In this candid conversation at the 2026 GAC, Shirley Senn and  Chad Miller, President & CEO of Southwest Louisiana Credit Union, explore what financial inclusion really looks like on the ground.

From battling predatory lending to launching micro-business loans for startups, Chad shares how his credit union is working to unite a community long divided by economic disparity — turning the "tale of two cities" into one Lake Charles. At the heart of it all? Empathy.

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At the 2026 GAC Inclusive CDFI Roundtable, Point West Credit Union's Steve Pagenstecher chats with CU Spotlight's Shirley Senn to share how a small Portland-based credit union is making a massive impact. From a strategic merger with the NAACP Credit Union to serving immigrant communities, Point West is proving that empathy-driven banking isn't just possible — it's powerful. Learn how they're opening doors for communities shut out by traditional financial services, building credit, and championing the idea that people do things for reasons, not because they're bad people.

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Shirley Senn meets Thalia Anguaino and Celia Castillo from TruStage ahead of the Inclusive CDFI Roundtable. The conversation explores why financial inclusion is at the heart of the credit union mission—from creating belonging within credit union teams to ensuring every member feels seen and supported. Thalia shares how employee well-being directly shapes the member experience, while Celia highlights how empathy in research builds the trust needed to reach underserved communities. A powerful reminder that helping people starts from within.

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At the 2026 GAC CU 2.0 reception, Shirley Senn of CU Spotlight talks with Anna Khazlova, co-founder of Jupid, to explore why 50% of small businesses fail within five years — and how Jupid is tackling the root cause: compliance. Anna shares her vision for embedding compliance, accounting, and tax tools directly within credit unions, giving small business owners a single trusted space to manage everything that matters. 

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At the 2026 Credit Union Governmental Affairs Conference, host Shirley Senn chats with James Savoldelli, founder of Pesto, to explore how his fintech company is partnering with credit unions to give members access to their home equity — at a fraction of the cost. 

With average HELOC rates of 7–8% versus the 24%+ charged by major banks, Pesto's credit card product is designed to break the cycle of high-interest debt and keep members away from predatory lenders. James shares his personal journey into the credit union space, the mission-first mindset behind Pesto, and why the "people helping people" philosophy of credit unions made them a natural — and powerful — partner. 

A must-watch for credit union leaders looking to deepen financial inclusion for underserved communities.

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Karan Bhalla, founder of AI Advantage, shares how COVID pushed credit unions into digital-first operations — and in doing so, eroded the personal service that defines the movement. 

AI Advantage uses member data to personalize every communication, making members feel truly known. Their affordable, easy-to-use marketing platform is already empowering small credit unions (some under $35M in assets) to run campaigns in 15 minutes — helping them compete, connect, and live out the "people helping people" mission in the digital age.

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At the 2026 Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC), host Shirley Senn chats with Matt Sweeney and Chris Slinger of Lockton Insurance to discuss what makes their partnership with credit unions so meaningful. From corporate insurance and bonding to employee benefits, Lockton shares how their work aligns with the credit union philosophy of people helping people—supporting both members and the employees who serve them. 

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At the 2026 Governmental Affairs Conference, CU Spotlight's Shirley Sennchats with Shree (Shreenath Regunathan), founder of Starlight, to discuss how his fintech company is helping credit unions proactively connect members with financial assistance programs—like utility aid, SNAP, childcare, and down payment support. Available in all 50 states and now a CUSO, Starlight's mission-driven approach closely aligns with the credit union philosophy of people helping people.

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 At GAC 2026, host Jonathan Taylor sits down with Alexey, founder of Boucoup — the family banking platform designed to eliminate the fear and stress of money for the next generation.

Alexey shares his raw founder journey: from running a 35-person mobile consulting firm in Silicon Valley to a pivotal moment when a credit union's app cratered to 1-star reviews—and how that crisis became the spark that launched a product company.

He opens up about the gut-wrenching decision to shut down a profitable consulting business, the hard work of shifting his team's mindset, and how replacing corporate buzzwords with a clear human mission—"eradicate the fear and stress of money"—unlocked creativity and momentum across his entire team.

Plus: why Boucoup's family banking product (think parent-to-child loans with real interest, due dates, and late fees) is the feature Alexey is most fired up about right now.

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Recorded live at GAC 2026 at the Museum of Illusions, hosts Jonathan Taylor (BankSocial/CU Spotlight) and David Dean (EFTG) sit down with Craig McLaughlin, founder of Finalytics AI. 

Craig shares the raw, unfiltered truth about entrepreneurship—from being "dragged through glass on your stomach" to mastering the shift from doer to manager to leader. He breaks down how to hire for culture over credentials, inspire a team without micromanaging, and build a self-policing organization grounded in shared values. 

Whether you're one person in a booth or scaling a growing company, Craig's insights will sharpen your leadership and fuel your next move. 

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