Credit Union Young Leaders of Manitoba (CUYLM) are excited to launch the second annual Manitoba Credit Union Student Bursary Contest! CUYLM is committed to making a difference in our communities by helping young people pursue higher education – especially this year, where students may face new challenges due to the pandemic. We want to showcase the creativity of students and help them in achieving their educational goals.

Purpose:

Support post-secondary students or high school students who are planning to attend a Manitoba post-secondary institution by offering a chance to win a bursary for school and improve the visibility of Manitoba credit unions to students (members and potential new members).

How it works:

CUYLM is asking Manitoba students to create and share a brief video (30-60 seconds) or social media post explaining what they love about credit unions and what sets them apart from other financial institutions. 10 finalists will be selected for interviews and 2 bursaries of $2500 each will be awarded! The contest will be open until January 22, 2021.

Learn more about the contest rules.

Spread the Word!

Here's how you can get involved:

• Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and be sure to tag any of your friends and family on the bursary contest posts once the contest goes live. (If they win, you’ll be in their good books forever.)

• If you are a student or planning on attending post-secondary after high-school, APPLY! Even current credit union employees are eligible to enter.

• Familiarize yourself with the contest and spread the word to other students in your branch or in your wider circle of influence.

Stay safe & best wishes,
Credit Union Young Leaders of Manitoba Committee

Credit Union Young Leaders of Manitoba is recruiting for FOUR positions on the Executive Committee to serve 3 year terms starting January 2021.

Are you interested in being a part of a team that:

• Empowers other young leaders to grow and prosper in and for the credit union system?

• Provides a forum for young credit union leaders to share ideas and visions?

• Promotes and encourages opportunities for peer and senior leader networking?

• Increases the visibility of the credit union system to the community?

• Mentors young credit union leaders?

• Collaborates and shares activities with the National Young Leaders Committee?

Have we sparked your interest? Here's a little more info for you...

Your time on the committee will be as valuable and rewarding as you want to make it. The committee provides you with opportunities, and it's up to you to make the most of it!

Here's what to expect at the very least

• Active participation on an assigned project team to accomplish tasks and goals for the year.

• Monthly committee conference call and related prep work.

• Approximately two in-person or virtual planning sessions with the full committee.

• The opportunity to attend networking and development events that may include system conventions, golf tournaments, career fairs, speaking arrangements and more.

  • Up to 3-4 committee members are selected to attend these events.

• And, most importantly, the chance to network and meet other young leaders within the credit union system who have the same passion as you do for making positive change.

Are you ready to take the next step? 

To be eligible to apply for a position on the CUYLM Executive, applicants must:

• Be prepared to be fully engaged in committee meetings, in executing our action plans, and during social networking events;

• Be 37 years old or less on January 1, 2020;

• Not have previously served as a member of the committee; and

• Attain full support from your direct manager/supervisor.
  

Applications are available on our website: https://www.cuylm.com/join-executive

Deadline to apply is November 30th, 2020.

Application Review & Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed by the current CUYLM executive committee. The committee strives to establish an executive committee that is comprised of engaged and active young leaders while also balancing the need for proportionate representation across credit unions, including size and geographical location (rural vs. urban).  In the instance where there are two candidates who are equally qualified for the position, preference may be given to the candidate whose credit union is not yet represented on the committee.

Please direct any questions to: cuylm@cucm.mb.ca

CUYLM is excited to offer a free webinar, presented by Sandra McDowell.

About the Speaker:
Sandra McDowell, CEO, eLeadership Academy

A trusted authority on the application of neuroscience for leadership, Sandra McDowell is the founder of the eLeadership Academy™. She is on a mission to bridge the gap between brain research, human behaviour, and 21st Century leadership.

About the Content:
Balanced Leadership: Leading with Heart and Backbone

Heart of gold or backbone of steel? Effective leaders have both. In this session, Sandra explains why leading with both heart and backbone has never been more important. In order to do their best work, people need empathic leaders who foster trust and safety while courageously facing uncertainty. In this session you'll learn about the neuroscience of the social brain, the importance of courageous leadership, and techniques for handling difficult conversations. You'll also receive an online assessment to determine your balance of heart and backbone, along with take-away strategies you can use to strengthen your leadership impact.

Details:

Date: Wednesday, December 2nd
Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CST
Cost: Complimentary

Please register by November 30th, 2020.
REGISTER HERE

If you requires assistance with registering please contact Jo-Elle Early.

Coming into 2020, I was excited for what the year would bring. There were countless changes coming into my life. My wife is pregnant, we had recently moved to a new community, and we were excited to meet and interact with our new neighbors. And the Jets were on the edge of the playoff picture! Then, the COVID-19 health crisis began to unfold around the world. By the middle of March, we were seeing and feeling the impacts of the global pandemic in some form.

As leaders, we found ourselves immersed in a new world of daily meetings focused on new scenarios. We made plans to ensure the health and well-being of our employees and members, and worked on new methods of delivering service and working together. As I reflect on my experience as a leader navigating these uncharted waters over the past few months, here are some personal takeaways I would like to share.

1. The pandemic has affected everyone in a different way

As the health, financial, and other impacts of the pandemic began to unfold, I realized the importance of prioritizing mental health and well-being. Faced with new situations and uncertainty, we were all experiencing stress in various ways. For example, we heeded public health advice and refrained from visiting loved ones to prioritize everyone’s safety.  As for many of you, this affected me personally, as I have people in my life who are on a timeline and I am not sure how long that timeline is.

Knowing that everyone was faced with new challenges, I wanted to ensure CUYLM committee members were putting their mental well-being above all else, and decided to cancel our regularly scheduled monthly call. We encouraged committee members to lean on one another for support and advice on how to manage new situations at work and at home. We prioritized supporting our families, loved ones, members and communities.

2. Our capacity to change and adapt is greater that we think.

From virtual meetings to e-signatures and having employees work from home, things changed very quickly in a matter of days. I am the type of person who always questions why things are done the way they are done. Earlier this winter my father and I went on an ice fishing trip. I stopped at four establishments in search of a fishing licence and asked myself, ‘why can’t I purchase a fishing licence online?’ Adapting to the pandemic meant embracing virtual technology across many industries, and guess what? You can now purchase a fishing licence online.

Our committee re-connected (virtually) after a brief pause, and we, too, needed to adapt. Our first virtual meeting was a great stress relief as we caught up, joked around, and heard perspectives on how credit unions were adapting to the new environment. It wasn’t long before we realized that we would need to find new ways of delivering experiences that were traditionally delivered as large, in-person events, which seem to be a distant memory. Our challenge: re-think the Think Tank that was planned for early June!

CUYLM hosts events like these to inspire, connect, and engage with young leaders in the credit union system. I am a credit union nerd through and through, and thoroughly enjoy meeting and getting to know young leaders at these events.

The committee started brainstorming, and it wasn’t long before we were on the path of something completely new. We are still working out the details, but Manitoba young leaders can expect to hear more about the chance to engage with us in a new way in the fall of 2020!

3. Cherish the connections in your life.

I used to come home after a long workweek, exhausted, and ready to relax. Then, my wife would say “we are meeting with so and so tonight”. After a long week, I would have much rather stayed in for the evening. Now, after being stuck at home, I crave that human interaction. I took those times for granted. Connecting with others is one of the great joys in life. Looking forward, I know I will cherish the times with friends, family, co-workers, and new acquaintances.

While working with CUYLM and in the credit union system I have had the opportunity to meet and connect with so many amazing people across Manitoba and Canada. This new website was designed as a place to encourage those important connections. It is a place where credit union employees can read, learn, and engage with other system leaders. We are stronger together.

As a committee, we are challenging ourselves to get creative, not be scared to fail, and to try new things, while delivering engaging and relevant content to our supporters. We have been able to deliver on important items as set out in our strategic plan (like our bursary program and this new website), despite working in uncharted territory.

I want to send a huge shout out to Credit Union Central of Manitoba and CUYLM Executive Committee member Carla Toews for being instrumental in the new website design. Thank you!

We have a number of exciting things planned for the year ahead, so please subscribe to our mailing list, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, and Facebook accounts for updates!

Cheers,
Bradley McEachern

Avoiding Your Knee Jerk Reaction

Beginning at the Royal Bank of Canada in 2003, Kevin Baun has climbed through the ranks in a number of positions including Call Centre Representative, Member Service Representative, Financial Advisor, Manager, and last, but certainly not least – Chief Operating Officer with Belgian Alliance Credit Union.

In his current role, Kevin is responsible for the operations of the credit union; ensuring cohesiveness, consistency, and support. In his words, making sure everyone feels like a part of the team is his greatest responsibility, noting, CULTURE EATS STRATEGY FOR BREAKFAST.

In January, 2017, Kevin joined the Credit Union Young Leaders of Manitoba (CUYLM) committee for a three year term – occupying roles of both Vice-Chair and Chair. In his words, the experience with CUYLM starts and ends with ‘wow’.

Kevin attributes the experience to the shared fascination of the credit union system with his committee colleagues; “It’s a fantastic opportunity to be surrounded by like-minded people who dare to dream of a better system, and a better way to support everyone who’s in it.”

Kevin also listed the benefits of running for the Vice-Chair/Chair role in saying it opens your eyes to even more elements of the system, and an aspect of leadership that would otherwise be unavailable.

With nearly twenty years’ experience within the financial industry, Kevin notes the biggest lesson he has learned is to avoid his knee jerk reaction.

“If you can accept that you can learn how to modify the impression others have of you, and you do it, both parties will be better for it.”

This is where Kevin attributes his success – learning and accepting that the only person he has control over is himself. Going on to explain further, he says:

“When colleagues bring a certain situation (positive or negative) to my attention, I rarely say anything – rather, I ask a question. If I feel strongly for either side of the situation, my first instinct is to jump in, and solve the problem. However, I’ve recently learned the stronger you feel about something the less likely you are to change.”

Kevin calls these moments pulse checks, and says they occur daily.

When asked his number one piece of advice for young leaders emerging in the Credit Union System his answers were, be a life-long learner and discover your why.

“Never stop learning. Never. You’ll be better for it for yourself, family, friends, and co-workers. The more you learn, the more you understand, and the more you grow.”

He goes on to say, “Two people can often do the same thing, but not with the same level of authenticity and members/customers can tell – so identify your WHY. Why do you do what you do?”

Kevin notes that people prescribe to why you do what you do, and not what you do, mentioning, authenticity is key in putting your best foot forward.

Meet, Randy Dagasdas – Interim CEO with Me-Dian Credit Union, CUYLM executive, and aspiring MD. Of course, if you ask him, he’ll be adamant that ship has sailed.

Randy has been in the credit union system for ten years, and in the financial industry for 17. He has occupied roles from Call Centre Representative and Financial Account Manager to Manager of Personal Lending and now, Interim CEO.

For Randy, his university degree took seven years to complete.

“I never took a full course load. I always worked. At one point, I had seven jobs. My first year of university, I would work from midnight to 8 a.m., go home, shower, and go straight to class.”

It is said that the rate of learning should always be greater than the rate of change – so how do I ensure I am continuously learning?

“It’s quite simple – it’s easier to believe that you are growing when you surround yourself with individuals who are not. So surround yourself with motivated individuals that want to make a difference.”

For Randy, this rings true as he has completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, his Executive MBA, and is currently focused on his Canadian Risk Management designation. Having immigrated to Canada from the Philippines when he was just 15, Randy attributes his work ethic to a grateful heart.

My standards are higher because my reasons are bigger – it is an opportunity to live in Canada.”

A big believer in having a personal strategic plan, Randy believes long term relationships have been and will continue to be his strategic plan.

“We always come up with business strategies for the credit union, why not for ourselves?”

Randy notes, people often go to events and try to network and connect with as many people as they can, while he applies himself to one or two networking relationships and makes the possible friendship his focus – connections he’s certain will last.

“I am a fairly private person, and so long term relationships are truly important to me. We have leaders in our system who are incredibly welcoming and it has been my mission to seek out those individuals – the genuine leaders that promote and nurture relationships. Those are the people you want to connect and grow with.”

Randy joined the Credit Union Young Leaders of Manitoba committee in January, 2018. In his words:

“CUYLM and the Credit Union system have both been very good to me.”

As Randy places a lot of emphasis on self-development (both as a person and educationally), he has found that making connections with other members of the committee has benefited him immensely.

“I can always pick up the phone and call around for help when I need it, and the reason I can do that is because once I make a connection with someone, I work to keep it.”

The CUYLM committee continues to stress the importance of friendships in networking, and making those connections count.

Investing in the development of young credit union leaders is not only beneficial to the employee, but to the system as a whole, because you are not just investing in a person; you are investing in the long-term security, stability, and growth of future credit unions. An initiative like CUYLM is important because it provides future leaders the opportunity to expand their networks and gain a deeper understanding of the system issues while working collaboratively to help find solutions.

If you know a way to make the world a better place and can help prepare people for what is ahead, we have a responsibility to share it with people, who will then pass it along to others. This knowledge sharing is why CUYLM was such an instrumental part of my career. I was fortunate to have a leader within my credit union invest in me and support my professional growth, which has given me the tools I needed to get to where I am today.

Being a part of the Executive Committee with CUYLM allowed me to be a part of something beyond my credit union, helped enlighten me to the challenges, and showed me the opportunities available. I had the opportunity to advocate on behalf of the system with Parliament in Ottawa, facilitate working groups with executives and board members of our credit union, and gain valuable leadership development training through the CUYLM-hosted Think Tanks and conferences. All of this continues to benefit me today.

I’m excited about the potential of the young leaders I know today. They are authentic, bright, and curious. If we do our part to help them get ready, the future will be in good hands.

Former CUYLM Executive Committee member
Dawn Borges, Director, Member and Employee Experience
Crosstown Civic Credit Union

CONVINCE YOUR BOSS TO SEND YOU TO A CONFERENCE

Conferences are an important way to learn new skills and strategies and make new connections. The trouble is that most of us don’t have the authority or freedom to send ourselves to conferences. That decision usually lies with a manager. To attend a conference, you need to do your research, present the benefits, and make it easy for your boss to say “yes.” Here’s some tips on how to make your case. Read Entire Article Here

GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR EXPERIENCE

There are a lot of benefits of attending conferences in addition to networking and listening to speakers. Here are some tips to help you use conferences to achieve personal, professional, and business goals. Read Entire Article Here.

LEVERAGE YOUR LEARNING: HOLD A POST-CONFERENCE DEBRIEF

Many benefits are lost when the conference ends because participants don’t take what they learned back to their teams. Position yourself as a leader by creating an informative proposal to share your findings. Read Entire Article Here

FOLLOW UP, CONNECT AND PERSONALISE

Actively follow up with fellow attendees and stakeholders via professional social platforms as well as emails to help maintain the connections you made. These very same connections can prove to be invaluable in the future. Read Entire Article Here:

HELP YOUR ENTIRE WORKPLACE BENEFIT

When it comes to conferences, a better slogan would be, “What happens in Vegas should NOT stay in Vegas.” If you’re one of the fortunate people from your organization to attend a professional conference, how can you bring it back to the workplace so everyone can benefit? Read Entire Article Here.

MAKING THE MOST OF WHAT YOU LEARNED

Going to a conference is always exciting and inspiring. Speakers will share tons of ideas and attendees will often finish the day feeling ready to try a lot of new things. Here’s some tips for making the most of what you learned. Read Entire Article Here.

Credit Union Young Leaders of Manitoba (CUYLM) is proud to officially launch the very first Manitoba Credit Union Student Bursary Contest! The purpose of the contest is to support post-secondary students who are credit union members by offering a chance to win a bursary for school, and improve the visibility of Manitoba credit unions to students (members and prospective members).

How It Works:
Students are asked to create and share a brief video (30-60 seconds) explaining what they love about credit unions, and how a $500 bursary would make a difference for them. Up to 10 bursaries of $500 each will be awarded! The contest is open until February 28, 2020.

Find Out More:
The full details, including instructions and contest rules, can be found on the contest webpage, on creditunion.mb.ca.

Spread the Word:
Manitoba Credit Unions are encouraged to spread the word about this contest. Here's how you can get involved:

• Familiarize yourself with the contest and spread the word to students in your branch or in your wider circle of influence.

• Download this poster and post it in your branches/offices/member areas.

• Share promotional content for the contest on social media. Click on your preferred platform to download the content: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

• Display a promotional banner on your credit union's website. If you would like a banner in a custom size, please let us know.
  Download a banner:  960x300  |  1200x430

• Use our contest hashtag, #culearn2020 If you have any questions that aren't addressed on the contest website, please email CUYLM (cuylm@cucm.org)

The 2019 CUYLM Conference (Discovery: Next Generation Leadership) brought together over 90 Young Leaders representing credit unions and system partners from throughout Manitoba for a busy day-and-a-half of learning, self-discovery and networking.

The conference opened with the State of the Manitoba Credit Union System address delivered by Garth Manness of CUCM. Manness touched on the economic picture for Manitoban credit unions, regulatory modernization, the evolving expectations of members, new credit union competitors, and other challenges and opportunities credit unions face going forward. He emphasized that Young Leaders are in a unique position right now to bring new perspectives and mindsets that will be of value to their credit unions as they bridge to the future.

Barry Christiansen introduced Young Leaders to Insights Discovery, a psychometric tool that helped attendees discover their preferred communication styles, strengths and value they bring to a team. Each Young Leader received a personal profile filled with detailed comments about their leadership style and tips for development. After reviewing their profiles, attendees engaged in a series of interactive activities designed to put their new knowledge and awareness into practice.

The conversations continued at Torque Brewery, where Young Leaders had the opportunity to make new friends and connections, take a tour of the brewery, and have some fun.

The Human Library session was an opportunity for Young Leaders to meet with experienced mentors from the credit union system and ask questions. In small groups, attendees took turns conversing with twelve mentors (Executives from the credit union system). The room was filled with lively conversation as learnings and ideas were exchanged.

To wrap up the conference, attendees worked in small groups to tackle some of the challenges facing the credit union system and brainstorm possible approaches to them. Some of the challenges attendees looked at were the changing workforce and necessity of new skillsets, developments in the regulatory environment, new competitors moving into the banking space, and ways credit unions could collaborate even though many are moving in different directions. Afterward, Young Leaders made short presentations about the ideas their groups had generated.

There were many valuable takeaways from the conference. Attendees left with plenty of new ideas and perspectives to consider, a bigger picture of the credit union system and its future, and a deeper understanding of leadership and strengthening relations, and connections to other driven and inspired Young Leaders throughout the system.

Members of CUYLM had the opportunity to attend the National Young Leaders CU NEXTGEN session, part of CCUA’s National Conference for Canada’s Credit Unions in Winnipeg on May 5-6, 2019, along with other young leaders from across Canada.

CU NEXTGEN, designed exclusively for credit union young leaders, was a 1.5 day session that emphasized skill development, knowledge application and networking opportunities, and featured speaker Drew Dudley, of Day One Leadership.

Called one of the most inspirational TED speakers in the world, Drew Dudley is on a mission to help people discover the leader within. With more than five million views, his TED talk “Everyday Leadership (The Lollipop Moment)” redefined leadership — it’s not a characteristic of an elite few, but one that lives within all of us. Through his high-energy talks, Dudley shares practical and actionable insights on creating cultures of leadership that lead to higher levels of pride, productivity, and happiness. He empowers audiences to believe that they are leaders and gives them the tools needed to make a difference.

Drew guided participants through a deep dive of six key leadership values, and presented ‘The Leadership Test’ - an easy-to-apply approach to consistently engage in positive leadership behaviours. Key values Drew explored were: impact, growth, courage, empowerment, class and self respect.

The National Young Leaders Award recognizes young leaders in the Canadian credit union system. The experience has been referred to as "life-changing" by some of the former award winners who have grown into executive level leadership positions in our system.

The National Young Leaders Committee wants to ensure all young leaders (or their prospective nominators) have the chance to learn about the award process before the March 1, 2019 deadline. The committee is hosting a webinar on Thursday January 17, 2019, and hopes anyone who is even remotely curious about the award and the experience takes the hour to join them.

The webinar will provide an overview of the nominations and award selection process and feature insights and advice from previous winners of the National Young Leaders Award. Register for the webinar here.

Members of CUYLM attended the Credit Union Managers Association (CUMAM) conference in Winnipeg and hosted a booth at the conference trade show to survey conference attendees. They asked attendees what advice they would give to young leaders looking to break through to the next level of their career, about personal breakthrough moments they have had, and how they encourage “breakthroughs” in their team.

We caught up with Rachelle Nato, Marie McKean and Candice Bradley of CUYLM to find out how their day went at the conference.

Q: Was this your first time at CUMAM?
Rachelle: Yes! I was very excited to be part of the CUMAM conference.

Q: What was the vibe in the booth?
Marie: Great atmosphere, the people stopping by were great to talk to.
Candice: Very upbeat and positive. Lots of great conversation.

Q: What was your favourite part of the trade show experience?
Rachelle: I loved how busy our booth was! People were coming to say hi. I got to see CUYLM alumni as well as meet new people.
Marie: Getting to talk to other people in the system and listening to their advice. And, of course, getting to meet up with other CUYLM members.

Q: Did you see some familiar faces?
Rachelle: All CUYLM alumni made a point to come to our booth and say hi.
Candice: Yes! It was so great to catch up with so many people I’ve met at other system events!

Q: What are your favourite comments?
Marie: Take the good with the bad. Every moment is an opportunity for growth. Get involved, observe… everyone is a coach. Take what resonated with you and run with it.
Candice: Don’t be afraid to take chances and go outside your comfort zone.

Q: Did you learn anything new from this experience?
Rachelle: Credit union managers and executives are happy to share their knowledge. I love that our booth made them think. I can’t wait to share the info with our membership!
Candice: Just reinforces how glad I am to be part of the credit union system!

Here are the comments collected from the CUYLM booth:

Question 1: What advice could you give to a young leader looking to break through to the next level of their career?

1. Take the good with the bad! Every moment is an opportunity for growth!  (Natalie B., CCCU)

2. Be open to feedback and advice given by others. (Marie McKean, Westoba)

3. Don’t wait for opportunity or the perfect time. Seek it out and take control.  (Cora, Sunova)

4. Never give up, keep going. (Vicki, CCCU)

5. Be true to yourself about your goals and values. Pursuing a career path with those in mind will help enthusiasm shine through. (Lisa Prays, Cambrian)

6. It won’t get done for you so you need to take ownership and make it happen by talking to your boss, networking and continuing to add to your toolbox. (Bennie, CFG)

7. Keep learning and trying new things. (Jody, Noventis)

8. Take an active roll to meet many people within the system. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and get out of your comfort area. (Tyler Booker, Fusion)

9. Always volunteer to take on that task that no one wants. (Norman Neil, Westoba)

10. Get involved, observe. Everyone is a coach. Take what resonated with you and run with it. (Jen, Sunrise)

11. Set long and short term goals and communicate to your organization what they are! (Leanne, Stride)

12. Don’t be afraid to take changes. Believe in yourself! (Lavonne Tyschinski, Fusion)

13. Try! Ask! Go outside your comfort zone. (Amanda, Noventis)

14. I would advise to keep curious, ask questions, experiment, share your ides and forge forward. (Anonymous)

15. Always keep your eyes and ears open to opportunities. (Rachelle Nato, Caisse)

16. Be patient and be willing to take on additional responsibilities or be a team supporter to show all the skills and competence you offer. (Marcel Gauvin, Caisse Financial Group)

17. Take a chance. (Justin, CCCU)

18. Be you.  Learn everyday.  Listen, listen, listen! (Lindsay Hextall, Westoba)

19. Network and be humble. (Shahani, Westoba)

20. It doesn’t have to be a straight line as you progress through your career.  (Mike Brolund, Sunrise)

21. Get involved in your organization. Absorb as much info as you can from experienced peers. Challenge yourself. (Brent Budz, Stride)

22. Ask Questions, continually learn. Be confident in yourself! (Leanne DeGrave, Stride)

23. Always be willing to take on any challenge, whether you see them as small or large – you never know who is watching or what the result will be!  (Sarah Ferguson, Westoba)

24. Ask questions and learn as much as you can about every area of the organization. (Leanne, Fusion)

25. Always be willing to learn and try new things. (Mona W., Cambrian)

Question 2: What has been a breakthrough moment in your own career?

1. Never get comfortable – comfort zones change too. (Trevor K, Stride)

2. Great management empowering me and leading me. (Patti McEvoy, Westoba)

3. Taking on a project no one else would do. (Dave Hyde, Westoba)

4. When my manager believed in me and supported me in achieving my goal to transition to a management position. (Kim S., Assiniboine)

5. Discovering the value of empowering other. (Rob U., Access)

6. Finding an inspirational mentor in the industry. (Brittany Gulowaty, CUCM)

7. The moment I realized I was worthy! Take time for yourself. Health comes first. (Nicole, Steinbach)

8. Learning to share knowledge! (Sherri, Cambrian)

9. Having the courage to step outside my comfort zone and challenging myself to take on a new role that forced me to learn and grow. (Leiha Fiddler, CUES)

10. Applied for a position I didn’t think I’d get. (Debbie, Sunova)

11. Mergers! (Trent H., Fusion)

12. Getting involved in the Young leader’s movement through the National Young Leader award! It sparked a passion for the development of the broader CU system that I would not have otherwise had! (Amie, CUCM)

13. Leaving the security of a full-time role for a 1-year term working for the executive team. (Brent, Steinbach)

Question 3: How do you encourage “breakthroughs” in your teams?

1. Great communication and innovative ideas! (Kathy, Noventis)

2. Encourage that no idea is a bad idea. (Nicole, Cambrian)

3. Give them an open platform and allow them to collaborate. (Leanne, Sunrise)

4. Don’t let perfection stand in the way of good enough. (Tayona, Sunrise)

5. Encourage all team members to communicate ideas – no matter positions or experience. (Terry, Minnedosa)

Wow, we’re ecstatic to represent CUYLM as the Chair and Vice Chair for 2018! The passion and enthusiasm that comes from this group is contagious, and we can’t wait to see what is accomplished by the committee this year!

Kevin and I look forward to coming together and collaborating with all of you to solve the systems toughest challenges and showing everyone how creative and passionate we are to work in the CU system!

Our committee has been working hard on updating our website so it’s current with everything we have happening throughout the year. Check back often to see what we’re up to!

And for those of you who are new to the CUYLM membership, our website is a great place for you to get to know us and see what CUYLM is all about!

Kevin Baun – Vice-Chair

If you’re thinking of becoming a committee member of CUYLM this year, it’s never too early to apply!

We will be looking to fill 5 spots in November and would encourage anyone interested to put their name forward for consideration later in the year.

If you’re lucky enough to attend one of our events this year, we encourage you to come say “Hi”, we’d love to meet you!

Shellyna Lipic – CUYLM Chair
Kevin Baun – CUYLM Vice-Chair

CUYLM was fortunate enough to have four of its committee members attend the CUNextGEN Intensive as part of the National Credit Union Conference in Toronto that took place April 29-May 1.

The CUNextGen started early Sunday morning at 7 am with breakfast and registration. Attendees were assigned to tables with 6-7 other young leaders from across the country. Megan Mitchell facilitated a workshop labelled “The Art of the Possible”, which was designed to teach us how to increase our creative influence and effectiveness! Megan tasked each table with their own question where Young Leaders spent the remainder of the day using the “FourSight Framework” as a process to follow and ultimately come up with a solution to the question given at the beginning of the day. It was great to learn about the 4-step process, then to put it altogether:

• Clarify - Identifying the Challenge

• Ideate - Generating Ideas

• Develop - Turning Ideas into Solutions

• Implement - Making it Happen

Each group was tasked to use the “FourSight Framework” to come up with a solution to the question they had been assigned, and then presented the solution to the rest of the group on Day 2. Given the short amount of time to prepare for the presentations, it was amazing to see what each group came up with as a final product! It definitely goes to show how passionate and creative our Young Leaders are from across the country.

At the end of day 1, we had the opportunity to take part in a “Human Library”. Each of us had the opportunity to pre-select five industry leaders who we wanted to learn more about – with a rotation every 20 minutes. It was interesting to hear their ideas and perspectives on all the ongoing opportunities the CU system is facing. Some of the questions asked were:

• How is your credit union dealing with the notion that CU’s are turning into banks?

• How do you see the CU System in 5 years?

• What has your career path looked like to get to where you are today?

Over the course of the 2 days, we had many chances to network with other Young Leaders and meet people from all across the country. It was a fantastic experience to connect with people and to share perspectives and ideas.

Overall, this experience made you realize that every credit union has its challenges, and there are so many bright minds within the CU System. It was exciting to see how many people are so passionate about helping members with their finances, and ultimately want to provide them with the best service possible. It was mind-blowing and exciting to see the BIG ideas that so many of these young leaders have. It makes you us feel good about going back to our individual CUs and getting more involved to make a greater impact.

CUYLM is offering a similar workshop on May 17, as our annual “Think Tank”. We encourage all Young Leaders to get involved and be part of the future of the CU System.

2018 CUYLM Committee Members,

Brad
Marie
Kevin
Shellyna

Shellyna Lipic and Kevin Baun, CUYLM’s Executive Committee Chair and Vice Chair, had the opportunity to represent CUYLM at the Credit Union Central of Manitoba (CUCM) conference in Brandon on March 22nd, as well as at the University of Winnipeg’s Co-Op class that same evening, which made for a very busy day!

Credit Union Central of Manitoba

Shellyna and Kevin were able to mix and mingle with executives from Credit Unions across Manitoba, discussing and challenging interesting topics that are relevant across the Credit Union system.

The topic that our Chair and Vice-Chair discussed in their group was “What is one assumption we have that we should challenge, and what that would look like?”.

The solutions the group came up with aligned greatly with CUYLM’s own initiatives: Empower existing staff, provide financial literacy, and promote co-operative awareness in the community.

Shellyna did a fantastic job representing CUYLM by speaking for our group’s challenge and solution at the podium for all to hear.

The audience also had the opportunity to hear David Dern of www.cdfcanada.coop. We are going to be in touch with him about opportunities for young leaders to make a difference outside of MB (stay tuned).

University of Winnipeg – Co-Op Class

Shellyna and Kevin also met with other credit unions and co-operatives to share who we are, as CUYLM, our mission statement, and our background. We heard from the students on their own innovative co-operative ideas.

The night finished with mingling, asking and answering questions, and encouraging students to seek out their local credit union for a career path.

Wow, what a year it’s been so far for the CUYLM committee!

Thanks again to everyone that took part in our “Be the Change” conference in April. We hope you are still embracing the takeaways and using them to make positive changes in your personal life and your individual credit unions!

As Chair and Vice Chair of the committee this year, we had the tremendous opportunity to attend the National Credit Union Conference in Halifax this past May to participate in NextGen. Although getting to Halifax was a bit bumpy, due to crazy foggy weather, NextGen did not disappoint! We spent 2 full days learning more about ourselves as leaders and what it takes to be adaptable, resilient, and why change is important. It was both amazing and eye opening to learn how to interpret our various qualities as leaders and what each of them really means and how we adapt to different situations based on those qualities.

Both of us are passionate leaders, and welcome any opportunity to learn about ways to adapt to the ever changing world within the credit union system! We look forward to meeting and networking with all young leaders that attend our events and hope that you’ll come say hi next time you see us!

Sincerely, Jody and Shellyna

We are excited to introduce to you our new committee members for 2017 who will each serve a 3 year term!! Please join us in welcoming the following:

• Dan Quesnel, Loans Officer, Minnedosa Credit Union

• Shellyna Lipic, Manager of Loans Compliance, Steinbach Credit Union

• Kevin Braun, Branch Manager, Crosstown-Civic Credit Union

We would like to say a special thanks to our outgoing CUYLM committee members. Each of these individuals were instrumental in CUYLM’s success and we are thrilled they will be a part of our CUYLM Alumni.

• Emma Lafreniere, Steinbach Credit Union, CUYLM Chair

• Nicole McCallister, Steinbach Credit Union, CUYLM Marketing Committee

• Neil Hamm, Stride Credit Union, CUYLM Marketing Committee

These individuals are passionate about supporting and strengthening the credit union system. Over the past three years they have all worked hard to support and develop CUYLM initiatives and are strong leaders within their credit unions. As committee members, employees and supporters of the MB Credit Union system, they support cooperative values and are committed to continued personal and professional growth for themselves and those they have had the opportunity to work with.

Thank you so much for your ongoing positive contribution, knowledge and ability to see the BIG picture! Your work will carry on for years to come and help continue to empower youth to grow and prosper in and for the credit union system.

Sincerely, CUYLM

By Joty Bath, James Grosskopf, and Rachel Tripp.

In May, 2017, the three winners of CUYLM’s Big Idea Challenge had the opportunity to attend the National Young Leaders Conference (NYL) in Halifax, Nova Scotia as the prize for their winning entry. Here is what the three Young Leaders from Westoba Credit Union had to say about their experience at the NYL Conference.

“What we found was the most refreshing attending the NYL conference was that we had the chance to speak about relevant Credit Union challenges with other passionate Credit Union employees and come up with solutions together. It doesn’t matter if you are from the East Coast, West Coast, or anywhere in between – we all face the same challenges.

The guest speakers had a fantastic way of getting the entire group engaged and kept up the group interactions as well. If you are looking for a way to make a difference in our Credit Union System – attending the NYL conference is sure a great way to start! Our biggest takeaway was the networking opportunities with like minded Credit Union Young Leaders. It’s amazing to be surrounded by so many people who are passionate about doing what’s best for our members.

The guest speakers were all phenomenal; they focused on very relevant issues that we experience daily. It’s incredibly reassuring to see that the Credit Union system is so aware of the challenges we face and that we are ready to tackle whatever comes our way. Lastly, we did also get to have a lot of fun out there!”

On April 6 & 7, 2017, 80 Young Leaders from credit unions across Manitoba gathered for the 3rd Credit Union Young Leaders of Manitoba Conference at the Holiday Inn Airport West in Winnipeg. Attendees were invited to “Be the Change” – to learn to lead self, and in turn inspire others.

The conference kicked off with a keynote session from Stephanie Staples, a local motivational speaker who challenged us to “Bring Your ‘A’ Game to Work and Life”. She emphasized the importance of self-care leading to success, striving to make small continuous improvements in life, and learning that positivity is infectious.

Garth Manness, CEO of Credit Union Central of Manitoba, spoke about the state of the credit union system provincially and federally, including the good health of Manitoba’s credit unions, the importance of keeping up with technology, and the importance of reaching millennials as we seek to grow our membership base. He also discussed trends in the financial services industry, and upcoming system challenges that we as credit unions will need to collaborate on.

On Thursday evening we heard from a panel of four credit union senior leaders on their “Leadership Perspectives on Change”. The panel consisted of Lesia Gojan-Klein, former CUYLM Chair and Branch Manager at Carpathia Credit Union, Richard Derenewski, President of the Board of Directors at Catalyst Credit Union, Christina Semaniuk, Vice-President, Human Resources at Cambrian Credit Union, and Martin Trudeau, CEO of Belgian-Alliance Credit Union. We thank our four panelists for sharing their wisdom with us!

Rounding out Thursday evening was a fun, interactive networking event of team trivia challenges provided by Canadian Outback Adventures. The event was a great way to meet other young leaders and decompress from a day full of learning.

Friday was an opportunity to learn from Sandra McDowell, author, speaker, and VP of Communications and Culture for First Credit Union. Sandra led two workshops focused on “Building Leadership Strength from the Inside Out” by focusing on neuroleadership principles, emotional intelligence, and leadership best practices.

Finally, participants worked in functional area groups to brainstorm ways to move their roles from “transactional” to “transformational”, so we can apply our learning at our credit unions when we return to work.

Thank-you to our emcee Julene Toews-Dewis who facilitated those discussions, and did an amazing job in leading us through the conference. Thank you to our sponsors, our speakers, the CUYLM Committee for all your hard work, each attendee for your participation, and the credit unions who sent you, for your support.

Stay tuned for ways to continue learning and growing from CUYLM! Did you miss our “Be the Change” Conference? Not to worry – we will be hearing from Sandra McDowell in a two-part webinar series this fall, and everyone is invited to attend!