Brock Blake delivers powerful insights on startup leadership, crisis management and fostering a growth mindset at the Reed and Christine Halladay Executive Lecture Series.
Brock Blake opened his lecture by encouraging students to aim for the stars and reframe their perspective on missed targets to view them as part of the journey, instead of failure. He shared that now is an ideal time to pursue entrepreneurship, especially for students who are already familiar with uncertainty. Entrepreneurship, as Brock explained, often leaves founders on the ground, unsure of what comes next. His goal was to help students learn how to navigate those frightening — and ultimately defining — moments.
Headquartered in Lehi, Utah, Lendio generates more than $100 million in revenue and receives roughly 50,000 loan applications each month. Brock went on to acknowledge the accolades that arrive with success, including being named Utah Business CEO of the Year, but emphasized that entrepreneurship is rarely glamorous. Behind the scenes, Brock described, it is filled with pressure, stress, and a wide range of responsibilities.
He structured his remarks around what he called “five fetal position moments,” explaining that while the image is harmless for a baby, it represents very real fear for startup founders. Brock faced a serious complication early on when he found himself managing payroll for eight employees with only $50,000 in the bank right before Christmas. When he approached a mentor for assistance, they declined to loan him money but helped him think through a solution. In that moment, Brock realized his focus needed to shift to generating revenue and long-term sustainability. He offered his team three months of stock options in exchange for continued commitment, with the option to walk away. Every employee returned the following Monday, united by a shared belief in the company’s mission and future.
The stakes climbed higher in 2020 when COVID-19 brought lending to an abrupt halt. Lendio’s loan volume plummeted from $113 million to just $6 million nearly overnight. Brock described the season as overwhelming, but also transformative. Crisis, he explained, is not just a test but an invitation. He adopted what he called a “finest hour” mindset as his team pushed forward.
A viral tweet soon brought national attention and a surge of demand that far exceeded what Lendio could support immediately. Blake found himself back in the startup trenches, navigating immense challenges. During that time, his wife told him their family was praying, serving in the temple and researching their family history, calling on the blessings of heaven on his behalf. Her message to Brock was simple and straightforward: Get up and figure it out. Brock and his team ultimately did, helping more than 300,000 small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program.
Throughout his lecture, Blake emphasized the importance of maintaining a growth mindset by choosing to see problems as opportunities and the power of a unified team. He spoke candidly about radical transparency, sharing bad news early and building trust through honest communication. When transparency and trust are present, he said, teams move faster and more effectively.
Brock encouraged students to close the gap between thought and action. Successful leaders, as he noted, trust their instincts, make decisions quickly and execute with confidence. He concluded by offering his own definition of success. For Brock, success is not about money or recognition but about doing good in the world and leaving it better than he found it.
The Woodbury School of Business extends sincere thanks to Brock Blake for sharing his story and leadership insights with UVU students. His message reinforced that fear, uncertainty and failure are not signs of weakness, but invitations to grow, act and lead with purpose.
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Watch Brock Blake's full lecture below.
