The CUInsight Experience

“If we continue to create environments that give people the chance to be whole humans, we’re going to see positive outcomes from that.” - Jill Nowacki

In episode 161 of The CUInsight Experience podcast, host Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com, sits down with Jill Nowacki, President and CEO of Humanidei.
This episode is brought to you by CUES, the credit union industry’s leading talent development solutions provider. After listening to our show, be sure to learn more about TalentNEXT, the conference that takes a laser-focused look at smart people strategies for your credit union. Register today!
The episode, titled "Future Proof," delves into the strategies and mindset required for credit unions to thrive in an ever-changing financial landscape.
Jill begins by emphasizing the importance of adapting to change and developing a future-proof mindset. She discusses the need for credit unions to embrace innovation, leverage technology, and cultivate a culture of continuous learning. According to Jill, organizations that are open to new ideas and willing to take calculated risks are more likely to succeed.
The conversation also explores the role of leadership in driving organizational transformation. Jill shares her insights on empowering teams, fostering collaboration, and creating an inclusive work environment. She emphasizes the significance of diversity and inclusion, both in terms of demographics and cognitive diversity, to drive innovation and better serve members.
Furthermore, the podcast delves into the evolving role of credit unions in their communities. Jill emphasizes the importance of community engagement and building strong relationships with members. She encourages credit unions to leverage their unique strengths, such as their cooperative structure and mission-driven focus, to make a positive impact on society.
Throughout the episode, Jill provides valuable insights and actionable advice for credit union leaders and professionals. By embracing change, fostering a culture of innovation, and staying connected to their communities, credit unions can position themselves for long-term success in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.
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
[email protected]
www.humanidei.comJill: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | MediumHumanidei: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

“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.
[email protected]https://yourmarketing.co/
Bo: LinkedIn | Twitter
Your Marketing Co.: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | InstagramPodcast: The Accidental Leader

“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
[email protected]
www.humanidei.com
Jill: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Medium
Humanidei: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

“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
[email protected]
https://www.sfcu.org/
Joan: LinkedIn
Stanford FCU: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Twitter

“We have the ability to make a direct, tangible difference in the lives of people.” - Heather McKissick

Thank you for tuning in to episode 168 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your host, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com. This episode is brought to you by PSCU, the nation’s premier payments CUSO and an integrated technology solutions provider. Visit PSCU.com to learn more and discover PSCUTV, a new thought leadership platform hosted by PSCU Chief Growth Officer, Brian Scott. Each episode explores top-of-mind insights in the credit union industry.

My guest on today's show is Heather McKissick, President and CEO at CUES. Heather shares her career journey comprised of mission-driven organizations which led her to where she is today. CUES is the leading talent development solutions provider to the credit union industry. Heather believes credit unions have the ultimate ability to make a tangible and intangible difference in people’s lives.

During our conversation, Heather and I talk about how credit unions can remain viable and relevant while staying member-centric. She shares the lasting impact mentors have had on her career, and the value of feedback through mentoring. Heather expresses the importance of creating a collaborative and facilitative environment for leaders to serve and guide their teams successfully. Listen as we discuss ways to remain viable in today’s economy while continuing to drive our movement forward.

As we wrap up the show, listen in as Heather talks about her insightful experience in Botswana, how she balances her personal and professional life, and her grandmother’s successful legacy. Enjoy my conversation with Heather McKissick!

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 Heather:
Heather McKissick, President and CEO at CUES
[email protected]
cues.org
Heather: LinkedInCUES: LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram