How does a man who started his career wielding an axe in the Alaskan woods end up leading a cutting-edge fintech company?
The unconventional journey of Jed Morley — from lumberjack and missionary to real estate developer and ultimately CEO of Platinum Payment Systems (PlatPay) — is a testament to adaptability, hard work, and values-driven leadership.
Morley’s story reads almost like a folk tale: the country boy who conquers the corporate world without losing his soul (or his love for the outdoors).
In this article, we’ll extract key leadership and culture insights from Jed Morley’s background:
Embracing a varied career path and transferring skills across industries
Leading by example with a roll-up-your-sleeves work ethic rooted in manual labor
Fostering a team that values diversity of experience
Maintaining humility and giving back through philanthropic efforts
Infusing personal passions — like horses, family, and faith — into business resilience.
Whether you’re a startup founder or climbing the corporate ladder, Jed Morley’s story offers inspiration on blending grit with compassion and business acumen with integrity.
Humble Beginnings: Hard Work and Adaptability
Jed Morley often highlights that growing up in a large family and working tough jobs early on shaped his character. He was the 8th of 13 children, and from a young age, he learned to hustle.
“I was the kind of boy that would hike up a mountain, ski down, then do it again… I also did backbreaking work in Alaska.”
— Jed Morley
One of Morley’s first careers was as a lumberjack in Alaska’s wilderness — dangerous, grueling work that requires teamwork, precision, and mental toughness.
Leadership Lesson #1: No job can intimidate you after you’ve done one that extreme.
Morley developed a fearless approach to challenges.
“Rather than get discouraged when people tell me I cannot do something, I feel energized… I’m not the kind of person to leave things halfway.”
After Alaska, Morley served as a missionary in Argentina. That experience taught him empathy, cross-cultural communication, and the importance of service.
Leadership Lesson #2: Understand people and serve them — and you’ll lead better.
“We are human… we support [clients] throughout the process.” — Jed Morley on PlatPay’s human-centered service
From there, Morley jumped into real estate development. With no formal banking background, he and his colleagues founded a merchant processing company — PlatPay.
“The team we put together had different backgrounds… with those unique experiences we created a personable service the industry had never seen before.”
Leadership Lesson #3: Diversity in skills and perspective is a superpower.
Morley didn’t hire traditional banking types. He brought in builders, tradespeople, problem solvers — people who knew how to adapt and learn on the job.
Leading by Example and Building Trust
Morley isn’t a corner-office figurehead. He leads from the front.
Anecdote: Early in PlatPay’s journey, a client had a weekend issue. Morley took the support call himself.
Leadership Lesson #4: Never ask your team to do something you wouldn’t do.
Morley’s hands-on approach — whether solving client problems or learning new systems — builds credibility and loyalty.
He also fosters open communication and empowerment. Growing up with 12 siblings taught him the value of every voice. At PlatPay, this translates to an inclusive team culture where ideas are shared freely and failure is seen as a learning step.
“Jed has had significant experience in a lot of different markets and is great about sharing his experiences… He is well liked and respected by everyone.”
— Professional peer testimonial
Beyond operations, Morley leads with purpose. Inspired by his faith, he founded PlatGives, the company’s charitable arm.
“PlatGives keeps us on track and ensures we have purpose in what we do.”
Leadership Lesson #5: Create or highlight a mission bigger than money.
His team feels part of something meaningful — and that motivates more than metrics ever could.
Overcoming Setbacks and Teaching Resilience
No entrepreneurial path is smooth. Morley faced plenty of challenges — whether it was the real estate downturn or entering fintech without a map.
He frames setbacks as tests of determination.
“Our startup year had ups and downs… within the following years we went from ZERO accounts to thousands!” — Morley on PlatPay’s early days
Leadership Lesson #6: Be candid about challenges and rally your team around solving them.
He also emphasizes well-being.
“Have something to look forward to outside of work… my passions like roping or exercise give me a rush and keep me pumped for the week.”
Morley starts days early with gym, family, and faith — and encourages balance across his team.
Leadership Lesson #7: Care for the whole person, not just the employee.
From rodeo days off to mental reset breaks, Morley’s team knows their well-being matters.
Team Culture: Humanity and Heart in Fintech
PlatPay’s internal culture is often described as “human” and “like family.” Here’s how Morley shaped that:
-
High-touch service: No robotic scripts. Clients are real people, and team members are trained to treat them as such.
-
Growth mindset: Everyone is encouraged to learn and cross-train. Ideas are welcomed regardless of job title.
-
Recognition and fun: From team outings to appreciating the janitor, every role is honored.
As a featured VIP author and ValiantCEO contributor, Morley often shares lessons publicly, modeling transparency and mentorship.
During the 2020 pandemic, PlatPay — like most companies — faced disruption. Instead of retreating, they pivoted to support e-commerce and virtual events.
“The future is looking very bright… I see endless opportunities.” — Jed Morley during COVID
Leadership Lesson #8: In crisis, communicate optimism and focus on solutions.
Conclusion
Jed Morley’s leadership proves that where you start matters less than how you lead.
Whether felling trees in Alaska, serving abroad, or building a fintech company from the ground up, his story reminds us that character scales — grit, empathy, and humility can fuel both personal growth and business excellence.
For aspiring leaders:
Don’t worry about the path looking unconventional. If you bring values, work ethic, and heart — you’ll create your own success story, just like Jed Morley.
About PlatPay
Platinum Payment Systems (PlatPay) is a payment processing company founded on the principles of hard work, trust, and innovation. Under CEO Jed Morley’s leadership — forged from his days as a lumberjack, missionary, and entrepreneur — PlatPay has grown into a leading provider known for personalized service and a team culture like family.
PlatPay supports businesses through every step of payment processing with humility, expertise, and a commitment to giving back through its PlatGives initiative.
Learn more at JedMorley.com.
PlatPay lets brands track, reduce, and offset payment-related CO₂ in real time. Discover Jed Morley’s ESG philosophy in his ValiantCEO profile.
