Dr. Archana Krishnan

Manager, Business Intelligence, Stride Credit Union

Career:

Start in the financial services industry: 2018
Start in the credit union system: 2019

In high school, Archana wanted to become a neurosurgeon.

Archana began her career in the financial services industry in 2018 as a part-time Customer Experience Associate at TD Canada Trust. In 2019, she discovered the credit union system via a mutual acquaintance and took a position as a full-time teller at Westoba Credit Union.

Archana held four other positions in her five years with Westoba Credit Union. These include Financial Consultant, Retail Credit Underwriter Administrator II, Business Analyst, Manager Business Process Support.

Earlier in 2024, Archana moved to Stride Credit Union as their Manager of Business Intelligence.

During this journey, Archana had the opportunity to learn from leaders within the system by participating in and Chairing Emerging Leaders of Westoba and Credit Union Young Leaders of Manitoba (CUYLM). She also found immense value in participating in the CUYLM Mentorship Program, CCUA National Mentorship Program, and the National Young Leaders Committee Horizon Program.

A typical day:

Archana loves how versatile her workdays can be and says that Business Intelligence thrives on ambiguity, as it provides the opportunity to discover new paths toward overcoming persistent challenges.

Archana’s day is predominantly focused on gathering data and analyzing it to provide insights and recommendations on strategy to the executives and board. It also involves collaboration with other departments to provide data-based recommendations on improving existing processes and recommendations to align departmental strategy with organizational vision.

Archana also conducts in-depth research to understand what is happening in the market and within the system. She also dedicates time to connect with her team for brainstorming sessions, provide coaching, and connect with her leaders for mentorship.

Continuous learning and improvement:

Archana learns new things regularly via the research she conducts as part of her role. She thrives on learning and is constantly looking for opportunities to challenge herself intellectually. Archana is an avid user of LinkedIn and has found connecting with peers within her field and LinkedIn learning to be a great source of knowledge.

Keys to success:

Archana’s three keys to success are:

• Networking: mentors, coaches, colleagues and sponsors have greatly contributed to her success. Archana always has someone to connect with, be it talking through an issue or seeking guidance for her career. She says the credit unions she has worked for have shown tremendous faith in her and have been personally invested in her success, for which she is eternally grateful.

• Family: Archana’s husband is her biggest supporter and cheerleader! She cannot imagine any success without him.

• Last but not the least, solid hard work. There is no alternative to it.

Recommended reading (or other resources) for young leaders:

Books:

• Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

• The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma

• Becoming by Michelle Obama

• Atomic Habits by James Clear

• Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy

Movies:

• Hidden Figures

• The Green Book

Podcast:

• The Huberman Lab

Guiding principles:

1. Be kind always, not just to others but to yourself

2. Go where you are celebrated and not tolerated

3. Live in the present

4. For every act of kindness you receive, remember to pay it forward

5. Smile! This too shall pass

Candice Bradley

Manager, Human Resources & Compliance, Swan Valley Credit Union

Career:

Start in the credit union system: 2014

In high school, Candice wanted to be an accountant. She attended university and completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree. After graduating, she worked for accounting firms and while earning her CA designation (now CPA), which she obtained in 2011.

Candice moved to Manitoba in late 2013 and shortly thereafter started a term position as CFO at Swan Valley Credit Union. After the term, she transitioned into the role of Compliance Officer. When an opportunity came up in HR, she moved into her current role of Manager, HR & Compliance which she’s held since 2017.

A typical day:

A typical day may include a variety of HR responsibilities, such as recruitment and retention efforts, benefits administration, HR Policy, employee engagement surveys, compensation surveys and analysis, or performance reviews. Candice is also responsible for overseeing the AML compliance regime and providing support and guidance to the front-line team in this area.

Continuous learning and improvement:

Candice tries to push herself out of her comfort zone to continually challenge herself to grow and develop. Her previous involvement with the CUYLM Executive Committee and present involvement with the CUMAM Board has helped her to make deep connections in the credit union system that she highly values. She also strives to complete relevant courses and seminars as the opportunity arises.

Keys to success:

Candice says the biggest contributing factors to her success are the connections she’s made throughout the credit union system, the support and guidance she receives from co-workers and mentors, and her openness to taking on new challenges.

Recommended reading (or other resources) for young leaders:

Candice tries to stay up to date on a variety of topics by reading news articles from many different sources. She says she finds some great professional business-related resources/articles from Harvard Business Review, Inc., and Forbes.

Guiding principles:

Candice’s guiding principles are:

• Be open to listening and hearing out other perspectives

• Take accountability for your actions and own your mistakes

• Be proactive and take initiative with your own personal growth and development

• Maintain a positive mindset

Lorie Reimer

Member Services Manager, Steinbach Credit Union

Career:

Start in the credit union system: 1990

In high school, Lorie was interested in work that involved marketing and business development in some way. She worked in the hospitality industry during high school until a few months after graduation. 

Lorie began her career in the credit union system as a Teller at Steinbach Credit Union, bringing her customer service skills with her. She held this position for about a year before moving to the Member Services department. As a Member Services Representative (MSR), she enjoyed building relationships with members and staff.

Over the course of her career, Lorie moved into the role of Supervisor and then Manager of the Member Services team. Lorie has been in her current role for 17 years. During those years, she had two maternity leaves. After each, she was happy to be able to return to the role she’s been passionate about all this time.

A typical day:

On a typical day, Lorie is available to her team to support them in their roles and answer questions. She provides encouragement and advice to help her team navigate the different needs and situations of members throughout the day. Lorie plans for new hires that are needed, supports the development of training new team members receive, and works alongside many peer managers to help roll out new initiatives to help staff and members be successful as they do their day-to-day banking.

Lorie values the opportunity to interact with members when they visit the branch. She says they often share their thoughts, ideas and experiences, and there is always something to be learned through these important conversations.

Continuous learning and development:

Lorie believes in the importance of being open to learning new things. Sometimes it's learning a new process or procedure, or taking courses offered through the workplace to enhance your ability to do your job. She finds it rewarding to step outside the box and take advantage of additional training.

Keys to success:

Lorie says working with supportive peer leaders and managers has been a big contributing factor to her success. She appreciates those who take an additional moment to recognize accomplishments or share something new they learned. Lorie believes in bringing your positive attitude and passion for your job to work each and every day!

Recommended reading (or other resources) for young leaders:

• Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek

• Leadership 101 by John C. Maxwell

Guiding principles:

Lorie’s guiding principles are:

• Positivity - Stay positive in what you do, the tough stuff will work itself out.

• Trust - One simple word, yet the most important when building your team and working together for the greater good.

• Care - Show your peers and teams you care about them. They will always do more for you and your workplace when someone cares about them.

Jackie Shoemaker

Branch Manager, Westoba Credit Union

Career:

Start in the credit union system: 2010

In high school, Jackie never thought she would one day work in the financial services industry. She was interested in social work because she wanted to help people and felt she could make a difference in people’s lives.

Jackie ended up starting a family earlier than she anticipated which kept her drawn to her community and her career in social work never came to fruition.

Jackie began her career in the credit union system as a Member Services Representative (MSR) at Westoba Credit Union and loved every aspect of it. Helping members with their day-to-day banking needs and customer service was exactly where she wanted to be.

After six years in her role as MSR, Jackie decided to learn about lending and credit. She worked as a Financial Consultant for two years before taking on the role of Financial Consultant Supervisor. Supervising people was not new to her, as she was a supervisor at a previous place of employment, but it was an opportunity to develop her skills and help others learn new skills too. Jackie says she finds it rewarding to empower others to strive to be their best.

Jackie later moved into the role of Assistant Branch Manager. She has been in her current role of Branch Manager for three years. Jackie believes that being able to work in all roles at the branch level helped shape who she is today and gave her the confidence to lead a team.

Today, Jackie says she is thankful for the opportunity to join the credit union system. She is passionate about what she does and is able to make a difference in people’s lives, helping them achieve their financial dreams and equipping them with financial advice. “Things happen for a reason," she always says. 

A typical day:

Jackie says every day is different, as she alternates between branches. Whether it's one-on-one coaching, team meetings, member appointments or business development, she says every day is filled with purpose. Jackie says her team loves to volunteer and give back to the communities, so some weeks they are out in the community helping at events and building relationships with their members and businesses.

Continuous learning and improvement:

To ensure she is continuously learning and improving, Jackie says to “chase the learning”, and that our learning is never done. She believes in the importance of embracing change in a past-faced environment and world, and that good things can come from change. Jackie says not to be afraid of making mistakes, as they are learning opportunities for us. She encourages everyone to join working groups or committees in their organization to learn about other departments or opportunities within their organization, and to be curious. She says the more you learn and develop yourself, the more you can help others do the same. Jackie is thankful her organization has many working groups, such as the Emerging Leaders and Diversity Equity & Inclusion groups, and she is fortunate to be part of both.

Keys to success:

Jackie says she’s had great mentors and leaders in her time in the credit union system who contributed to her success. Also important is going out of her comfort zone, and to keep doing hard things. She surrounds herself with positive people.

Recommended reading (or other resources) for young leaders:

• Present over Perfect by Shauna Niequist

• The Power of Letting Go by John Purkiss

• The Emotionally Strong Leader: An Inside-Out Journey to Transformational Leadership by Carolyn Stern

Guiding principles:

• Volunteer and give back to your community, even if it's by doing something small.

• Be a role model to our youth, they are our future leaders.

• Treat others the way you want to be treated.

• Prioritize self-care, because if you don't fill your own cup, you can't help others fill theirs.

• Be open to diversity and inclusion. The world is a better place when we are inclusive.

Michelle Dupuis

VP, Strategy & Governance, Access Credit Union

Career:

Start in the credit union system: 2018

In high school, Michelle wanted to be a lawyer, investigative journalist, or marketing consultant. Leading up to her career in the credit union system, she worked in a variety of industries and roles including restaurant/hospitality, financial services, call centre management, and aerospace program management. She has worked in the area of governance, risk and strategy in the credit union system for 6 years.

A typical day:

A typical day for Michelle involves:

• Reviewing, researching, and writing documents for Executive Management/the Board

• Measuring progress towards strategic objectives

• Interacting and collaborating with internal stakeholders on strategic initiatives/progress updates

• Receiving updates on work progress/milestones

• Coaching team members

• Assessing and adjusting governance and project structures

• Evaluating, monitoring, and communicating priorities

Continuous learning and improvement:

Michelle’s keys to ensuring she is continuously learning and improving are to:

• Read

• Engage others in conversation, genuinely listen, be curious

• Read (purposely duplicated)

• Put herself in situations outside of her comfort zone

• Attend conferences

• Take courses

• Set goals and measure progress

• Seek out different opinions and perspectives; ask a lot of questions

Keys to success:

Michelle says the biggest contributing factor to her success is mindset.

Recommended reading (or other resources) for young leaders:

Books:

• 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, by Dr. Jordan B. Peterson

• Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More than IQ, by Daniel Goleman

• Lives of the Stoics (The Art of Living from Zeno to Marcus Aurelius), by Ryan Holiday, Stephen Hanselman

• Meditations (A New Translation), by Marcus Aurelius

• Man’s Search for Meaning, by Viktor E. Frankl

• Mindset: How You Can Fulfil Your Potential, by Carol S. Dweck, Ph. D

• Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity, by Dr. Peter Attia

• Rising Strong: The Reckoning. The Rumble. The Revolution, by Brené Brown, Ph. D, MSW

• Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, by Doris Kearns Goodwin

• The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement, by David Brooks

• The Obstacle is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph, by Ryan Holiday

Podcasts:

• Modern Wisdom (Chris Williamson)

• The Lex Fridman Podcast

• The Joe Rogan Experience

• The Huberman Lab

• The Mel Robbins Podcast

Courses:

• Certificate in Leadership Development (QNET Manitoba, Instructor: Linton Sellen)

Mentors/Relationships:

• Cultivate as many as possible!

Guiding principles:

Michelle’s guiding principles are:

• Wisdom – be rational, use discretion, be resourceful, make informed decisions

• Justice – be honest, be fair, act with integrity

• Courage – cultivate resilience, show confidence, face fears, be cheerful, be conscientious, put diligence and energy into all tasks

• Temperance – be disciplined, be modest, practice self-control, practice gratitude

“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.” - Marcus Aurelius, Mediations

Carissa Dicks

Member Services Manager, Flin Flon Credit Union

Career:

Start in the credit union system: 2022

In high school, Carissa wanted to become an architect and design homes. In 2008, she began working with Elite Communications, a Bell MTS store, as a Communications Consultant. When she went on maternity leave in 2010, she left Flin Flon, and was a stay-at-home mom for a period before returning to Flin Flon and Elite Communications. She was promoted to Store Manager in 2015. In 2021, Carissa went on maternity leave again. When it was time for her to return to work, an opportunity at Flin Flon Credit Union arose. She started as a Member Services Representative (MSR) in 2022 and was promoted to Senior MSR in 2023. In 2024, Carissa accepted her current role of Member Services Manager. Carissa says she is excited for her future with Flin Flon Credit Union.

A typical day:

Carissa says no two days are the same. This is something she learned quickly in her current role. Her day usually begins in the vault with the MSRs to hold a treasury. She plans the tasks for the day with the MSRs and then begins her daily to-do lists. Throughout the day, she assists MSRs, helps on the frontline when needed and makes herself available to the credit union membership.

Continuous learning and improvement:

Throughout her career at Flin Flon Credit Union, Carissa has taken advantage of any training opportunities available so she can continue to learn and develop her skills. She is currently enrolled in a Canadian Securities Institute course on mutual funds.

Keys to success:

Carissa says having the support of management that see the best in her and want her to succeed has been a major factor contributing to her success, and she comes to work every day with a positive attitude.

Recommended reading (or other resources) for young leaders:

Carissa recommends:

• Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek

• Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't by Simon Sinek

Guiding principles:

Carissa’s guiding principles are:

• Attitude – Carissa believes having a positive attitude sets the tone for your day.

• Adaptability - Being able to react well to change, both in professional and personal settings.

• Responsibility - You have to take responsibility for your actions. Mistakes happen, take ownership. You cannot learn from mistakes if you don't make them.

Darren Heide

VP, Enterprise Risk Management, Access Credit Union

Career:

Start in the credit union system: 2011

In high school Darren aspired to be an engineer. After taking a variety of courses in his first year of university, he changed direction to business school which ultimately led him to financial services.

Darren joined Access as an Agricultural and Commercial Account Manager after spending a number of years working in the Ag industry. After a year, he took a chance at a term position as a Human Resources Generalist. He really enjoyed HR and the term position transitioned to the Manager of Human Resources role. Darren was in HR for eight years before transitioning into Risk as the Director, Risk & Compliance. This position then evolved into his current role of VP, Enterprise Risk Management. Darren says he is fortunate to have gained experience from different areas of the business, which he feels provides valuable insight and skills that he is able to utilize in his current role and any future roles.

A typical day:

Darren says every day is a new adventure in the world of risk. He plans for and meets regularly with his own and other departments on various initiatives and challenges and provides advice on escalated issues. He provides feedback on proposals, business cases and reports, as well as conducts analysis and writes his own reports. He may need to respond to or support another employee in responding to an issue, evaluate controls, and help implement solutions to prevent or reduce the likelihood of the issue occurring again. Darren also stays informed of changes to the internal and external environment to identify, evaluate, manage, and monitor risk to ensure objectives are being met.

Continuous learning and improvement:

Darren likes to keep an open mind and step outside of his comfort zone to keep learning and growing both personally and professionally, such as joining different boards, coaching sports, training in jiu-jitsu and becoming a mentor. He has also completed numerous post-secondary programs and strives to complete at least one course each year.

Keys to success:

Darren says the biggest contributing factor to his success is a great support network of family, co-workers and mentors who have encouraged and challenged him.

Recommended reading (or other resources) for young leaders:

Darren finds value in staying up to date on current events by following a number of different news sites and then viewing the stories from the lens of his interest, which in his case is around risk. He is also a fan of Reddit and has found some good communities with like-minded interests with different points of view. He says there are a lot of great resources available, and his overall recommendation is to read, listen and engage others in a topic of interest and keep an open mind as you seek to understand the views and experiences of others.

Guiding principles:

Darren’s guiding principles are:

• Do good - make a positive difference in the world

• Be better - always strive for self-improvement

• Own it - take the initiative and responsibility for your situation and your future

• Move forward - you can't change the past so focus on changing the future

Angel McKay

Policy and Procedure Administrator, Me-Dian Credit Union

Career:

Start in the credit union system: 2020

Angel always wanted to be a teacher. After high school, she earned her Educational Assistant Diploma from Red River College. She planned to continue her studies to eventually become a teacher, but things didn’t work out as expected. Long story short, the pandemic occurred, her place of employment shut down and her studies came to a halt.

Angel found herself in search of a new career path which led her to apply for the role of Member Service Representative at Me-Dian Credit Union, an Indigenous credit union. As a First Nation member of O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation, Me-Dian Credit Union’s values aligned closely with Angel’s passion to serve her Indigenous community while being a role model for Indigenous youth. This led to a rewarding career in the credit union system.

Angel worked her way through different positions on the frontline and the lending department, and eventually into her current position as a Policy and Procedure Administrator.

A typical day:

For Angel, a typical day involves collaborating with department leads to create systems that improve workplace efficiency and simplify learning. She takes all the valuable knowledge of subject matter experts and puts it into easy-to-follow processes.

Secondly, as Chair of the Social Committee and Vice-Chair of the Me-Dian Credit Union Young Leaders committee, Angel typically has projects on the go that involve financial literacy, community involvement, team building and personal or professional development.

Continuous learning and improvement:

Angel ensures she is continuously learning and improving by keeping an open mind and asking questions. She loves to collaborate with others to gain new insights and perspectives.

Keys to success:

Angel’s key to success is to keep doing hard things (even if they feel scary). She says this is a great reminder that we are capable of so much more than we think.

Recommended reading (or other resources) for young leaders:

Angel recommends The Mindset Mentor podcast.

Guiding principles:

Angel is driven by her desire to make a different in her Indigenous community and being a role model for Indigenous youth.

Mike Csversko

Business Development & Marketing Manager, Fusion Credit Union

Career:

Start in the credit union system: 2004

In high school, Mike wanted to become an equities trader.

He began his career in the credit union system in 2004 on the Board of Directors at Dauphin Plains Credit Union.

He remained on the board through the amalgamation of Roblin Credit Union, Ethelbert Credit Union, and Dauphin Plains Credit Union that created Catalyst Credit Union. Later, Catalyst Credit Union and Vanguard Credit Union amalgamated to form Fusion Credit Union. Mike served on the Board of Directors for Fusion Credit Union until 2021, at which time he became an employee.

A typical day:

Mike says there are no typical days. His day might include project management work, meetings with members or potential members, negotiating with vendors and media, or collaborating with Fusion’s marketing team to fulfill their calendar objectives.

Continuous learning and improvement:

Mike’s strategy is to ask questions and stay curious. He also sets aside time to read or watch appropriate programs.

Keys to success:

Mike says the biggest contributing factor to his success is that he’s driven by personal and organizational success.

Recommended reading (or other resources) for young leaders:

Mike says there are many great books, articles or other publications and his recommendation is to just read in general. There are valuable takeaways to be found in all literature.

Guiding principles:

Have fun!

Lisa Memryk

Loan Clerk, Sunrise Credit Union

Career:

Start in the credit union system: 2015

In high school, Lisa wanted to become a counsellor so she could help and support people, but life had other plans. Working in customer service, Lisa found she was still able to help people, just in different aspects of their lives.

Lisa worked in the retail industry for almost ten years before moving on to the financial industry. Customer service played a significant role in her life and is what brought her into the credit union system. She started her credit union career at Strathclair Credit Union in March of 2015 as an MSR and has been working as a Loans Clerk for Sunrise Credit Union for nearly four years.

A typical day:

Lisa says her day always starts with prioritizing her tasks, and she is an advocate for making lists for everything. There are many moving parts in her role, so she finds writing out her plan for the day ensures she allots enough time to get things done. Of course, other tasks pop up and she must adjust her day accordingly. Lisa says she enjoys how no day is the same and she can always count on learning something new. Some of the main things she does daily are preparing documents, auditing, and disbursing loans.

Continuous learning and improvement:

Lisa says, “do not be afraid to make mistakes, because they can turn out to be some of your best learning opportunities”. She is a firm believer in embracing change. It can be daunting, but change is good. She likes to learn from others, including colleagues in the same role and others throughout the whole organization. Lisa says the more she learns and develops herself, the more she’s able to help others do the same.

Keys to success:

Lisa says her keys to success are:

• Surrounding herself with great people.

• Support from friends and family and their belief in her when she didn’t always believe in herself.

• Having managers who encouraged, pushed and guided her.

• Reminding herself that it is ok to not know the answer to the problem, but to have the drive to find the solution.

• Staying true to herself and always being unapologetically herself.

Recommended reading for young leaders:

Lisa recommends 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think by Brianna West.

Guiding principles:

Lisa’s guiding principles are:

• Accountability – taking what you did and owning it, good or bad.

• Change is good – we often fear the unknown, but we can’t learn and grow without it.

• You get what you give.

Bill Dinsdale

Senior Commercial Account Manager – Not for Profit Specialist, Assiniboine Credit Union

Career:

Start in the credit union system: 2004

After eight years as a golf professional, Bill began his career in banking. He started as a member service representative for three months, then slowly worked his way up into other roles in the branch. An opportunity to move into a commercial trainee role opened up, which he jumped at. After four years of doing strictly commercial lending, he was able to join the Community Financial Centre at Assiniboine Credit Union, which was created to assist non-profits, start-ups, co-ops, and social enterprises. This is where he has spent the last 11 years of his career.

A typical day:

On a typical day, Bill may meet with a non-profit housing organization that is looking to build a new apartment block. A big part of his role is to provide advice to members. They will have a goal, but may not know how to best structure the lending to meet that goal, which is where Bill comes in. Bill says every day is different, and you may have a plan for your day, but a member issue may cause that to change. They may need troubleshooting or want a quick chat to update Bill on a key staffing change in their organization. Bill loves the variety and the ability to assist ACU’s members with finding solutions.

Continuous learning and improvement:

In Bill’s opinion, it starts with attitude. He says he will never be done learning in his role. Secondly, he looks for mentors within his company and soaks up as much information as possible from them. He says he has been lucky to have several great mentors over the years.

Keys to success:

Bill says his key to success is a willingness to stretch out of his comfort zone and learn new things.

Recommended reading for young leaders:

Bill recommends the book How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. While it was first published in 1936, he says the key takeaways are still as relevant as they were then. Three that stand out to him are:

• Listen

• Sincerely make the other person feel important

• Show genuine interest in others

Guiding principles:

Bill’s guiding principles are:

• Member focused: Members are the reason the credit union exists. Bill is always working towards win-win solutions for members.

• Accountability: Be accountable to your employer and your members as well.

Julene Toews Dewis

VP People & Culture, Stride Credit Union

Career:

Start in the credit union system: 2005

Start in the financial services industry: 2004

In high school, Julene says she wanted to become a financial planner. She lost her dad suddenly when she was 16 and watched her mom navigate her family’s finances. She realized that having the right advisors in your life at the right time truly makes a world of difference.

After graduating from university, Julene started her career at Portage Credit Union as a lender/mutual fund representative. Shortly after, she moved to Edmonton where she worked in a similar role with Servus Credit Union. While at Servus Credit Union, Julene says they had a wonderful training centre with great facilitators and remembers sitting back, thinking “that’s a super cool job, I want that job”.

When she relocated back to Winnipeg, luck would have it for Julene that Steinbach Credit Union was looking for a trainer to help build their training programs, and she got the job. She spent eight years at Steinbach Credit Union building core training, sales and service and a leadership development programs, and experienced her first taste of leadership as the Employee Development Manager.

When Julene’s son was born, she moved back home to Portage la Prairie. She says the commute to Steinbach was too much, so she decided to stay in the training world but work for herself. She started a consulting company and offered her services to a variety of organizations (and many credit unions). For eight years, Julene designed training programs and workshops and also provided HR support to smaller organizations.

Julene says she loved consulting, but really missed having a team and building an organization from the inside. When Stride Credit Union was looking for a VP of People and Culture to continue building the People and Culture function, she says it felt like the best next step for her. Julene has been with Stride Credit Union for six months, and says it’s been a wonderful team to be a part of.

A typical day:

Julene starts her day prioritizing the items that need to get done. If possible, she likes to do creative work in the morning (designing, planning, strategizing, writing, etc.) and schedule meetings and task-based work for the afternoon. She uses that as a guide to frame her day, but other priorities tend to pop up and throw a wrench into the best laid plans. Julene says she loves variety, so she’s always okay with things popping up – plus, that’s just the life in HR.

Continuous learning and improvement:

Julene loves intentionally learning from others. She has a few mentors she meets with regularly, people who are further down the HR and leadership path who she goes to with questions, ideas, or advice. She also seeks out conferences and workshops that provide her with tools and inspiration and is grateful to work for an organization that supports her desire to learn. She says she loves the JFK quote “leadership and learning are indispensable of each other”. To be a good leader, we must keep learning, and Julene stands by that.

Keys to success:

Juelene says the key to success is great people – coaches who saw potential in her, mentors who pushed her, colleagues who built her up, her family who supported and encouraged her. Julene’s best advice to anyone is to surround yourself with people who make you a better version of yourself.

Recommended reading for young leaders:

Julene recommends The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson. She says it’s an oldie but a goodie, and a great, short overview of keys to helping employees succeed – strong expectations, clear feedback and accountability. She also loves The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni – we think good teams just happen; not true, they are made.

Guiding principles:

Julene’s guiding principles are:

• Pay it forward – give the good fortune you’ve received to others.

• Believe good intention in others until proven otherwise.

• The hardest conversations are often the ones we most need to have – have them and have them respectfully.

• Be open (to new ideas, to feedback, to seeing something a new way).

• Leave this world (your home, your work) better because you’ve been there.

Melissa Rushton

Director of Credit Risk, Fusion Credit Union

Career:

Start in the credit union system: 2005

In high school, Melissa says she was very undecided in her career aspirations. She says she enjoyed school but didn’t know what she wanted to be when she grew up – and still doesn’t!

Melissa has spent 18 years in the finance industry, 16 years working within the credit union system. Her career path began as a Member Service Representative (term position), and she focused on branch operations and the deposit side of the business.

Melissa then moved into the world of lending. She started as a Loans Clerk and then a Consumer Lender before advancing into commercial and agricultural lending. Next, she moved into management roles (both rural and urban). She began in branch management and then lead a team of agriculture and commercial lenders as the Manager of Business Solutions.

Melissa says progressing through various roles has supported constant growth, development and diversification. Today, she is the Director of Credit Risk, and her focus has shifted to managing the risk, profitability, and efficiency of the entire credit union loan portfolio.

A typical day:

Melissa says she is fortunate that every day looks a little bit different, and she is always experiencing new challenges. Some of the main components of her day may include:

• Adjudication of credit

• Discussions with team members, these may be operational or coaching sessions

• Manage and participate in internal projects

• Credit Recovery and management

• Policy & Procedure Development

Regardless of the day, there are a few constants, such as meetings and email correspondence.

Continuous learning & improvement:

Melissa says she is a big believer in lifelong learning and looks for ways to try new things and be open to what is presented to her. It may be to further her education, it may be leading a project at work or taking on a new task. Or it may be personal, like learning how to ride a motorcycle. She says opening yourself up to new possibilities will ensure you’re always growing.

Keys to success:

Melissa says the biggest contributing factors to her success are the desire to continuously learn, surrounding herself with people that motivate her to be her best, and not being afraid to get out of her comfort zone.

Recommended reading for young leaders:

Melissa recommends The 5AM Club by Robin Sharma. She believes a strong morning routine can really set the tone for your day.

Guiding principles:

Melissa says it's important to keep a positive attitude, engage in regular personal development, and find work life balance. Having time with her husband and their dog, going for a walk, or having a glass of wine is a perfect way to find that balance!

Michelle Hillyard

Manager, Business Sales & Service, Steinbach Credit Union

Career:

Start in the credit union system: 2007

In high school, Michelle’s career aspiration was to become a lawyer. After graduating, she worked as an Accountant and Office Manager with a pharmaceutical group in New Brunswick before entering the credit union system. She joined Steinbach Credit Union as a Credit Analyst in the (at that time) newly formed Credit Adjudication department.

Over the next 10 years, Michelle moved into the role of Credit Adjudicator and then to Senior Credit Adjudicator. She then served as the Manger of the Loss Prevention Department for several years before taking her current role as Manager of Business Sales and Service.

A typical day:

Part of Michelle’s day is spent in meetings with other department heads, reviewing policies and working on projects. She also meets with Account Managers daily to help review applications, helps to structure more complex deals and meets with members. Part of the day is also spent training and mentoring new and existing team members.

Continuous learning & improvement:

Michelle says each day provides an opportunity to learn something new. In recent years, she has been sitting on a variety of boards and steering committees. This has enabled her to learn new things about our community and region, and to consult with other leaders across the country. Michelle says it is always interesting to see how other credit unions tackle similar situations.

Keys to success:

Michelle says building trust in relationships is key to her success. This includes building trust within her team and other departments within the organization. She says it is important to really listen when people talk to you; people appreciate your attention, and you will usually end up learning something important. Michelle says as a leader, you do not always have to have all the answers, but it is important that people trust you to find answers and that you follow up with them.

Recommended reading for young leaders:

• Becoming - Michelle Obama

• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen R. Covey

Guiding principles:

Some of Michelle’s guiding principles are:

• Treating others the way you want to be treated – if more people lived this way, what a different world we would live in.

• Giving back to community.

• Putting family first.

Nicole Prokoppa

PMO Business Analyst, Cambrian Credit Union

Career:

Start in the credit union system: 2001

Nicole’s aspiration in high school was to start a business with her father. Instead, she started her career in the credit union system. She joined as a Member Services Representative, then became a Financial Services Assistant, before moving into the role of Member Services Supervisor which she held for 7 years.

Nicole transitioned from in-branch to head office to become an Admin Systems Support. She occupied this role for 6 years before graduating to Admin Systems Support Team Lead, and then Policy & Procedures Administrator.

Nicole is new to her current role at Cambrian as PMO Business Analyst but has prior experience performing business analysis and project management.

A typical day:

Nicole says no day is the same, and that’s exactly how she likes it. Her day could be filled with meetings for new and exciting projects or initiatives, planning and preparing documentation, researching new and innovative ways of getting work done, or analyzing and understanding business problems and documenting requirements.

Continuous learning & improvement:

Nicole ensures she is continuously learning and improving by always remaining curious and not being afraid to ask questions. She says she seizes every opportunity to discover whether there is a lesson to be learned, repeated or refined, and that she is a lifelong learner with a growth mindset.

Keys to success:

Nicole credits her growth mindset for her success, as well as the humility to know that she doesn’t have all the answers.

Recommended reading for young leaders:

Nicole says, hands down, she recommends Drew Dudley’s book ‘This is Day One: A Practical Guide to Leadership That Matters’. She says had the opportunity to see Drew at the National Young Leaders Conference when it was held in Winnipeg and he was an excellent speaker. Nicole says his book accurately describes that we can all be leaders, and that leadership is not defined by a title or whether you manage others; leadership is in all of us, and we have the power to be a positive influence in the lives of others.

Guiding principles:

Some of Nicole’s guiding principles are:

• Be positive, helpful and stay curious.

• Find a good work/life balance – the work will always be there, moments with your family and loved ones may not.

• Enjoy nature and find your happy place – Nicole’s happy place is out in the Grand Beach area where she has a travel trailer.

Jim Harris

Governance Specialist, Credit Union Central of Manitoba

Career:

Start in the credit union system: 2002

Jim began his career as a journalist before joining Credit Union Central of Manitoba in 2002 as a writer, working in what was then called the Research, Communications and Marketing Department. In those early days Jim wrote the Capsules weekly newsletter to credit unions, speeches for CUCM directors and executives, press releases, internal bulletins and memos and other communications as required.

Over the years Jim’s title and responsibilities evolved along with the changing needs of CUCM and its member credit unions. At various points he managed CUCM's various internal and external websites, was actively involved in the organization's knowledge management processes and led the preparation of CUCM's annual report.

Throughout his career at CUCM Jim was also actively involved in many of CUCM's governance processes such as peer segment meetings, the Democratic Control Review Committee and the annual general meeting. As such, it was a natural transition for Jim to move into his current role as Governance Specialist in 2019.

A typical day:

While Jim says most days are anything but typical, his primary role is to provide support to CUCM's board of directors, which includes attending board and committee meetings, assembling and distributing all of the materials for said meetings, taking minutes, communicating with the board on important issues and coordinating the board calendar.

Keys to success:

Jim says the biggest contributing factor to his success has been a willingness to always be learning, both in the formal and informal sense. He says he’s had the good fortune to work with a number of talented, principled and brilliant people over the course of his career, each of whom has helped shape his development in some way. More than anything else, he says he believes being open to learning from those around you can help grow your career in new and exciting ways.

Jim says he thinks it's important to always remain confident enough to own your accomplishments but honest and humble enough to own your failures as well.

Carissa Wall

VP, Administration, Access Credit Union

Career:

Start in the credit union system: 2004

Carissa has had the opportunity to work in several different roles at Access Credit Union. She started as a Commercial / Agricultural Loan Administrator, then moved into the Personal Account Manager role shortly thereafter, which was her goal when she joined the credit union. A couple years later, a position opened up in Human Resources and she worked in that department for several years before leading the newly created Loan Processing Centre in 2011. This role continued to evolve through growth and amalgamations, and currently she oversees five administrative departments including Business Loan Administration, Estate & Registered Products, Loan Administration, Operations Support & Clearing, and Retail Loan Processing.

A typical day:

Carissa works to create an environment where employees feel empowered, valued, and supported. Working through several mergers, it has been especially important to build trust and bring the teams and organization together. She spends a good portion of her day, coaching, collaborating, and planning for the future.

Keys to success:

Carissa says she’s had some amazing leaders and colleagues in her life that believed in her and gave her the confidence to believe in herself and her leadership abilities.

She says her key to success has been a willingness to learn and grow through every interaction. Learning to actively listen is especially important, as leadership has evolved from managing tasks to coaching employees to reach their full potential. She says leadership is hard, but it is also rewarding when you see your teams develop, grow, and succeed.

Elizabeth Modersohn

VP, IT & Operational Excellence, Westoba Credit Union

Career:

Start in the credit union system: 2017

After graduating from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science – Engineering degree, Elizabeth started in the Food Manufacturing Industry as an Industrial Engineering Analyst. Over the years, she moved into various positions including Senior Industrial Engineer, Six Sigma Black Belt, and Senior Six Sigma Black Belt. Her work experience primarily focused on work standards, process improvement (automation and robotics), and change management.
 
During Elizabeth’s time in the Food Manufacturing Industry, she attained her Professional Engineer designation (P.Eng.). The Engineer-in-Training program is a four-year program focused on applying theory to practice and culminates with a national exam. Elizabeth earned her P.Eng. designation in 2007 and maintains it today.
 
In 2017, Elizabeth transitioned to the Financial Services Industry, joining Westoba Credit Union as Project Management Office & Continuous Improvement (PMO & CI) Lead. The transition to the credit union system and completely new industry was a significant change for her. Westoba presented an exciting opportunity, pushed her out of her comfort zone, and challenged her to grow her skillset. Since then, she has held the following positions: Director, Operational Excellence and VP, IT & Operational Excellence.
 
In 2018, Elizabeth earned her Project Management Professional designation (PMP), and PROSCI Change Management Professional certificate. She expects to complete her Executive Master of Business Administration (eMBA) degree in the Innovation Leadership stream from the University of Fredericton in April 2023.
 
In her current role as VP, IT & Operational Excellence, Elizabeth’s umbrella of responsibility includes Information Technology, Business Process Support, Human Resources, Property Management, Project Management Office and Continuous Improvement. Her career path has taken her on many different adventures. Elizabeth says she is grateful for all the opportunities afforded to her and hopes to continue this amazing ride.

A typical day:

To kick-start the morning, Elizabeth begins the day with an exhilarating spin workout. No matter what the day holds, she knows she has already accomplished a hard workout on her stationary bike. Small wins are important!   
 
Elizabeth says her typical workday is never the same. However, her favourite days are spent collaborating with team members to improve the organization for their membership. She loves when passionate individuals get together to work towards common goals; you can feel the excitement in the air!

Keys to success:

Elizabeth says the biggest contributing factor to her success is continuously learning and being open to trying new challenges. She says she is privileged to have strong mentor relationships to help guide her in her career. Elizabeth’s mentors are her sounding boards, they share their life lessons and continually challenge her to strive for excellence.

Sara Rusak

Chief Digital & Operations Officer, Assiniboine Credit Union

Career:

Start in the credit union system: 2012

Start in the financial services industry: 2002

Sara began her career in the financial services industry working in a call center for one of the major banks. She took on additional responsibility as she moved through different roles including mutual fund sales, lending, and compliance. She gained experience working in a branch, as well as at an investment and life insurance advisory firm.

Eventually Sara moved into software product management as a business analyst for a company that designed financial planning software. She joined the credit union system in 2012 as a business analyst with Assiniboine Credit Union. Since then, she has progressed through roles in project management, IT, digital, and now her current position as Chief Digital & Operations Officer.

A typical day:

Sara says each day is different, keeping her engaged and on her toes! However, most of her time is spent in these key areas:

• With the leaders and teams in her division.

• With project teams, discussing the vision for projects on the go, how the work is progressing, and how she can help remove any roadblocks to achieve success.

• With her colleagues on the executive team, discussing ways to support goals across divisions.

• With her peers at other credit unions, sharing insights and collaborating on the big initiatives that require cooperation across the system to move forward.

• Continuously learning while reading articles, blogs, and listening to podcasts on her commute.

Keys to success:

Sara says the biggest contributing factor to her success has been her curiosity, focus on continuous learning, and resilience to keep moving forward. She has always been interested in learning about the roles of her peers and colleagues to better understand what's important to them, their constraints, and how she can deliver solutions to help them achieve their goals.

Sara completed her MBA while working full time, which prepared her for her role at the time, as well as her future career path. She took advantage of many opportunities that came her way, and actively sought out ways to grow, learn, and add value. She is passionate about creating ease, joy, and awe in the solutions and initiatives that she is a part of, and trusts that comes through in her work.

Diane Welby

Senior Lending Advisor, Me-Dian Credit Union

Career:

Start in credit union system: 1984

Diane started her financial services career at Me-Dian Credit Union in 1984. She climbed steadily in rank and influence, from humble beginnings as a part-time receptionist, to Loans Officer, to Manager of Lending, and was Retail Manager at First Nations Bank from 2015 to 2017. She then returned to Me-Dian Credit Union, as her passion is serving the Indigenous community in the North End of Winnipeg where she grew up.

A typical day:

Diane starts her day with quiet time to read and reflect, and says she wants each day to count and have purpose.

Something Diane says she loves about her current role is that each day is different, meeting different people and looking for solutions during her daily appointments with members. Credit requests, providing financial literacy, and helping people save money are things Diane says she loves.

Diane says she is usually the person troubleshooting difficult situations.

Diane loves training and mentoring lending staff and is a support person for other junior staff in the branch. She says she takes great pride in going the extra mile to help people find the right solutions every day.

Keys to success:

Diane says there are several contributing factors to her success over the years. Firstly, she says that lots of hard work, commitment and determination were needed.

She also loves learning new things and has always been curious. Diane says she is full of questions and considers herself a lifelong learner, which has opened many doors of opportunity throughout the years.

Diane has a passion for helping people and believes that building strong relationships and connections with people is a big contributing factor to her success, along with a love of bringing out the gold in people and making a difference in people's lives.