Mark Robnett - Change the Change (#132)

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
[email protected]
https://www.jfcu.org/
LinkedIn

“Digital transformation is about constantly reimagining how we can serve our members better.” - Mark Robnett

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
[email protected]
https://www.jfcu.org/
LinkedIn

Previous Episode

Elissa McCarter-LaBorde - Power of People (#131)

“A lot of people are not well-served by the financial sector, and that’s what we have to change.” - Elissa McCarter-LaBorde

Thank you for tuning in to episode 131 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 Elissa McCarter-LaBorde, President & CEO of the World Council of Credit Unions. She is new to the credit union industry, but spent over twenty years working in financial inclusion on a global scale. Most of her prior work was spent designing financial services for low-income populations; now, Elissa is bringing her skills and experience to credit unions across the globe. Elissa shares that she has loved to see the commitment, passion, and synergy with financial inclusion initiatives that are core to the credit union movement.

After graduate school, Elissa got her first role with a microcredit program as a debt collector in Armenia. This position deeply impacted her understanding of the relationship between people and finances. She expresses that gender distinctions, age, life cycle, financial access, and community support all factor into understanding the consumer. Elissa explains that for her, credit unison are a counterweight to banks and fintechs that have gone astray from supporting people. She shares that a business model prioritizing community reinvestment, such as the one credit unions employ, is really powerful, especially as there are many people who are both underserved or simply not well-served by the financial sector.

Elissa and I discuss financial health and inclusion, the power of people and networks, and the importance of diversity of thought in leadership. Elissa also brings up ways she approaches the art of feedback, both giving and receiving. Listen as Elissa talks about a very important early investment in her career, the “secret sauce” she thinks makes good leader, and the big footprint of credit unions across the world that has her most excited.

As we wrap up the show, Elissa shares interesting memories of a Yo-Yo Ma concert and the reasons she associates Michelle Obama with “success.” Enjoy my conversation with Elissa McCarter-LaBorde!

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 Elissa:
Elissa McCarter-LaBorde, President & CEO of the World Council of Credit Unions
[email protected]
https://www.woccu.org/
LinkedIn

Next Episode

Lily Newfarmer - Speak Your Truth (#133)

“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
[email protected]
https://www.tccu-tx.com/
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