For University of Rochester alumnus Nathan (Nate) Gibbons ’06, ’13S (MBA), success didn’t come easy—or quickly. The chief experience officer and cofounder of QuickFi admits he nearly left the Simon Business School twice before finding his stride. But that persistence, he says, is what changed everything.
“I genuinely wanted to be of value,” Gibbons recalls. “Simon gave me the structure and rigor I needed to grow into someone who could help others succeed.”
Today, Gibbons helps redefine how companies finance growth. At QuickFi, he’s leading efforts to transform commercial lending through automation and embedded finance—turning what once took weeks into minutes. Yet he’s just as passionate about mentoring students and professionals navigating doubt and change.
“Adversity and opportunity often come hand in hand,” he says. “Once you expect challenges—and expect to overcome them—there’s almost nothing you can’t accomplish.”
In this Alumni Connections conversation, Gibbons talks with Simon MBA student Almamy Kone about learning agility, leadership, and the transformative power of raising your hand to ask for help.
