At the age of 19, Tiffany Haynes found herself fully independent, balancing college with a demanding overnight position in the call center of fintech firm Jack Henry & Associates. This role, though gritty and hands-on, came at an opportune time: the company was expanding rapidly. Unlike the typical college experience, Haynes worked tirelessly both academically and professionally, funding her vehicle and home through long hours. Despite considering herself not the smartest in the room, she compensated with relentless effort and a determination to solve problems, even when facing unfamiliar challenges. Failing was not an option on either a personal or professional level.
This approach garnered a reputation for Haynes as a reliable executor, able to deliver excellent results with empathy. After two decades at Jack Henry, she rose to the position of vice president before departing in 2022. At this juncture, she was not only a wife and mother of five but also a foster mother to seven children. Though residing in Missouri, her professional standing extended to teams in New York; specifically, Fingercheck, an HR platform based in Brooklyn, sought her expertise to scale their operations toward eventual acquisition.
The new role required extensive travel between Missouri and Brooklyn. Typically, Haynes spent two weeks on site in Brooklyn, followed by a week at home. During these periods, her husband assumed full responsibility for childcare, managing all daily routines, including escorting their children to the school where he served as superintendent. Over three years, Haynes played a pivotal role in the company’s growth trajectory, culminating in Fingercheck’s acquisition for $150 million in October 2024.
Following the acquisition, Haynes remained with Fingercheck to facilitate the transition, departing in July to obtain rest and recalibrate her professional and personal priorities. Yet, an unexpected challenge arose connected to the school her husband oversaw, which was affiliated with a local church. As the school outgrew the church's capacity to support it, they faced a choice: disperse over 100 children to new educational settings or establish an independent school.
Choosing the latter, within four months they successfully founded the school, with Haynes taking on a quiet cofounder role. While she refrains from day-to-day management, her involvement supports her husband's leadership. Professionally, she engages in advisory roles and hosts the podcast Between Builds, while carving out personal time focused on well-being rather than constant activity.
The couple's partnership extends beyond professional collaboration. Haynes’ husband forgoes a salary from his educational work as a form of community contribution, having left his remunerated career 13 years prior. Since then, Haynes has been the primary financial provider. Their complementary domains reflect contrasting yet harmonious environments: her fast-paced, growth-oriented fintech experience in New York versus his calm, rural, community-centered education focus in Missouri.
Mutual respect defines their relationship. Haynes supports the school out of affection for both the institution and her husband, while he managed family life effectively during her business trips, despite limited familiarity with fintech. Their routine includes near-daily morning coffee conversations before the children awake, fostering continuous dialogue on mutual support. This ritual, while present during her tenure at Fingercheck, has become more sustainable following her departure from full-time executive duties.
Haynes reflects candidly on her upbringing in poverty and the resultant privilege her family now enjoys. Their wealth affords not only financial generosity but also time devoted to others. She positions herself as an advocate and protector, both for her biological children and those they have fostered. Having worked through her own childhood trauma, Haynes prioritizes fostering emotional intelligence and mental health within her family.
In addition, Haynes aims to instill in her children a realistic understanding of the value of diligent effort. She expresses concern that trends exemplified by social media influencers projecting quick wealth may skew youth perspectives on work ethic and personal fulfillment. Instead, she wants her children to embrace the satisfaction derived from persevering through challenges, developing resilience in the face of frustration. She believes this steadfastness will serve them well throughout their lives.