Do not outsource DEI
“Why do you have to bring in someone from another place to talk to me? You are my neighbor. Why didn’t you just introduce yourself?” It was a conversation that left me stunned, and a little embarrassed …read more
Create inclusion in times of uncertainty
Imagine a time when you felt like you didn’t belong: Maybe you were new to a group of people who had known each other for years, you were visiting … read more
Remote work must find a place in financial services
It’s almost 2 p.m. and I’m still in the running clothes I threw on first thing this morning. I haven’t run, nor have I showered and “… read more
Are you prepared for diversity legislation?
There is a new narrative emerging from Congress about the lack of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in financial institutions. Just a few short weeks before credit union advocates made … read more
Can consent exist in the workplace?
“I was just thinking of myself as a guy at a party, asking out a girl. It was up to her to let me know if she was not interested.” … read more
Communication lessons learned underwater
Last year, I became scuba certified. My partner had been diving for a number of years and if I liked it, too, it would be a fun element to add … read more
Take your leadership into the arena
What is your leadership style? Go ahead, give it some thought. Seriously. I’ll wait. I want to know what first came to mind for you. Since making my first … read more
Cracking the code on executive recruiting
I was clueless the first time I spoke to an executive recruiter. In my mid-20s, I was fortunate to have a job that connected me well to industry leaders. When … read more
How do you fix a broken pipeline?
How do you fix a broken pipeline? I’ll be honest: I’m not experienced in the fields of pipefitting or plumbing or natural gas distribution, but I can imagine … read more
Credit unions can do better than Forbes
Have you seen the list of Forbes’ 100 Most Innovative Leaders published earlier this month? It received quite a bit of attention for one big reason: Of the 100 individuals … read more
What is your human capital strategy?
As we bask in the last long days of August, I am reminded of how my friends and I would end each summer during middle school: Lounging in my backyard …read more
Are your humans connecting the dots?
Earlier this month, Geezeo announced the sale of their company to Jack Henry and Associates. Financial executives across the industry took notice. Something big had happened: The continuing consolidation of …read more
How do you discover team strengths?
“If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” – Probably Not Albert Einstein* How many new …read more
Why would a good executive leave a seat at the table?
In 2015, Leslie Miley was Twitter’s only black lead engineer. Upon his separation from Twitter, he published a post on Medium discussing the conflicted environment he worked in: On …read more
Interviewing? Don’t overlook this opportunity to stand out!
You’ve found your dream job and sailed through the screening process. You are wrapping up a fantastic interview where you connected easily with the search committee, sharing your ideas …read more
Proof that diversity is not enough
For some time now, I have wanted to write an article about standing with the middle-aged white man; about understanding the accidental forms of discrimination and subjugation of women: Those …read more
Avoid the “Because I said so” culture
If you have ever had a conversation with parents-to-be prior to them actually becoming parents, you have probably heard assertions like: “My kids will only have 30 minutes of screen …read more
I’ve got some questions about your plan to merge
What hole would it leave in your community if your credit union went away? How would your members’ lives change? These are insightful questions to ask when considering the future …read more
Is this your year to become CEO?
In 2018, I helped five credit unions place new top executives. In the process of reviewing resumes and screening and interviewing hundreds of candidates, I came across many exceptional people. …read more
Being human is not a liability
My 4th grade teacher once got frustrated with the collective distractedness of my class. She responded by instructing us that from that point forward, we should put our troubles on …read more
What about those binders full of women?
I wish we had been more tolerant of Mitt Romney’s binders full of women. This summer, a colleague proudly shared the agenda of a conference he hosted. I scanned …read more
3 easy ways to help close the gender wage gap (yes, it still exists…)
It’s an easy-to-imagine scenario: You are a hiring manager for a newly created position. You suspect this role might fall into a certain pay range within your organization, but …read more
Isn’t the way women treat each other a bigger problem?
Women thrive at work when they are mentored by men. But isn’t the way women treat each other a bigger problem? Hiring managers should evaluate job postings and recruitment …read more
Mansplaining, mentoring and #MeToo
When a male colleague tells me I face some challenges that he doesn’t, but at least I have it better than his mother did, that feels a lot like …read more
Don’t launch innovative technology; solve member problems.
As a full-time-working, sort-of-single mom, my biggest challenge is scarcity of time, so I appreciate anything that adds convenience to my life. While my increasing number of local-only, farm fresh, …read more
It’s not a complaint. It’s advocacy!
People are vocalizing- perhaps more than ever before- a desire to see change. There is strong sentiment that we have been failed by our government, by large corporations, by organized …read more
Credit unions need you more than you need them
This month marks the end of my thirteenth year with credit unions, and the end of my first year as a CEO. I have been deeply blessed to build a …read more
System evolution must occur through the eyes of the member
The 80th anniversary of the Federal Credit Union Act was commemorated this year. In a fast-changing world where few institutions remain stable for a full century, it is no surprise …read more
The best advice ever?
Just after being named a first-time CEO, I was in a conversation with one board member who observed that as leaders we all have egos and there are times when …read more