Early Life
Hayes Barnard was born and raised in Creve Coeur, Missouri, by a single mother. He attended the University of Missouri, where he earned a degree in management and marketing. Initially, he received a football scholarship to Central Missouri State, but an injury led him to transfer.
Rise to Success
Barnard's career began during the hi-tech boom in San Francisco. He founded Paramount Equity Mortgage (later renamed Loanpal and then GoodLeap) in 2003. In 2008, he founded Paramount Solar, a subsidiary of Paramount Equity Mortgage. Paramount Solar was later acquired by SolarCity in 2013, and Barnard became SolarCity's Chief Revenue Officer.
Key Business Strategies
Barnard's key business strategy involves leveraging technology to make sustainable home solutions affordable. GoodLeap provides financing for homeowners to make climate-friendly upgrades, focusing on solar installations and other energy-efficient improvements. He has also expanded into asset management with GoodFinch. Barnard emphasizes building a purpose-driven company focused on both profit and positive social impact.
Philanthropy
Barnard founded GivePower in 2014, a non-profit organization focused on providing clean water and energy systems to underserved communities worldwide. The organization has implemented projects in numerous countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
