Payson Johnston is a fintech entrepreneur, educator, and scholar whose career bridges industry innovation and academic inquiry. He is the CEO of Envoi, a venture-backed receivables finance platform serving mid-market enterprises, and previously co-founded Crowdz, which raised $28 million and facilitated over $95 million in funding to small and medium-sized businesses worldwide. His early career in global supply chain leadership at Cisco informs his practical, systems-oriented approach to business education and startup execution. Johnston’s teaching and consulting work draw on decades of cross-sector experience, enabling him to deliver real-world insight in the classroom and ethical rigor in business strategy. He currently teaches at the University of Tennessee Southern and has mentored founders through Techstars, with a particular focus on ethical leadership and responsible innovation. Rooted in philosophical theology and trained in both business and the humanities, Johnston is committed to the idea that commerce—grounded in calling and character—can be a redemptive force for good in society.