Early Life
Hayes Barnard was born in Creve Coeur, Missouri, and raised by a single mother. He attended the University of Missouri, where he earned a degree in management and marketing. During his time at the University of Missouri, he won a football scholarship, but an injury led him to transfer.
Rise to Success
Barnard's career began in the tech industry during the tech boom, then moved to the mortgage industry. In 2003, he founded Paramount Equity Mortgage (later Loanpal, now GoodLeap), one of the first online residential home loan providers. In 2008, he founded Paramount Solar, which was acquired by SolarCity in 2013, with Barnard becoming the Chief Revenue Officer. Barnard played a key role in the growth of SolarCity and later launched GoodLeap, a fintech company focused on sustainable home improvements.
Key Business Strategies
Barnard's GoodLeap uses a point-of-sale app to connect homeowners with financing for solar panels and other sustainable upgrades, and is the leading platform for solar and other sustainable home solutions. GoodLeap has facilitated over $26 billion in loans. Barnard's approach emphasizes purpose-driven leadership, focusing on long-term environmental and social impact. He also founded GivePower, a non-profit organization that provides clean energy and water to underserved communities.
Philanthropy
Barnard is known for his philanthropic efforts. He founded GivePower in 2014, a non-profit that develops clean water and energy systems in underserved communities across the globe. GivePower has projects in 28 countries. He and his wife have also established the Hayes and Jessica Barnard Foundation.