions are grounded in authenticity, strategic patience, and a willingness to let opportunities develop through genuine engagement.

Actionable Takeaways for Readers:

• Begin your impact journey before you "need" to-build relationships and experience now.
• Be honest about what environments and roles truly suit you.
• Seek out opportunities where your skills can drive both commercial and societal value, and don't rush the process.
• Chris's story is a testament to the power of alignment, adaptability, and the long game in building a career that matters.