Former White House staffer Betsy Myers educates on effective leadership approaches

MADISON, Wis. – Since its inception in 2009, the Global Women’s Leadership Network has become the premiere international platform dedicated to addressing and facilitating greater gender parity in credit union leadership and increasing women’s access to financial services worldwide.

During last week’s 2016 World Credit Union Conference in Belfast, 102 women from 22 countries gathered during the Global Women’s Leadership Forum event to discuss strategies for accelerating women into executive positions and bringing the distinctive vision that women leaders offer to transformative outcomes.

Panel presents on leadership strategies from different perspectives and credit union systems

The Forum, sponsored by Ser Technology, featured keynote speaker Betsy Myers, author of Take the Lead: Motivate, Inspire, and Bring Out the Best in Yourself and Everyone Around You who presented openly about her personal experiences working in the White House, and for then presidential-candidate Barack Obama, that led her to discover successful approaches for effective, authentic, and influential leadership. Myers also led the group through a dynamic exercise and workbook activity that helped audience members maximize their talents, equipping them with skills and resources to follow.

Myers presented three key beliefs about leadership:

1. Be Yourself: Be rigorous in your pursuit of self-knowledge

2. Be Engaged: Be willing to ask the questions and seek input from others

3. Be Impactful: Bring out the most productive feelings in yourself and those around you

Leni San Roque receives annual Athena Award for her work increasing women's access to financial services in Asia

The Forum also included a panel of four female credit union executives, each from different credit union systems and different experiences. Carla Altepeter, CEO of Numerica Credit Union (USA) said, “Everything you ever wanted is on the other side of fear,” and Shelley McDade, CEO of Sunshine Credit Union (Canada) had this to say about failure: “When you fail, the only person that can help you understand why is yourself,”.

The panel noted that women must announce their goals; be open to moving geographically when CEO positions open; and stressed the importance of listening, education, mentoring, and having a strong belief system in your core values.

Women discuss how to grow local Network chapters in their communities and connect globally

Each year, World Council and the Global Women’s Leadership Network presents its prestigious Athena Leadership Award. Elenita (Leni) San Roque, first female CEO of the Asian Confederation of Credit Unions, received the 2016 award for her execution of building a business development center in the Philippines that trains female credit union members on enterprise management and received one-on-one support to enhance their trade such as soap-making, basket weaving, necklace designs and other crafts. Through her work, thousands of members have received financial literacy training and four chapters called “Sister Societies” were created in Asia to further advance women’s leadership and connect women to the global Network.

Continuing the momentum throughout the week, Network members participated in the first-ever leadership storytelling breakfast generously sponsored by TMG and engaged in workshop designed to bring the global mission down to the grassroots level through World Council’s Sister Society program sponsored by PSCU. The Network has 32 chapters in 13 countries.

World Council of Credit Unions is the global trade association and development agency for credit unions. World Council promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial services. World Council advocates on behalf of the global credit union system before international organizations and works with national governments to improve legislation and regulation. Its technical assistance programs introduce new tools and technologies to strengthen credit unions' financial performance and increase their outreach.

World Council has implemented more than 290 technical assistance programs in 71 countries. Worldwide, 57,000 credit unions in 105 countries serve 217 million people. Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org.