The CUInsight Experience
CUInsight | Credit Union
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Welcome to The CUInsight Experience podcast, hosted by Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com. In each episode I have a wide ranging conversation about credit unions, leadership lessons learned over a career, and life with a thought leader in the credit union space. The goal of the show is to take a deep dive with the people who make our movement great and find the gems we can all learn from.
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Jill Nowacki - Strategic Impact (#148)
The CUInsight Experience
11/18/22 • 41 min
5.0
“Be aware of the impact your actions have and be intentional about making those a positive impact.” - Jill Nowacki
Thank you for tuning in to episode 148 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your host, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com. This episode is brought to you by Elan Credit Card. Elan partners with more than 250 credit unions to provide an outsourced credit card program, and offers merchant and mortgage services for credit union members and business owners.
My guest on today's show is Jill Nowacki, the President & CEO of Humanidei + O’Rourke, who also happens to be my human. In this episode, Jill and I reflect on our trip to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro for Climb Africa to benefit The ACCOSCA Academy and dive deep into DEI. We discuss the connections made on this trip and the insightful conversations we had. One of the main takeaways from the journey that Jill mentions is how interconnected we all are. She emphasizes the significance of mindfulness and being intentional in our actions because of how it truly impacts the world.
During our conversation, Jill discusses social context for the development of DEI in several systems in recent years. She explains how credit unions can better understand DEI to be a more inclusive system in society where every individual's strengths are valued, seen, and heard. Jill then dives into the strategic benefits of DEI for credit unions and their communities. She prompts teams to look at how they design an experience or a product offering and see who might be left out in order to reshape how we can reach more people.
Jill and I chat about the economic wellbeing of consumers and financial services. We talk about all things credit union when it comes to building a career including the current workforce, environment, and taking the next steps. Jill discusses the effectiveness of DEI programs and shares the value in assessing and measuring current systems beforehand. Listen to take the first step towards improved experiences that resonate and connect with more people.
As we wrap up the show, listen in as Jill mentions a quirky, yet insightful habit, who plays her in a biopic and why, along with some of the books she is currently reading. Enjoy my conversation with Jill Nowacki!
Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List
How to find Jill:
Jill Nowacki, President & CEO of Humanidei + O’Rourke
jill@humanidei.com
www.humanidei.com
Jill: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Medium
Humanidei: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
2 Listeners
1

Jill and Randy - Yes or No (#138)
The CUInsight Experience
07/01/22 • 38 min
5.0
“You can’t just build diversity, you have to bring in the equity to create an inclusive environment.” - Jill Nowacki
Thank you for tuning in to episode 138 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your host, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com. This episode is brought to you by Allied Solutions. Allied Solutions is focused on helping clients grow their bottom line, protect their business and members, and evolve to stay ahead of the competition.
My guest on today's show is Jill Nowacki, the President & CEO of Humanidei + O’Rourke, who also happens to be my human. In this episode, we chat about intentional living from two different angles with Jill being more of a “YES” person while I am more of a “NO” person. Jill reveals how she leads an intentional life and structures it to allow her to say, “yes” more often. She discusses the importance of creating work-life integration, and we share our different views of taking space and rest. During our conversation, Jill provides her thoughts on effective leadership and highlights the significance of feedback and collaboration when making decisions.
Throughout the episode, Jill shares the impact credit unions can have in reducing the racial wealth gap and putting an end to long-term systemic inequality. Jill encourages credit union leaders to have conversations about racial inequity and be more involved in their communities to better understand the issues people are facing. She also recommends credit unions design products and services to solve these economic issues.
The conversation comes full circle as we chat about intentionality in building diverse leadership teams and boards. Jill shares the importance of creating an inclusive environment and asking “the equity question” to structure systems in a way that doesn’t favor or leave out specific groups of people. Tune in to hear Jill’s advice on positively impacting our communities, diversity, equity and inclusion, and finding a seat at the right table.
As we wrap up the show, listen in as Jill and I share our laughter, stories, and curiosities. Enjoy my conversation with Jill Nowacki!
Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher
Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List
How to find Jill:
Jill Nowacki, President & CEO of Humanidei + O’Rourke
jill@humanidei.com
www.humanidei.com
Jill: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Medium
Humanidei: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
1 Listener
1

Joan Opp - Remove Speed Bumps (#140)
The CUInsight Experience
07/29/22 • 39 min
5.0
“Everyone should be focused on a digital experience.” - Joan Opp
Thank you for tuning in to episode 140 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your host, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com. This episode is brought to you by Elan Credit Card. Elan partners with more than 250 credit unions to provide an outsourced credit card program, and offers merchant and mortgage services for credit union members and business owners.
My guest on today's show is Joan Opp, President & CEO of Stanford Federal Credit Union. Joan started her career as a CPA, and gradually started working in the credit union industry. After years in this space, Joan is leading her team through the rapid changes happening in technology and member expectations. In this episode we chat about the future of the movement, including the one thing that all credit unions should be thinking about. She shares her thoughts on digital transformation and simplifying processes to attract members and better compete with fintechs in the market.
During our conversation, we discuss how credit unions can take traditional services and remove the “speed bumps” disrupting the member experience. Joan expresses the power of networking and the value it brings amongst the many opportunities in the industry. She also shares key characteristics that are critical when building a leadership team and how she gives feedback.
Joan offers team management insights from her time in leadership positions and as a CEO. She shares her thoughts on competing for talent; not between other credit unions in the industry, but competing with organizations in Silicon Valley. Joan emphasizes the value of the credit union mission and how it resonates with those who fit this financial space. Joan and I chat about getting past the, “This is how we’ve always done things,” mentality and discuss tips for showing people a fresh perspective to move the organization forward. Tune in to hear Joan discuss digital transformation, diversification, and team expectations.
As we wrap up the show, listen in while Joan shares which books she likes reading lately, why “Work hard. Play hard.” describes her approach to life, and which political figure she thinks is a successful person. Enjoy my conversation with Joan Opp!
Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher
Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List
How to find Joan:
Joan Opp, President & CEO of Stanford Federal Credit Union
joan@sfcu.org
https://www.sfcu.org/
Joan: LinkedIn
Stanford FCU: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Twitter
1 Listener
1

Bo McDonald - Accidental Leadership (#149)
The CUInsight Experience
12/02/22 • 43 min
5.0
“Think, be relevant, redefine your credit union.” - Bo McDonald
Thank you for tuning in to episode 149 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your host, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com. This episode is brought to you by Elan Credit Card. Elan partners with more than 250 credit unions to provide an outsourced credit card program, and offers merchant and mortgage services for credit union members and business owners.
My guest on today's show is Bo McDonald, Founder, President, and CEO at Your Marketing Co. Bo shares how his passion for credit unions evolved through his career journey from radio to marketing, and his newest venture, hosting a podcast. He gives powerful advice to encourage credit unions to redefine marketing and focus on relevancy and authenticity to stay ahead in this ever-changing industry.
During our conversation, Bo shares the one concept that is both a challenge for credit unions and one that he is most excited about seeing in the future of the movement. Bo tells us about his new podcast called, The Accidental Leader where he shares insights based on his experiences to help others grow in their leadership role and build a positive culture. He discusses the key to being a good leader is having a vision, looking forward, and being able to communicate the vision effectively to your team.
Bo and I chat about building and growing a team. He emphasizes the importance of empathy and maintaining the culture, especially when adding new members to the team. We discuss the future of work and the best ways to maintain a team’s culture in a hybrid or fully remote work environment. He shares the greatest investment made in his career and advises listeners who are working towards becoming a CEO to, “Invest in yourself.”
As we wrap up the show, Bo talks about an emotional yet uniting moment within a business setting. He shares how he accidentally got into real estate, the leadership books he enjoys most, and advises listeners to, “go to the concert.” Enjoy my conversation with Bo McDonald!
Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher
Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List
How to find Bo:
Bo McDonald, Founder, President, & CEO at Your Marketing Co.
bo@yourmarketingco.comhttps://yourmarketing.co/
Bo: LinkedIn | Twitter
Your Marketing Co.: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | InstagramPodcast: The Accidental Leader
1 Listener
1

Ricky Otey - First Things First (#139)
The CUInsight Experience
07/15/22 • 35 min
5.0
“You have to be willing to get out there, go forward, and not worry about yesterday’s mistakes.” - Ricky Otey
Thank you for tuning in to episode 139 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your host, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com. This episode is brought to you by Elan Credit Card. Elan partners with more than 250 credit unions to provide an outsourced credit card program, and offers merchant and mortgage services for credit union members and business owners.
My guest on today's show is Ricky Otey, President & CEO of Partners Federal Credit Union. Ricky has worked in the financial services industry as an executive for 30 years. In this episode, we chat about the professional and personal connections that can strengthen your career trajectory. He expresses excitement for the future of credit unions and shares insights on staying relevant and focused on growth. He also discusses the value of having a mentor (and also being a mentor) to receive guidance and gain greater opportunities throughout your career.
During our conversation, Ricky dives into the greatest investment he made in his career that shaped his thought process. Ricky also shares two critical questions he asks himself when building a leadership team. We discuss the importance of establishing expectations and behaviors through a feedback model; situation, behavior and impact. Ricky discusses the importance of connecting with employees and sharing strategic plans to provide clarity about the organization’s objectives.
Ricky and I chat about taking on new risks and innovating for the future. We also talk about accountability and knowing when to pull the plug on an idea. Ricky chats about the benefits of remote work; specifically, the larger talent pool and increased opportunities that credit unions can now offer future employees. Tune in to hear Ricky discuss team expectations, strategic planning, and storytelling.
As we wrap up the show, listen in as Ricky shares how he finds balance in life, his favorite album of all time, and the countless lessons learned from his father. Enjoy my conversation with Ricky Otey!
Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher
Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List
How to find Ricky:
Ricky Otey, President & CEO of Partners Federal Credit Union
theofficeoftheceo@partnersfcu.org
www.partnersfcu.org
LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook
1 Listener
1

Mark Robnett - Change the Change (#132)
The CUInsight Experience
04/08/22 • 39 min
“Digital transformation is about constantly reimagining how we can serve our members better.” - Mark Robnett
Thank you for tuning in to episode 132 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your host, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com. This episode is brought to you by Allied Solutions. Allied Solutions is focused on helping clients grow their bottom line, protect their business and members, and evolve to stay ahead of the competition.
My guest on today's show is Mark Robnett, President & CEO of Justice Federal Credit Union. Mark came up through his career with a technology background. In each new role, he grew his skills and experience through continuous learning, taking on the chief executive role at the credit union in 2018. During this episode, Mark shares that he is most excited about the credit union industry’s strategic move to embrace fintech. We chat about how powerful technology is, and Mark explains the credit union’s push to use business intelligence and data analytics to better understand their members.
In this conversation, Mark talks about the ways that digital transformation should be more than just a project. He believes that technology is an equalizer, allowing smaller organizations to seem larger because of their technology, despite the cost. Mark shares about the investment in his career that has had the most impact: seeking out and collecting great mentors. He recounts the ways he opens doors for more leaders like him in return.
Throughout this episode, Mark shares lots of quotes and sayings that resonate with him. We discuss what makes a good leadership team like a good stew, and the qualities that Mark looks for in members of his team. Optimism and trust make a good leader, in Mark’s opinion. Tune in to hear his thoughts on organizational culture in a hybrid workplace, building an environment of trust, and knowing the right time to abort a new project.
As we wrap up the show, Mark shares a leader who gave him impactful advice, the recent read he recommends, and his favorite album of all time. Enjoy my conversation with Mark Robnett!
Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher
Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List
How to find Mark:
Mark Robnett, President & CEO of Justice Federal Credit Union
robnettm@jfcu.org
https://www.jfcu.org/
LinkedIn

Lily Newfarmer - Speak Your Truth (#133)
The CUInsight Experience
04/22/22 • 39 min
“Have confidence, have passion, and go out and conquer where you can.” - Lily Newfarmer
Thank you for tuning in to episode 133 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your host, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com. This episode is brought to you by Allied Solutions. Allied Solutions is focused on helping clients grow their bottom line, protect their business and members, and evolve to stay ahead of the competition.
My guest on today's show is Lily Newfarmer, President & CEO of Tarrant County’s Credit Union, and also a founder and the board chair of the Credit Union Women's Leadership Alliance (CUWLA). Lily shares her unique story of getting into the credit union movement and the many life lessons she learned along the way. After time spent at the helm of Tarrant County’s Credit Union, Lily and others came together to form CUWLA in a collective effort to support women-CEOs of small credit unions.
As we start the episode, Lily shares her belief that the future of the credit union movement is in good hands with so many talented and passionate young professionals. Lily expresses her excitement about the system support that is newly offered to small credit unions (who are mostly run by women) through CUWLA and other organizations. Credit unions of all sizes should invest in training and education for their people, in Lily’s opinion. She provides good ideas for how leaders can find and provide those opportunities to their team members and notes that training is one of her biggest budget items.
When adding a new member to her team, Lily usually looks for skillset, attitude, and willingness to learn in addition to two other critical attributes. Lily and I also discuss being a good CEO, leading by example, and building a culture of vulnerability. She also shares her philosophy around the CEO-board relationship and her ability to keep her cool under pressure. Throughout the episode, Lily also chats about what has impressed and amazed her most lately, both personally and professionally.
As we wrap up the show, Lily talks about the power of love, the book she read most recently, and the best piece of advice her dad gave her. Enjoy my conversation with Lily Newfarmer!
Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher
Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List
How to find Lily:
Lily Newfarmer, President & CEO of Tarrant County’s Credit Union
lnewfarmer@tccu-tx.com
https://www.tccu-tx.com/
LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

D’Amico and Schultz - Community and Culture (#136)
The CUInsight Experience
06/03/22 • 36 min
“We want people that are authentic, and passionate, and want to do what’s best for members.” - Jennifer D’Amico
Thank you for tuning in to episode 136 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your host, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com. This episode is brought to you by Allied Solutions. Allied Solutions is focused on helping clients grow their bottom line, protect their business and members, and evolve to stay ahead of the competition.
My guests on today's show are Jennifer D’Amico and Randy Schultz. Jen is the VP of Marketing at Commonwealth Central Credit Union. Randy is the VP of Marketing at Strum Agency. This episode is filled with insights from two marketing experts in the credit union industry, and was recorded in front of a live audience at the 2022 MAC Conference in Chicago. Jen and Randy talk about what gets them most excited for the future of the movement including data, culture, member experience, and change.
During our conversation, Jen and Randy dive into the greatest investment made in each of their careers. Coincidentally, they share similar thoughts on how they immerse themselves in the credit union community. They express the importance of creating connections, continuing education, and sharing ideas to stay relevant in the industry. Together we chat about what to look for in building a strong team that understands the culture and the “why” of the organization.
Jen talks about taking risks in marketing and the balancing act of driving new business and showing positive results, while sharing member stories. Randy gives tips to stay up to date in marketing and speaks on the importance of shifting our mindsets. We chat about the future of the credit union movement and the need to humanize the financial services industry to attract talent.
As we wrap up the show, listen in as Jen and Randy discuss work-life balance, Randy’s favorite album of all time, and the best combo: Pelotons and puppies. Enjoy my conversation with Jen and Randy!
Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher
Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List
How to find Jen:
Jennifer D’Amico, VP of Marketing at Commonwealth Central Credit Union
jdamico@wealthcu.org
https://www.wealthcu.org
LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
How to find Randy:
Randy Schultz, VP of Marketing at Strum Agency
randy.schultz@strumagency.com
https://www.strumagency.com
LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Tiffany Ford - Dynamic Impact (#129)
The CUInsight Experience
02/25/22 • 37 min
“Willingness goes miles for me.” - Tiffany Ford
Thank you for tuning in to episode 129 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your host, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com. This episode is brought to you by Humanidei. Humanidei helps credit unions build inclusive cultures that attract, develop, and retain talent.
My guest on today's show is Tiffany Ford, President & CEO of the University of Michigan Credit Union. She talks about the career switch that brought her from public accounting to credit unions. Tiffany is the recipient of the 2018 Professional of the Year Award from the Michigan Credit Union League & Affiliates (MCUL). All her insights on leadership, team culture, and more are discussed in today’s episode.
Tiffany focuses on the dynamic impact credit unions can have on the communities they serve. She shares her perspective, honing in on three attributes she looks for in a great teammate. She describes the ways she is both true to herself and the best version of herself, and explains the invaluable investment others have made in her along her journey to CEO. A solid team requires strong communication, like effective feedback that is a direct and collaborative dialogue. Tiffany gives her stories of what works for her and her team in terms of direct feedback, strong communication, and the one thing she doesn’t want to hear in an interview.
Tiffany and I discuss the future of remote work and the ways to keep culture strong no matter where employees are located. We explore how credit unions can continue to evolve, especially in technology, while upholding the mission of serving the members. This conversation gives us the chance to discuss how to can create an atmosphere where your team is willing to take risks with you. Listen as Tiffany shares her advice for new leaders on taking risks, managing the board-CEO relationship, knowing when it’s time to take vacation, and more.
Tiffany goes further in the conversation on the idea of cultivating work-life balance for her teams. She says that she starts with herself as an example, and reveals how her support systems inside and outside of her workplace play a role in reminding her of this balance. She returns that energy to those around her by identifying the potential in a person and giving back. Tune in for books she enjoys, her favorite artists, and more. Enjoy my conversation with Tiffany Ford!
Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher
Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List
How to find Tiffany:
Tiffany Ford, President & CEO of the University of Michigan Credit Union
tford@umcu.org
https://www.umcu.org/
LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter

Lucas Tindell - Invest Your Time (#134)
The CUInsight Experience
05/06/22 • 41 min
“Make the change, be the change, or get swept away in the current of change.” - Lucas Tindell
Thank you for tuning in to episode 134 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your host, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com. This episode is brought to you by Allied Solutions. Allied Solutions is focused on helping clients grow their bottom line, protect their business and members, and evolve to stay ahead of the competition.
My guest on today's show is author, speaker, trainer, and business and life coach, Lucas Tindell. He is also the keynote speaker for the CUInsight Mini-Con: CHANGE event on May 25. Lucas shares how he helps people connect the dots between what they want and what it takes to achieve it. He also talks about building emotional intelligence (EQ), developing leadership skills, and creating intentionality in life and work.
As we start the episode, Lucas shares how his career began by serving his community, much like credit unions do. Lucas talks about the importance of taking control of your time and having stronger intentions than your distractions. Lucas believes emotional intelligence starts with being in control of yourself, ensuring you are able to better connect with others. He also emphasizes self-awareness, empathy, and social skills as critical components of effective leadership.
Lucas encourages leaders to be the ones who push their team up from the bottom rather than pull them from the top. He shares the importance of having a balance of system, structure, order, and vision to lead people towards a unified goal. Lucas dives into the greatest investment he’s ever made in his career and the importance of building bridges before you need them. Listen to his insights on making feedback more effective with competency and behavior markers, investing time vs. spending time, and prioritizing core relationships in a work-life balance.
As we wrap up the show, Lucas talks about the figurative keys of success, Michael Jackson’s Thriller album, and his inspirational wife. Enjoy my conversation with Lucas Tindell!
Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher
Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List
How to find Lucas:
Lucas Tindell, Author, Speaker, Trainer, and Business & Life Coach
lucas@tindelltraining.com
www.lucastindell.com
LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
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