Credit Union Women and Young Professionals Learn Value of Effective Storytelling, Growing Networks

Global Women’s Leadership Network also hosts 15-year anniversary reception prior to 2024 World Credit Union Conference

A professional storyteller straight out of Hollywood showed credit union women and young professionals how to become more confident, inspiring and dynamic communicators during Sunday’s Leading Through Networks’ event hosted by the Global Women’s Leadership Network (GWLN) and the World Young Credit Union Professionals (WYCUP) program at the 2024 World Credit Union Conference.

LaQuita Cleare

LaQuita Cleare, an actor, writer and producer who now owns Clear Communication Academy, explained how the storytelling principles of connection, emotion and engagement are as important in the credit union industry as they are in any Hollywood movie.

“We think logically, ‘oh, I just need to tell them (members) about all the things that they’re going to get, or all the features and metrics.’ But if you realize that we don’t make decisions based on that, we make decisions based on emotions, then we know that how we get to these emotions is by being able to tell stories,” said Cleare.

Telling stories based on personal experiences is one of the best ways to tap into emotions, according to Cleare, who indicated those types of stories can also serve credit unions well in showing value to their members.

“There are stories that you can tell us that illustrate this product, or this service, or this account in action, so people will get that they will (help them) solve problems and address challenges that they have,” said Cleare.

GLWN and WYCUP "Leading with Networks" Event

Building your playbook

Attendees of the event also learned how they can build their own professional networks.

Merry Pateuk, Senior Vice President of Industry Engagement at Velera, presented a case study on how she helped to successfully launch GWLN Sister Societies. She emphasized that bringing in a variety of voices is key to forming any network.

“Be sure not to undercut diversity as you’re forming your network. It’s so important to seek out people that look at the world through a different lens—somewhat who might challenge your ideas,” said Pateuk.

Kevin Lashley, a 2019 WYCUP Scholar from Barbados, also gave a presentation on leadership and influencing change to achieve results. He encouraged attendees to be “changemakers”.

“One of the definitions of changemaker is an individual or entity that takes proactive steps to effect change. Now, is everyone in this room a changemaker? Probably not at this point. But I believe everyone in this room has the capacity to be a changemaker,” said Lashley, who went on to lay out steps on how to do that.

Ari Farrell, WYCUP Program Manager, said these types of engagement opportunities are crucial to attracting and retaining young professionals the credit union industry sorely needs.

“We need our leaders at every level to be in the room to participate with young people and understand what the challenges are, so that we can all work together to build that better future and get our young people who, demographically, are not as engaged, to be more engaged, more excited. How do we invigorate them to take over as the next CEO? How do we get them excited to be the next Chair of the Board of Directors?”, asked Farrell.

WYCUP also recognized three of its 2024 Scholars who attended the event.

Sicredi sponsored the GWLN/WYCUP Leading Through Networks event.

Celebrating 15 years of GWLN   

GWLN celebrated its 15-year anniversary at a separate reception on Saturday evening by recognizing several groups and individuals that have been integral in growing the network to more than 5,000 members in 90 countries. 

“We’re celebrating leaders. We’re celebrating individuals that helped lift voices. We’re celebrating women and men, and all types of individuals that helped us start, progress, network, grow and keep going. We’re celebrating all of you,” said Eleni Giakoumopoulos, GWLN Director.

GWLN also took time at the reception to recognize its 2024 Scholars, who each received a complimentary registration to the 2024 World Credit Union Conference, including all-expenses paid travel, a free hotel accommodation and a stipend.

“GWLN has a remarkable ability to transform challenges into opportunities. It shows us that, through their support system, what had seemed impossible is now achievable,” Raquel Mascariña, a 2024 GWLN Scholar from the Philippines.

Velera, TruStage and CUES served as co-sponsors of the GWLN Reception at WCUC 2024.