“Failure’s mistakes teach us so much more than our successes ever do.” – Caroline Willard

Welcome to episode 221 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 have Caroline Willard returning to the podcast. Caroline is the President and CEO of Cornerstone League, and she joins us for this episode to discuss the importance of embracing curiosity as a leader. Curiosity is an essential leadership trait that pushes us out of familiar thinking and opens new worlds of possibility, but it also goes hand-in-hand with vulnerability, showing that leaders don't have all the answers and are open to and welcoming of new ideas.

Curious leaders are constantly learning, reading across diverse genres, and are fascinated by the creative processes of others—whether business leaders or rock stars. However, as we discuss, it does not always come naturally. After all, doing things by rote is easier, and leaders may fear failure.

We also talk about the tendency to get comfortable with the status quo, even if new tools or technologies could drive greater efficiency, and we discuss how curiosity requires vulnerability, resilience in the face of challenges and setbacks, and a willingness to pause and reflect to truly understand the root causes behind said challenges.

Curiosity is ultimately a choice and a practice and is truly one of the simplest ways for leaders to model openness, adaptability, and creative problem-solving for their teams. By remaining curious, leaders can uncover new possibilities, make better-informed decisions, and lead their teams to greater success! We hope that you enjoy our conversation with Caroline Willard! 

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.

Connect with Caroline:
Caroline Willard, President & CEO of Cornerstone League
cornerstoneleague.coop
Caroline: LinkedIn | CUNA
Cornerstone League: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Want to hear more from Caroline? Click here.

“If you have a fear of failure, you won't launch.” - Brad Bergmooser

Welcome to episode 220 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 welcome Brad Bergmooser, CEO of Financial Plus Credit Union in Michigan. He joins us to discuss one of the most important aspects of being an effective leader—adaptability. Adaptability is shown to be crucial not just for leaders, but for entire organizations, and we explore how credit unions need to be "fast followers" to keep up with demands for instant, personalized service. Clinging to the "way we've always done it" is a recipe for getting left behind!

Listen as Brad shares how he has embraced change and disruption to create an exciting, fast-paced environment that attracts top talent to the credit union industry. We dig into the difference between reacting to change vs. proactively adapting to it, and Brad provides examples of how he has developed adaptable leaders on his team by giving them assignments outside of their comfort zones, ultimately building their "muscle memory" for taking on uncertainty.

We also discuss the challenges of leading teams through rapid change and how some leaders struggle with the loss of control that can sometimes come with the territory of being adaptable, and Brad highlights the importance of surrounding yourself with experts who can fill the gaps in your own knowledge, rather than trying to be the all-knowing CEO.

We ultimately offer some insights for aspiring leaders into how to foster adaptability in themselves and in their teams, with key traits including embracing failure as a learning opportunity, maintaining confidence while also being vulnerable, and constantly putting yourself in uncomfortable situations to build that crucial adaptability muscle! Enjoy our conversation with Brad Bergmooser! 

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

Connect with Brad:
Brad Bergmooser, CEO of Financial Plus Credit Union - Michigan
myfpcu.com
Brad: LinkedIn
Financial Plus Credit Union: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

“The Type 2 Fun is where all the stories come from.” – Randy Smith

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 talking about Type 2 Fun—experiences which feel miserable in the moment but become cherished memories later on—and we share some personal stories that, while difficult at the time, ultimately led to growth and incredibly meaningful connections!

We explore why discomfort is necessary for personal and professional development—without facing challenges and pushing past our comfort zones, we can't build the necessary resilience to take on challenges in the future. We highlight the importance of leaders normalizing discomfort in the workplace and celebrating the accomplishments that come from it, ultimately supporting their teams through the difficult moments.

Our conversation also touches upon building a culture that embraces growth via challenges. We discuss strategies for hiring and retaining team members who are willing to step outside their comfort zones, as well as the pitfalls of trying to create an environment of constant "Type 1 Fun." We ultimately come to the conclusion that the stories and memories we cherish most often come from those Type 2 Fun experiences—the ones that push us to our limits but leave us stronger and more connected on the other side.

We encourage you to reflect on your own Type 2 Fun moments, recognize the value in the discomfort, and build teams and organizations that can navigate those growth-inducing challenges together. We hope that you enjoy our conversation!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts and Spotify
Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List
Previous guest mentioned in this episode: Mike Valentine (episodes 128 & 204)

“People feel like they belong when they know their contribution matters.” – Jill Nowacki

Welcome to episode 218 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 talking about belonging! Belonging is more than just inclusion; it's the culture that allows people to show up fully, share ideas without hesitation, and thrive as themselves, and in this conversation, we discuss why belonging is so important for teams and organizations and the barriers that can get in the way

We look at how leaders can spot the signs that someone on their team isn't feeling a sense of belonging, and how subtle things can inadvertently make people feel excluded. We also highlight the value of listening to understand, not just to respond, and revisiting ideas that may have been overlooked in the moment. Admitting mistakes and making efforts to make things right can strengthen a sense of belonging!

We suggest that belonging is essential for unlocking the full potential of teams and driving better business results! We hope that you enjoy our conversation on belonging!

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

“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