“When we have presence, it creates space for trust, clarity, and a real, true connection.” - Jill Nowacki

Welcome to episode 217 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your hosts, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com, and Jill Nowacki, President and CEO of Humanidei.

This episode is sponsored by The Sheeter Group - a leading executive benefits firm that meets your retention and succession needs. This includes non-qualified benefit plans, short and long-term incentive plans, compensation studies, scorecard design, performance evaluation, and more. Learn more at sheetergroup.com.

In this season, Jill and I will have conversations centered around leadership, credit unions, and living our best lives. We will have some of the most respected leaders from around credit unions who we are grateful to call friends join us in the discussion from time to time too.

In this episode, we discuss all things presence and the importance of being present as a leader. Presence is the ability to truly show up mentally, emotionally, and energetically for your team and organization, and it’s something that all leaders struggle with at one point in time or another, ourselves included. We discuss how a leader’s presence shapes the team—without it, distractions, rushed decisions, and confusion take hold, but with it, trust, clarity, and connection flourish.

We also highlight the need for leaders to be intentional about creating space in their schedules, setting boundaries, and resisting the impulse to jump between tasks or immediately respond to messages. Listen as we share some personal stories and insights around the struggle to disconnect, stay focused, and resist the urge to constantly check devices.

We ultimately conclude that while presence may be one of the most overlooked leadership skills, it is also one of the most impactful, and by committing to regular practice and creating the conditions to truly show up and be present, leaders can unlock new levels of focus, connection, and effectiveness for themselves, their teams, and their organizations! We hope that you enjoy our conversation on presence!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Audiobook mentioned: An Everyone Culture: Becoming a Deliberately Developmental Organization by Robert Kegan, Lisa Laskow, et al.

Previous guests mentioned: Leo Ardine (episodes 21 & 150)

“Sometimes there are monumental changes, but other times it’s what can you do today to get one step closer?" - Randy Smith

Welcome to episode 216 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your hosts, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com, and Jill Nowacki, President and CEO of Humanidei.

This episode is sponsored by The Sheeter Group - a leading executive benefits firm that meets your retention and succession needs. This includes non-qualified benefit plans, short and long-term incentive plans, compensation studies, scorecard design, performance evaluation, and more. Learn more at sheetergroup.com.

In this season, Jill and I will have conversations centered around leadership, credit unions, and living our best lives. We will have some of the most respected leaders from around credit unions who we are grateful to call friends join us in the discussion from time to time too.

In this episode, Jill and I talk about all things pivoting - when you realize the path that you're on isn't the one you need to stay on. It can be a strategic shift, a leadership adjustment, or even a whole new direction. The need to pivot can come from burnout, boredom, or external factors such as failing to meet success metrics. We discuss how internal signs such as lack of creativity or excitement for the work can also indicate that it's time for a change.

Pivoting can be really difficult, as it requires overcoming our natural human desire for stability, and Jill and I discuss how leaders have the added challenge of bringing their teams along through the transition. We remind you that being transparent about the reasons behind the pivot, the expected outcomes and potential challenges, and inviting input from your team can all help ease the process for everyone. Celebrating milestones and small wins along the way is also important to maintain morale.

We also highlight how pivots don't have to be monumental shifts; sometimes, it's the "two degree" changes that open up new opportunities. The key, though, is being attuned to all of the signals that are trying to tell you that it's time to make a move, so whether in your career, your organization, or your personal life, the ability to recognize when it's time to pivot can be one of the healthiest and most impactful decisions that you make. The path forward may not be certain, but the alternative of staying stuck is often so much worse!

We hope that this episode offers you some great insight! As always, feel free to reach out to us and share your thoughts! We would love to hear from you!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts and Spotify
Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List

“No matter how much success you achieve, you won’t feel like you’re enough if you aren’t fulfilled in the success you have.” – Jill Nowacki

Welcome to episode 215 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your hosts, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com, and Jill Nowacki, President and CEO of Humanidei.

This episode is sponsored by The Sheeter Group - a leading executive benefits firm that meets your retention and succession needs. This includes non-qualified benefit plans, short and long-term incentive plans, compensation studies, scorecard design, performance evaluation, and more. Learn more at sheetergroup.com.

In this season, Jill and I will have conversations centered around leadership, credit unions, and living our best lives. We will have some of the most respected leaders from around credit unions who we are grateful to call friends join us in the discussion from time to time too.

In this episode, we are doing something a little bit out of the ordinary because we don’t have a guest - it’s just the two of us, but this is an incredibly important topic that will probably ring familiar to many of you. What does it mean to redefine success on our own terms and be enough? We discuss how our definitions of success have changed over time, moving away from external measures like titles, growth, and numbers and instead focusing on internal fulfillment and joy.

We share how comparison can be the "thief of joy” and highlight the importance of self-reflection to truly understand what success means to you as an individual. We provide some insights into tools such as the "Wheel of Life" which can help leaders assess different areas of their lives and identify where they may feel a sense of imbalance or lack of fulfillment.

Beyond the resume, we also highlight unique "off the resume" wins that speak to our values and the way we choose to lead our lives, discussing what it looks like to lead from a place of "enough" - recognizing that there actually is no one-size-fits-all definition of success and that true resilience and growth come from a place of self-acceptance as well as self-improvement!

We hope that this episode offers you some practical tips, such as identifying personal rituals that help ground and center you when you're feeling off-balance. As always, feel free to reach out to us and share your thoughts! We would love to hear from you!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts and Spotify
Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List
Previous episode mentioned: #4

“It’s not about you—and if you remember that, you’re making it about the people you serve.” – John Bratsakis

Welcome to episode 214 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your hosts, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight, and Jill Nowacki, President and CEO of Humanidei.

This episode is sponsored by The Sheeter Group - a leading executive benefits firm that meets your retention and succession needs. This includes non-qualified benefit plans, short and long-term incentive plans, compensation studies, scorecard design, performance evaluation, and more. Learn more at sheetergroup.com.

In this season, Jill and I will have conversations centered around leadership, credit unions, and living our best lives. We will have some of the most respected leaders from around credit unions who we are grateful to call friends join us in the discussion from time to time too.

In this episode, we are joined by John Bratsakis, President & CEO of Maryland & DC Credit Union Association. We explore the power of vulnerability, uncertainty, and imperfection as essential parts of leadership that really need to be embraced, not avoided. John shares how he has dealt with leading through challenging times by leaning into his humanity.

Listen as John reflects on pivotal moments in his career when he had to admit that didn't know what to do and how that helped open the door to more authentic, collaborative leadership. He shares how a tragic loss on his team taught him the importance of leading with compassion and how navigating a tough time in history with his staff required embracing vulnerability as well as a willingness to accept the fact that they did not have all the answers.

As we discuss, this shift from trying to be the perfect, all-knowing leader to embracing one's own humanity is a journey which many of us face. We also reflect on our own experiences with leaders who modeled authenticity as opposed to those who tried to project an image of perfection.

Ultimately, the key takeaway is that true leadership is not about having all the answers but is rather about creating a safe space for collaboration, learning, and growth—even (or especially) when we don't know what the right path forward is. By showing up with both vulnerability and intentionality, we give our teams permission to do the same—unlocking creativity, empathy, and the best of what we can collectively achieve!

Happy listening, and, as always, please feel free to reach out to us with our own thoughts and/or questions! Enjoy our conversation with John Bratsakis!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

How to find John:
John Bratsakis, President & C.E.O. of Maryland & DC Credit Union Association
mddccua.org
John: LinkedIn
Maryland & DC Credit Union Association: LinkedIn | Facebook | X | YouTube

Want to hear more from John? Click here.

“Every time I’ve just been myself, it’s really worked to my advantage.” - Patty Corkery

Welcome to episode 213 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your hosts, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight, and Jill Nowacki, President and CEO of Humanidei.

This episode is sponsored by The Sheeter Group - a leading executive benefits firm that meets your retention and succession needs. This includes non-qualified benefit plans, short and long-term incentive plans, compensation studies, scorecard design, performance evaluation, and more. Learn more at sheetergroup.com.

In this season, Jill and I will have conversations centered around leadership, credit unions, and living our best lives. We will have some of the most respected leaders from around credit unions who we are grateful to call friends join us in the discussion from time to time too.

In this episode, we are joined by repeat guest Patty Corkery, the president and CEO of the Michigan Credit Union League. She comes on board to discuss the idea of "releasing to evolve" as leaders, sharing some truly insightful reflections on the mindset shifts and unlearning that often must happen as we take on more senior roles.

One big theme that resonates with us is this idea of having to let go of the need to be liked, especially when you're in a position in which you must make tough decisions. Patty talks about how she has had to work on being more direct and not worrying so much about everyone approving of her and we talk about the human desire to be an approachable, fun leader, versus having to put on the CEO hat and make uncomfortable calls.

We also dive into the challenge of adjusting your communication style as you move up, with Patty sharing a great piece of advice that she got about how "your whisper is a roar" at the executive level. It is a fine line to walk—being authentic while also being mindful of the weight that your words carry.

This is a truly thought-provoking conversation about the evolution required to be an effective senior leader, and Patty offers a lot to reflect on and think about. Enjoy our conversation with Patty Corkery! 

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts and Spotify

How to find Patty:
Patty Corkery, President & CEO of the Michigan Credit Union League
mcul.org
Patty: LinkedIn
Michigan Credit Union League: LinkedIn | Facebook | X | YouTube

Want to hear more from Patty? Click here.

“I can give you the blueprint, but you’ve got to own your own development” - Ty Muse

Welcome to episode 212 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your hosts, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight, and Jill Nowacki, President and CEO of Humanidei.

This episode is sponsored by The Sheeter Group - a leading executive benefits firm that meets your retention and succession needs. This includes non-qualified benefit plans, short and long-term incentive plans, compensation studies, scorecard design, performance evaluation, and more. Learn more at sheetergroup.com.

In this season, Jill and I will have conversations centered around leadership, credit unions, and living our best lives. We will have some of the most respected leaders from around credit unions who we are grateful to call friends join us in the discussion from time to time too.

In this episode, we are joined by repeat guest Ty Muse, President & CEO at Visions Federal Credit Union who joins us for an insightful conversation about building legacy in real-time. As leaders, we often get caught up in the day-to-day grind, but Ty shares a truly refreshing perspective—that legacy isn't some far-off concept but is about the people we develop along the way.

Ty passionately opens up about his Lead On and Lead In programs, which prepare future leaders within his organization—but his mentorship extends beyond his own walls, actively seeking out rising stars in the credit union industry and connecting them with opportunities, resources and seasoned veterans who can help them grow. This concept of "sponsorship" versus mentorship truly resonates with us!

Ty also challenges the idea of "big vs. small" credit unions, arguing that we're all part of the same cooperative movement. He believes that larger institutions have the responsibility to support and uplift the smaller ones because we are ultimately stronger together, and this collaborative mindset is so refreshing and inspiring in an industry that can sometimes feel divided.

Ultimately, Ty's overarching message is about making the most of the precious time that we have. He doesn't just find time for mentorship—he makes it a priority because he sees it as an investment that pays dividends, both for the mentor and the mentee. His insights on work-life balance, vulnerability as a leader, and empowering boards are equally thought-provoking, and this is a conversation that is sure to leave you feeling inspired to build our own legacies in real-time. Enjoy our conversation with Ty Muse!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts and Spotify

How to find Ty:
President & CEO at Visions Federal Credit Union
visionsfcu.org
Ty: LinkedIn
Visions Federal Credit Union: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X | YouTube | TikTok

“We must really control the inputs we are taking into our brain.” - Lauren Culp

Welcome to episode 211 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your hosts, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight, and Jill Nowacki, President and CEO of Humanidei.

This episode is sponsored by Alacriti—a leading payments fintech helping credit unions compete with challenger banks and digital wallets. Alacriti delivers seamless, real-time money movement experiences for loan payments, A2A transfers, digital disbursements, and bill pay. With a single, cloud-native platform that connects to The Clearing House, Fedwire, ACH, and FedNow, credit unions can modernize without overhauling legacy infrastructure. Learn more at Alacriti.com.

In this season, Jill and I will have conversations centered around leadership, credit unions, and living our best lives. We will have some of the most respected leaders from around credit unions who we are grateful to call friends join us in the discussion from time to time too.

In this episode, we are joined by Lauren Culp, Executive Director at the National Credit Union Foundation (and former President and CEO at CUInsight). She joins us to talk about energy, not just as a buzzword but as a very real challenge that leaders must face. Lauren reflects on what depletes her and what restores her, including deleting social media off her phone. We explore the difference between being productive and being present and how hard it is to do both when you’re living in a steady stream of notifications and back-to-back meetings.

We also open up about learning to say no, what boundaries look like in leadership, and how to tell the difference between what is actually urgent and what just feels urgent. Whether it’s blocking no-meeting days, turning off email notifications, or just having the self-awareness to admit that you are “out of words,” these are the tools that help us stay grounded rather than just efficient, especially since there is a difference between being productive and actually being present.

Join us for an insightful conversation about being human and about protecting the parts of ourselves that leadership can easily burn through if we aren't being careful. If you’ve ever found yourself feeling scattered, exhausted, and completely out of energy, then this episode is definitely for you. Enjoy our conversation with Lauren Culp!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts and Spotify
Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List

How to find Lauren:
Lauren Culp, Executive Director at the National Credit Union Foundation
ncuf.coop
Lauren: LinkedIn
NCUF: LinkedIn | 

“...You establish trust with your team by being... willing to be vulnerable enough to, as a leader... to say... that's something that I hadn't thought about. That is an expertise that I don't have right now.” - Greg Michlig

Welcome to episode 210 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your hosts, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com, and Jill Nowacki, President and CEO of Humanidei.

This episode is sponsored by Alacriti—a leading payments fintech helping credit unions compete with challenger banks and digital wallets. Alacriti delivers seamless, real-time money movement experiences for loan payments, A2A transfers, digital disbursements, and bill pay. With a single, cloud-native platform that connects to The Clearing House, Fedwire, ACH, and FedNow, credit unions can modernize without overhauling legacy infrastructure. Learn more at Alacriti.com.

In this season, Jill and I will have conversations centered around leadership, credit unions, and living our best lives. We will have some of the most respected leaders from around credit unions who we are grateful to call friends join us in the discussion from time to time too.

In this episode, we are joined by Greg Michlig, CUInsight’s very own CEO, who joins us to talk about the power of paradox. Leadership, after all, isn’t always about having the answers. Leadership is a practice of holding tension and of living in the in-between, and we talk about the power and challenge of paradox in leadership. What does it look like to lead with both confidence and humility, to show strength while also admitting to what you don’t know?

Greg brings some personal stories and honest reflections that make you want to follow him, not because he claims to have all the answers but because he knows how to ask the right questions. We explore what it means to lead in uncertain times without pretending to be certain, and how the best leaders learn to embrace complexity rather than run from it.

We also get personal when we share how reframing the idea of “being right” vs. “getting it right” can change how we show up, and we reflect on the uncomfortable (and sometimes hilarious) experience of feeling like an imposter and a winner… at the exact same time!

If you have ever felt the pressure to perform, to decide fast, or to prove yourself worthy of your title, this episode offers something better than advice: a breath of honesty, a few good questions, and some encouragement to lead like a real human, and we encourage you to listen in!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List

How to find Greg:
Greg Michlig, C.E.O. at CUInsight
cuinsight.com
Greg: LinkedIn
CUInsight: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | X

Want to hear more from Greg? Click here.

“Leaning into your best self—that's what brings joy and happiness.” – Tracie Kenyon

Welcome to episode 209 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your hosts, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight, and Jill Nowacki, President and CEO of Humanidei.

This episode is sponsored by Alacriti—a leading payments fintech helping credit unions compete with challenger banks and digital wallets. Alacriti delivers seamless, real-time money movement experiences for loan payments, A2A transfers, digital disbursements, and bill pay. With a single, cloud-native platform that connects to The Clearing House, Fedwire, ACH, and FedNow, credit unions can modernize without overhauling legacy infrastructure. Learn more at Alacriti.com.

In this season, Jill and I will have conversations centered around leadership, credit unions, and living our best lives. We will have some of the most respected leaders from around credit unions who we are grateful to call friends join us in the discussion from time to time too.

In this episode, we are joined by a familiar voice—Tracie Kenyon, Executive Development Partner at Humanidei—to discuss the importance of leaders doing inner work: what we bring into the room before the meeting even starts. Even though it's often said that feelings do not belong in the workplace, nothing could be further from the truth.

Inner work is messy, ongoing, and, at times, uncomfortable—but it is also where the most meaningful improvements in leadership happen. Tracie helps us explore what it really looks like to lead from the inside out.

We also reflect on our own growth, and Tracie reminds us that leadership isn’t always about having the right answers but about staying curious, staying grounded, and letting go of the idea that we have to always be perfect and in control of everything.

Whether you are leading a team or leading yourself through a tough season, this episode is for you. Enjoy our conversation with Tracie Kenyon!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts and Spotify

How to find Tracie:
Tracie Kenyon, Executive Development Partner at Humanidei
humanidei.com
Tracie: LinkedIn
Humanidei: LinkedIn | Facebook | X

Want to hear more from Tracie? Click here.

“Trust is the currency that keeps credit unions thriving.” - Jill Nowacki

 Welcome to episode 208 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your hosts, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com, and Jill Nowacki, President and CEO of Humanidei.

This episode is sponsored by Alacriti—a leading payments fintech helping credit unions compete with challenger banks and digital wallets. Alacriti delivers seamless, real-time money movement experiences for loan payments, A2A transfers, digital disbursements, and bill pay. With a single, cloud-native platform that connects to The Clearing House, Fedwire, ACH, and FedNow, credit unions can modernize without overhauling legacy infrastructure. Learn more at Alacriti.com.

In this season, Jill and I will have conversations centered around leadership, credit unions, and living our best lives. We will have some of the most respected leaders from around credit unions who we are grateful to call friends join us in the discussion from time to time too.

In this episode, we discuss a simple but incredibly important topic: the importance of trust. We don’t talk about it just as a buzzword but as something absolutely critical to being a good, effective leader. Sharing real stories from the credit union world, we closely examine the different layers of trust, from keeping members’ data safe to creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and safe.

We also talk openly about the disconnect between intention and perception and how even well-meaning leaders can unintentionally erode trust via missteps, unintentional favoritism, and/or inconsistency. Jill shares her own mental model of a “trust pyramid,” applying it to both member and employee expectations, and I reflect on moments in my own leadership journey where trust may have faltered and what it takes to earn it back.

Whether you are a leader yourself who is trying to build a more cohesive team or someone rethinking your organization’s promises to the communities that you serve, please join us because this conversation will challenge you to reflect on what trust truly requires!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List 

Previous guests mentioned in this episode: Chuck Fagan (episodes 5 & 176)