Forget the highlight reel. This is a podcast for those who know the grind, hate the fluff, and want to build something both profitable and aligned with their deeper purpose — without losing their mind, relationships, or mission along the way.
No Suits Allowed is the unfiltered voice of real entrepreneurship — hosted by Connor Rodich, a results-driven executive consultant and founder of Executive Partners, who’s helped contractors and service business owners scale to 7-figure profits without burning out or selling out.
Each episode digs into what it really takes to win in business and life — from thought leadership to cashflow strategies to operational precision and the isolation that often comes with being at the top. These aren’t interviews — they’re real stories, raw conversations, and hard-earned breakthroughs from executives who’ve been through the fire and came out built, not broken.
What You’ll Get:
- Real conversations with business owners and executives in the trenches
- Truths that drive sustainable profits year over year
- Systems to scale that align with your values and vision
- Lessons on intentional leadership and lifestyle design
- Honest talk on mental health, family, and the art of releasing control
This is the boardroom, stripped bare.
No ego. No corporate jargon. Just real people building real businesses — refusing to lose themselves in the process.
If you're sick of business advice wrapped in buzzwords and B.S., and want the raw truth from people who’ve actually lived it — pull up a chair and tune in.
All content for No Suits Allowed: Real Talk with Real Executives is the property of Connor Rodich and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Forget the highlight reel. This is a podcast for those who know the grind, hate the fluff, and want to build something both profitable and aligned with their deeper purpose — without losing their mind, relationships, or mission along the way.
No Suits Allowed is the unfiltered voice of real entrepreneurship — hosted by Connor Rodich, a results-driven executive consultant and founder of Executive Partners, who’s helped contractors and service business owners scale to 7-figure profits without burning out or selling out.
Each episode digs into what it really takes to win in business and life — from thought leadership to cashflow strategies to operational precision and the isolation that often comes with being at the top. These aren’t interviews — they’re real stories, raw conversations, and hard-earned breakthroughs from executives who’ve been through the fire and came out built, not broken.
What You’ll Get:
- Real conversations with business owners and executives in the trenches
- Truths that drive sustainable profits year over year
- Systems to scale that align with your values and vision
- Lessons on intentional leadership and lifestyle design
- Honest talk on mental health, family, and the art of releasing control
This is the boardroom, stripped bare.
No ego. No corporate jargon. Just real people building real businesses — refusing to lose themselves in the process.
If you're sick of business advice wrapped in buzzwords and B.S., and want the raw truth from people who’ve actually lived it — pull up a chair and tune in.
Persistence Pays Off: Derrick Christy’s Approved Mortgage Story from Startup to Serial Entrepreneur
No Suits Allowed: Real Talk with Real Executives
49 minutes 6 seconds
1 month ago
Persistence Pays Off: Derrick Christy’s Approved Mortgage Story from Startup to Serial Entrepreneur
In this episode of No Suits Allowed, Connor speaks with Derrick Christy, a self-made entrepreneur whose journey spans from mowing lawns and running a cleaning company in high school to founding one of Indianapolis’s most respected mortgage and real estate enterprises. Derrick opens up about his early years, selling a small cleaning business, taking a corporate job at Prudential to earn his insurance and investment licenses, and ultimately launching his own mortgage firm in the early ’90s. He recounts the pivotal decision to buy his first 60,000-square-foot office building in 1998, the bold leap into a $26 million retail acquisition in Florida, and the stress test of the 2008 financial crisis, sharing candid lessons on cash management, cultivating strong banking relationships, and the importance of maintaining reserves when the unexpected hits.
Throughout the conversation, Derrick outlines how he built his real estate portfolio to nearly 17 properties today, all while simultaneously growing Horizon Property Group (managing retail, office, and multifamily assets), an independent insurance agency, and a mortgage banking operation. He delves into the strategy behind each business line, highlights the value of choosing the right partners and team members, and explains how he balances risk, keeping overall loan-to-value below 50% and maintaining corporate cash cushions. He also speaks to the mindset and daily disciplines that have carried him forward: from disciplined goal-setting and time management to the wisdom he draws from Proverbs, Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits,” and the power of unrelenting faith and purpose.
Connor and Derrick close the episode with practical advice for any entrepreneur feeling burned out or tempted to pivot too soon: nail one business first, write your goals, guard your time, and never lose sight of why you started. Whether you’re a first-time founder or a seasoned investor, Derrick’s story proves that persistence, sound financial controls, and a clear “why” can turn risks into lasting success. Stay tuned for more real-world lessons on No Suits Allowed, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss a behind-the-scenes look at how today’s top executives keep it unfiltered.
Timestamps
Early Entrepreneurship & Mortgage Career Beginnings – 00:01:15
First Commercial Real Estate Acquisitions (1998–2002) – 00:08:45
Navigating the 2008 Financial Crisis & Loan Maturities – 00:18:20
Building a Diversified Platform (Mortgage, Insurance, Property Management & Syndications) – 00:25:50
Work-Life Balance, Cash-Reserve Strategy & Entrepreneurial Mindset – 00:32:40
Connect With Derrick
Website: https://www.derrickchristy.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derrick.christy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrickchristy/
Connect With Connor
Website: https://exec.partners/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connor.rodich/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-rodich/
Support The Show
If Derrick's story resonated with you, please:
Rate and review on Apple Podcasts
Share this episode with another entrepreneur who needs encouragement
Subscribe so you never miss an episode!
No Suits Allowed: Real Talk with Real Executives
Forget the highlight reel. This is a podcast for those who know the grind, hate the fluff, and want to build something both profitable and aligned with their deeper purpose — without losing their mind, relationships, or mission along the way.
No Suits Allowed is the unfiltered voice of real entrepreneurship — hosted by Connor Rodich, a results-driven executive consultant and founder of Executive Partners, who’s helped contractors and service business owners scale to 7-figure profits without burning out or selling out.
Each episode digs into what it really takes to win in business and life — from thought leadership to cashflow strategies to operational precision and the isolation that often comes with being at the top. These aren’t interviews — they’re real stories, raw conversations, and hard-earned breakthroughs from executives who’ve been through the fire and came out built, not broken.
What You’ll Get:
- Real conversations with business owners and executives in the trenches
- Truths that drive sustainable profits year over year
- Systems to scale that align with your values and vision
- Lessons on intentional leadership and lifestyle design
- Honest talk on mental health, family, and the art of releasing control
This is the boardroom, stripped bare.
No ego. No corporate jargon. Just real people building real businesses — refusing to lose themselves in the process.
If you're sick of business advice wrapped in buzzwords and B.S., and want the raw truth from people who’ve actually lived it — pull up a chair and tune in.
