LeeAnn Case of St. Cloud  talks about what the Global Women's Leadership Network means to women in the credit union movement. With 30 years in the industry, LeeAnn reflects on the mentors who lifted her up — and her intentional commitment to do the same for the next generation. A powerful conversation about mastery, community, and the lasting impact of women supporting women in financial services.

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SECU President & CEO Leigh Brady joins CU Spotlight's Shirley Senn at the 2026 GAC Global Women's Leadership Network luncheon to share why this community matters. From spotlighting female leaders to giving women that "little nudge" of confidence, Leigh reflects on the power of mutual support, the credit union cooperative spirit, and what it means to lift others as you rise.

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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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In this candid conversation at GAC 2026's Inclusive CDFI Roundtable, Shirley Sinn chats with James Hunter of New Orleans Firemen's Federal Credit Union to explore what financial inclusion really looks like in practice.

 James shares how his credit union's dedicated financial inclusion team works one-on-one with members facing loan denials — turning adverse decisions into personalized pathways toward financial wellbeing.

 From budgeting conversations to credit migration, he breaks down how empathy, patience, and a people-first philosophy can move members from predatory loans all the way to homeownership. A powerful reminder that at a credit union, you're more than a number — you're a member.

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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, 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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