The Credit Union Leadership Podcast

Hosted by ServiStar Consulting

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161

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Jun 2026

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About the show

We serve hope to current and aspiring credit union leaders by providing solutions to your leadership challenges. If you’re a credit union leader seeking to grow your business, tune in to this podcast. ServiStar Consulting’s Mike Neill, Taylor Murray, and Scott Albrecht draw on their extensive experience of working with countless credit unions to provide valuable insights and lessons.

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June 16, 2026Episode 16650 min

Culture, Curiosity, and Unreasonable Hospitality – Turning Learning into Action with Amber Herman

Most organizations invest in culture, but few actually change it. The gap is not intention, it is execution. In this episode, Scott and Scott sit down with Amber Herman to challenge how leaders think about learning, culture, and employee experience. From her journey into the credit union movement to her work in data, marketing, and member experience, Amber makes a strong case that culture and learning are inseparable. The real tension is this. Are we creating moments that feel good, or movements that drive change? Through practical examples like culture guides, pre and post event planning, and borrowing ideas from outside the industry, this episode equips leaders to stop wasting effort and start building culture that sticks. In this episode we talk about and answer these questions: • how do you turn culture initiatives into lasting behavior change instead of one time events • what does it mean to be a learner even if you are not a reader • how can leaders use ideas from outside the industry to strengthen their culture • what role do culture guides and structured tools play in building consistency • how should leaders prepare for and follow up after training or conference experiences • what is one unreasonable action you can take in the next 30 days to elevate your team Click Here to Submit Your Questions Links from show: CultureCon STRUM Platform Amber Herman LinkedIn Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara Culture Wheel Playbook Disney Hall of Traditions Bit of Optimism Podcast with Will Guidara The Hot Dog Story ServiStar's Emerging Leaders program ServiStar's TARGET Leadership course Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on YouTube Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service

June 2, 2026Episode 16550 min

Control the Controllables – Leading Former Peers and Growing with Confidence with Melanie Henson

Leadership often arrives faster than expected. In this episode, Scott and Scott sit down with Melanie Henson from America’s First Federal Credit Union to talk about stepping into leadership with little notice and learning to lead with confidence. After being promoted to manage a consumer lending team, Melanie had to quickly navigate boundaries, manage former peers, and communicate expectations clearly. Through ServiStar’s Emerging Leaders program, she developed tools for coaching, mentorship, and leading change while reducing drama and building trust. Her story is a practical reminder that growth requires discomfort, clarity, and a willingness to control what you can. If you are transitioning into leadership or preparing for your next role, this episode offers real world lessons you can apply immediately. In this episode we talk about and answer these questions: • how to lead effectively after being unexpectedly promoted • what boundaries look like when managing former peers • how communication styles like the “bug” framework reduce team friction • how one on one conversations build clarity and accountability • why saying yes to growth opportunities accelerates leadership development • how calculated risk in lending aligns with the credit union mission Click Here to Submit Your Questions Links from show: ServiStar's Emerging Leaders program ServiStar's Coaching For Performance Workshop America’s First Federal Credit Union Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service

May 28, 2026Episode 16850 min

Winning Strategies - Culture Greater Than Strategy

Most organizations believe strategy drives success. In reality, culture determines whether strategy ever gets executed. In this episode, Mike Neill breaks down why culture is the true competitive advantage in the credit union movement and why even the best systems fail when employee engagement is low. As AI and automation continue to reshape financial services, Mike argues that trusted advisor relationships, wisdom, and judgment are still what separate great credit unions from everyone else. Leaders must move beyond posters and slogans and start embedding culture into hiring, recognition, accountability, and everyday behaviors. If your culture is drifting, your strategy eventually will too. This conversation gives leaders practical ways to realign teams around mission, member experience, and meaningful execution. In this episode we talk about and answer these questions: • why culture impacts execution more than strategy alone • what warning signs reveal a culture that is drifting away from the mission • how engaged employees elevate systems while disengaged employees break them • why trusted advisor relationships remain a credit union advantage in the age of AI • how leaders should align KPIs, hiring, and recognition with member experience • what practical steps create a culture that supports accountability and growth Click Here to Submit Your Questions Links from show: ServiStar Consulting Check out ServiStar's Coaching for Performance Workshop Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service

May 19, 2026Episode 16233 min

How Credit Unions Build Teams That Deliver Consistent, Competent Service

This episode gives listeners an inside look at one of our ServiStar Trainer Mastermind Groups, where certified trainers unpack how to teach Service Excellence more effectively. Scott is joined by Josh Sweeney from Kemba Credit Union and Heather Fritz from Dow Credit Union for a practical conversation about what truly moves members from simply satisfied to deeply loyal. Along the way, they explore meaningful and memorable moments, the CARE model for service, empathy that leads to action, and how consistency and competence shape the member experience. Whether you are a trainer, current leader, or aspiring leader, this conversation will challenge you to think more intentionally about the service culture you are building. What you’ll learn: How to move members from being merely satisfied to becoming loyal advocates by helping them not only receive value, but feel valued. Why meaningful and memorable moments, empathy, and listening with your whole self are essential to delivering exceptional service. How leaders can build consistency and competence across teams by tying daily behaviors back to purpose, attitude, and ownership. Click Here to Submit Your Questions Links from show: ServiStar Winning Strategies webinars Sign up for the Service Excellence workshop we talk about! Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service

May 1, 2026Episode 15958 min

Winning Strategies - Getting Off The Coaching Roller Coaster

Have you ever coached the same employee on the same issue more than once? You have the conversation. Things improve for a week. Then the behavior returns. That is the coaching rollercoaster, and it is exhausting. In this episode, Mike Neill walks through why leaders get stuck in repeated conversations that never lead to real change. From fixer syndrome to avoiding confrontation, we unpack the habits that quietly lower standards and frustrate high performers. If you want to stop bailing people out and start building true accountability, this episode gives you a clear framework. You will learn when to train, when to confront, and when to move from coaching to consequences so your culture gets stronger, not softer. In this episode we talk about and answer these questions: • why leaders get stuck in repeated coaching cycles that never stick • how projection, codependency, and fixer syndrome sabotage accountability • how to determine if a performance gap is unwillingness or inability • when to stop coaching and move into the performance management process • how to redirect excuses and make employees own their next step • how to rebuild trust with high performers after tolerating low standards Click Here to Submit Your Questions Links from show: ServiStar Coaching for Performance ServiStar free leadership webinars Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service

April 21, 2026Episode 1641 hr 0 min

Proof of Purpose - Measuring Mission and Financial Wellbeing with Andy Bandyopadhyay

Credit unions talk about mission every day, but how often do we measure it? In this episode, Scott and Scott sit down with Andy Bandyopadhyay of Attune to explore how leaders can move beyond slogans and create real proof that their work is changing lives. With employee engagement at historic lows, the conversation challenges leaders to connect daily behaviors to measurable outcomes for both employees and members. You will hear how financial wellbeing metrics, coaching conversations, and consistent communication turn mission into momentum. If you want your team to see that their work matters and build a culture where purpose drives performance, this episode provides a practical framework to start immediately. In this episode we talk about and answer these questions: • why employee engagement drops when mission is not measurable • how to measure mission with the same rigor as financial performance • what financial wellbeing metrics better reflect member impact • how leaders can capture and share proof of purpose moments • why communicating mission repeatedly builds culture and clarity • how data and coaching work together to reinforce purpose Click Here to Submit Your Questions Links from show: Attune Insights CUInsight article: We Need Clear National Standards to Measure Mission and Margin Together Andy Bandyopadhyay LinkedIn ServiStar's New Employee Bundle ServiStar's TARGET Leadership course Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service

April 1, 2026Episode 16057 min

Winning Strategies - Ignite Your Why

When leaders lose clarity, they lose energy. Many credit union professionals are running hard but feel like they are running on fumes. In this episode, Scott walks through how defining a personal purpose statement can restore direction, hope, and resilience. Drawing from Gallup research and his own season of burnout, he explains how purpose becomes a decision filter, not just an inspirational phrase. You will learn how to connect the credit union movement, your organization’s mission, your department’s role, and your personal calling into one aligned North Star. If you want to lead with conviction instead of exhaustion, this workshop style episode gives you the framework to write a purpose statement that guides your next step. In this episode we talk about and answer these questions: • why purpose drives better decisions and prevents burnout • how the four levels of purpose align movement, mission, department, and personal impact • what formula to use when writing a personal purpose statement • how to identify your desired impact before choosing values and actions • why purpose evolves over time and requires reflection • how to commit to one next step that reinforces your purpose Click Here to Submit Your Questions Links from show: ServiStar Winning Strategies webinars ServiStar Credit Union PHD course Unlocking Your Potential - The Impact of GiANT Leadership Voices podcast episode Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service

March 25, 2026Episode 16336 min

Work-Life Integration: Lead with purpose, not pressure

Work-life balance sounds good, but it often fails in practice. Leaders are left feeling stretched, reactive, and stuck in constant tension between priorities. In this episode, Scott and Scott introduce a better model. Work-life integration. Instead of separating work and life, they show how to align both through purpose, intentional habits, and clear decision making. This conversation gives leaders a practical plan to improve performance, strengthen relationships, and build resilience without burning out. If you are trying to coach your team, lead through change, and still protect your energy, this episode will help you take back control and lead with clarity. In this episode we talk about and answer these questions: • why work-life balance often fails and what integration does differently • how a personal purpose statement becomes your decision making filter • when leaders should schedule coaching and how to protect that time • how to build meaningful connection with remote teams through intentional cadence • how to maintain credibility when goals shift or plans change • what simple steps create a sustainable work-life integration plan Click Here to Submit Your Questions Links from show: ServiStar Emerging Leaders program ServiStar New Employee Bundle Managing in the Messy Middle podcast episode Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service

March 12, 2026Episode 16143 min

Cutting Through the Fog - Purpose, Burnout, and Leadership Presence with Dr. Matt Paden

Many leaders today are exhausted. The demands of service, the pressure of results, and the constant pace of change can quietly pull leaders into what Dr. Matt Paden calls “the fog.” In this episode, Scott and Scott sit down with leadership coach and author Dr. Matt Paden to unpack what burnout really looks like and how leaders can find their way back to clarity and purpose. The conversation centers on servant leadership, resilience, and the power of reconnecting to your personal North Star. If you have ever felt the weight of leadership isolation or watched your energy slowly drain, this episode offers a practical reset. You will walk away with mindset shifts and leadership habits that help teams trust more deeply, perform more consistently, and sustain momentum over the long run. In this episode we talk about and answer these questions: • what leadership burnout looks like before it becomes obvious • how “the fog” leads leaders to isolation and poor decisions • why purpose acts as a resilience engine during difficult seasons • how shifting from “got to” thinking to “get to” thinking changes leadership presence • what servant leadership looks like when building high trust teams • how leaders can regain energy by focusing on effort, attitude, and purpose Click Here to Submit Your Questions Links from show: Emerging Leaders program from ServiStar Check out our Coaching for Performance course The Core: Eight Principles to Great Leadership by Dr. Matt Paden Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service

February 27, 2026Episode 15840 min

Rebrand to Mission with Nate Anderson

Most rebrands fail because they change the logo but never clarify the why. In this episode, we sit down with Nate Anderson, CEO of Rekindle, formerly RK Go Big, to unpack what it looks like to rebrand from the inside out. This is not a cosmetic update. It is a mission reset. Nate walks through how anchoring decisions to purpose sharpens strategy, builds trust, and unifies boards, staff, and partners. If your credit union is rethinking identity, growth, or collaboration, this conversation will challenge you to use rebranding as a mission accelerant. You will hear how repetition, clarity, and courageous communication turn change into momentum rather than confusion. In this episode we talk about and answer these questions: • why most rebrands fail when they focus on visuals instead of mission • how to make your mission simple enough to become an elevator pitch • what it takes to align board, staff, and partners during a brand shift • how repetition and over communication build trust during uncertainty • why cosmetic changes can help snap focus and reinforce cultural change • how shared services help small credit unions thrive through collaboration Click Here to Submit Your Questions Links from show: Rekindle CUSO website ServiStar Emerging Leaders program ServiStar Coaching for Performance Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service