In this episode of Rise + Rebel, Aya Hojadova sits down with Jeff Pareja, VP and SBA Commercial Loan Officer, for a powerful conversation on SBA lending, business growth, risk, and the psychology behind financial decision-making.

What made this conversation especially meaningful was Jeff’s transparency. This was not just a conversation about loan products or lending mechanics. It was a deeper look at the human side of business financing: how entrepreneurs think, what fear can do to decision-making, and why mindset matters just as much as numbers when it comes to growth.

Together, Aya and Jeff explore the mindset shifts that happen when someone moves from employee thinking into owner or investor thinking, how to view SBA loans as tools within a broader business strategy, and the difference between emotional readiness and financial readiness. They also unpack the tension between fear and expansion, what healthy risk-taking actually looks like, and how alignment, intuition, and purpose can shape the way entrepreneurs approach money and opportunity.

This episode is for entrepreneurs, investors, small business owners, and anyone navigating growth who wants a more honest conversation about SBA lending, commercial loans, business mindset, money psychology, and expansion strategy.

If you have ever wondered whether you are truly ready for your next level in business, this episode offers more than lending insight. It offers a real conversation about the internal and external factors that shape how we grow.

Topics covered:

SBA lending, commercial lending, small business financing, entrepreneur mindset, business growth, expansion strategy, emotional readiness, financial readiness, money psychology, healthy risk-taking, and aligned decision-making.

Connect with Jeff Pareja

Jeff Pareja

VP | SBA Commercial Loan Officer

135 N. Meramec Ave. | Clayton, MO 63105

8712 Lindholm Dr. | Huntersville, NC 28078

Serving the Greater Charleston, SC Market

Website: www.mwrbank.com

Office: 980-391-2859

Mobile: 512-966-9285

Email: jpareja@mwregionalbank.com