What does it mean to be part of your team
I was blessed to facilitate forty strategic planning meetings in 2022, and in those sessions spent more time discussing human resource challenges and opportunities than any other topic. For good reason—successful strategies have always begun and ended with people. But times are changing. Credit union leaders find themselves in a very different human resource climate, […]
Global collaboration, inclusion and impact
Cooperation among international credit unions is important to the strength, sustainability and global impact of the credit union movement. A great example of this, and it is only one of many, is the relationship with UK and US credit unions and their associations. Expanding financial inclusion For the past 10 years, ABCUL and Inclusiv have […]
Break the ties that bind you
These days it is hard to avoid trade articles or hear watercooler conversations about mergers and the shrinking pool of smaller credit unions. There is a growing consensus that small credit unions just can’t survive the competitive road ahead. When I hear or read about these conversations, I’m reminded of credit unions past, that could […]
This one is for our unsung heroes
There are many awards and recognitions within the credit union space, lots of opportunities for credit unions to recognize great efforts and outcomes. The stories of these awardees are inspiring and motivate us to reach for more. No matter how many opportunities for public recognition there are, there aren’t enough to shine a light on […]
Credit unions: Still here to help!
It’s an inspiring time to be part of the international credit union movement. Credit unions from around the world are demonstrating the value of the credit union cooperative brand by investing in communities, drawing a line in the sand around deep social issues, and going the extra mile for their members and community. At a […]
Pandemic, polarization, purpose, and profit
Someday, hopefully soon, the pandemic will be a historical event that most consumers have bounced back from physically and financially. However, for many consumers the bounce-back time will take significantly longer or not happen at all. The financial aftermath of the pandemic will further accelerate the income and quality of life polarization already underway. Today, […]
The Tao of credit unionism
It’s easy to take a look at the world around us and see one huge, hot mess. Scroll social media or watch five minutes of the 10 o’clock news, and you’re quickly reminded that we live and work in a very chaotic time. Our society is polarized, politically and economically, and the shouting can be […]
World Credit Union Conference – diversity, development, and dedication, ignite!
Another successful World Credit Union Conference (WOCCU) has come to a close. What a fantastic experience, interacting with attendees from 61 countries around the world. Alison and I learned a lot and have a lot to share. Our biggest takeaway: the importance of diversity, development, and dedication. Diversity In the United States, diversity is an increasingly significant […]
Does size really matter?
We are fortunate to work with credit unions of all shapes and sizes. At YCUP, we collaborate with smaller credit unions that are vibrant, growing, and very relevant. We also interact with smaller credit unions that are not thriving and desperately trying to find a viable way forward. Similarly, we work with larger credit unions […]
The seven myths of serving lower income, underserved communities
We work with a large and growing number of credit unions considered best practices when it comes to serving lower-income and underserved communities. These credit unions are inspiring, and have each built resilient and profitable business models closely aligned with the credit union standard – “people helping people.” We’ve learned a lot from these best […]
Three conversations worth having with your team
The theme and focus of this article is inspired by Simon Sinek’s book, “Find Your Why,” and the hundreds of thought-provoking conversations I’ve had with credit union teams in search of finding their unique purpose and the secret sauce that makes them clearly different and better. I like to begin strategic conversations with a review […]
The CU Lagniappe and Baby Bea
I don’t know about you, but some days it’s hard not to let political nastiness and cultural polarization get me down. If it weren’t for important connections, I’d probably unplug from most social media – but I hang in there, and I’m glad that I do. Somewhere between posts from the angry right and the […]
