CU Spotlight

Most credit unions want to do more but feel held back by time, resources, and uncertainty about where to start. What if the secret to transforming your organization lies in embracing collaborative storytelling, tech, and empathy ?In this groundbreaking episode of CU Spotlight, Jonathan Taylor, Shirley Sims, and Phil Sin peel back the curtain on their journey from casual conference conversations to...

A podcast doesn’t start with perfect gear or a polished script, it starts with a moment where someone says, “We should do something,” and actually follows through. We trace how CU Spotlight comes to life through real credit union relationships, conference chaos, and a shared belief that the movement has a crisis of awareness. Between GAC meetups, WOCU booth row logistics, and a lot of learning on...

  Recorded live at the 2026 Vermont Association of Credit Unions Enlighten Conference at Killington Resort, CU Spotlight hosts JT and Phil sit down with Barb Lowman, CEO at CUNA Strategic Services (CSS). Fresh off delivering the keynote at the inaugural New England Sister Society meeting, Barb shares the leadership lessons that shaped her 30+ year career — starting as a teller — and dives deep int...

Summary At Bits & Bytes GAC 2026, JT sits down with data strategist Anne Legg of Thrive to challenge one of the biggest myths in credit unions: that data problems are about access or technology. Instead, Anne argues the real issue is focus. From fixing broken member experiences to redefining how credit unions measure their true impact, this episode dives into how organizations can turn the dat...

At the Global Women's Leadership Network luncheon during America's Credit Unions GAC, CU Spotlight's Shirley Senn sits down with Bonita Harp of the Healthcare Credit Union Association and Vicki Brynolf of Team One Credit Union. With nearly 40 years in the industry between them, these two leaders reflect on the seismic shift in how women lead — and are celebrated — in financial services. From mento...

Emma Hayes shares what the Global Women's Leadership Network (GWLN) means to her — community, representation, and a worldwide movement that connects women across borders to uplift their communities and champion financial inclusion.  From her experiences at World Council events to witnessing the grassroots impact of the network globally, Emma reflects on privilege, purpose, and why she remains deep...

At the GAC 2026 Global Women's Leadership Network luncheon, Creighton Blackwell of Coastal Credit Union shares why championing women in leadership isn't optional — it's a duty. From recognizing everyday impact to building the next generation of diverse leaders, hear why the HeForShe movement is growing and why there's still much more work to do. Shine a light where it matters.

At the 2026 GAC Conference in Washington, D.C., Shirley Senn (CU Spotlight) interviews credit union veteran Denise Wymore at the Inclusiv CDFI Roundtable. They explore the surge in new credit union charters, the power of the cooperative model in reaching underserved communities — from African immigrants escaping payday lending to grassroots de novos built on trust and empathy — and why the origina...

SECU President & CEO Leigh Brady joins CU Spotlight's Shirley Senn at the 2026 GAC Global Women's Leadership Network luncheon to share why this community matters. From spotlighting female leaders to giving women that "little nudge" of confidence, Leigh reflects on the power of mutual support, the credit union cooperative spirit, and what it means to lift others as you rise. Shine a light where...

LeeAnn Case of St. Cloud  talks about what the Global Women's Leadership Network means to women in the credit union movement. With 30 years in the industry, LeeAnn reflects on the mentors who lifted her up — and her intentional commitment to do the same for the next generation. A powerful conversation about mastery, community, and the lasting impact of women supporting women in financial services....

In this candid conversation at GAC 2026's Inclusive CDFI Roundtable, Shirley Sinn chats with James Hunter of New Orleans Firemen's Federal Credit Union to explore what financial inclusion really looks like in practice.  James shares how his credit union's dedicated financial inclusion team works one-on-one with members facing loan denials — turning adverse decisions into personalized pathways towa...

At the 2026 GAC Inclusive CDFI Roundtable, Point West Credit Union's Steve Pagenstecher chats with CU Spotlight's Shirley Senn to share how a small Portland-based credit union is making a massive impact. From a strategic merger with the NAACP Credit Union to serving immigrant communities, Point West is proving that empathy-driven banking isn't just possible — it's powerful. Learn how they're openi...

In this candid conversation at the 2026 GAC, Shirley Senn and  Chad Miller, President & CEO of Southwest Louisiana Credit Union, explore what financial inclusion really looks like on the ground. From battling predatory lending to launching micro-business loans for startups, Chad shares how his credit union is working to unite a community long divided by economic disparity — turning the "tale o...

Shirley Senn meets Thalia Anguaino and Celia Castillo from TruStage ahead of the Inclusive CDFI Roundtable. The conversation explores why financial inclusion is at the heart of the credit union mission—from creating belonging within credit union teams to ensuring every member feels seen and supported. Thalia shares how employee well-being directly shapes the member experience, while Celia highligh...

At the 2026 Credit Union Governmental Affairs Conference, host Shirley Senn chats with James Savoldelli, founder of Pesto, to explore how his fintech company is partnering with credit unions to give members access to their home equity — at a fraction of the cost.  With average HELOC rates of 7–8% versus the 24%+ charged by major banks, Pesto's credit card product is designed to break the cycle of...

At the 2026 GAC CU 2.0 reception, Shirley Senn of CU Spotlight talks with Anna Khazlova, co-founder of Jupid, to explore why 50% of small businesses fail within five years — and how Jupid is tackling the root cause: compliance. Anna shares her vision for embedding compliance, accounting, and tax tools directly within credit unions, giving small business owners a single trusted space to manage ever...

Karan Bhalla, founder of AI Advantage, shares how COVID pushed credit unions into digital-first operations — and in doing so, eroded the personal service that defines the movement.  AI Advantage uses member data to personalize every communication, making members feel truly known. Their affordable, easy-to-use marketing platform is already empowering small credit unions (some under $35M in assets)...

At the 2026 Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC), host Shirley Senn chats with Matt Sweeney and Chris Slinger of Lockton Insurance to discuss what makes their partnership with credit unions so meaningful. From corporate insurance and bonding to employee benefits, Lockton shares how their work aligns with the credit union philosophy of people helping people—supporting both members and the employee...

At the 2026 Governmental Affairs Conference, CU Spotlight's Shirley Sennchats with Shree (Shreenath Regunathan), founder of Starlight, to discuss how his fintech company is helping credit unions proactively connect members with financial assistance programs—like utility aid, SNAP, childcare, and down payment support. Available in all 50 states and now a CUSO, Starlight's mission-driven approach cl...

 At GAC 2026, host Jonathan Taylor sits down with Alexey, founder of Boucoup — the family banking platform designed to eliminate the fear and stress of money for the next generation. Alexey shares his raw founder journey: from running a 35-person mobile consulting firm in Silicon Valley to a pivotal moment when a credit union's app cratered to 1-star reviews—and how that crisis became the spark th...

In this episode of the Mission Critical Podcast, hosts Jonathan Taylor and David Dean sit down with PJ (Pankaj Jain), founder of Algebric AI, at GAC 2026.  PJ shares hard-won lessons on breaking into the credit union industry as an outsider—from his "marinated chicken" philosophy of relationship-building and showing up consistently at conferences to the strategic power of assembling a nine-person...

In this episode of the Mission Critical Podcast, recorded live at GAC 2026 during the CU 2.0 Happy Hour at the Museum of Evolutions, hosts Jonathan Taylor (Bank Social / CU Spotlight) and David Dean (EFTG) sit down with Saeid Kian, founder of Ribbon. Saeid shares the deeply personal story behind Ribbon's founding—after losing his father to pancreatic cancer, he was shocked by the months-long, bure...

Recorded live at GAC 2026 at the Museum of Illusions, hosts Jonathan Taylor (BankSocial/CU Spotlight) and David Dean (EFTG) sit down with Craig McLaughlin, founder of Finalytics AI.  Craig shares the raw, unfiltered truth about entrepreneurship—from being "dragged through glass on your stomach" to mastering the shift from doer to manager to leader. He breaks down how to hire for culture over crede...

 In this episode of the Mission Critical Podcast, recorded live at GAC 2026, JT (BankSocial) and David Dean (EFTG) sit down with Har Rai Khalsa, CEO and co-founder of Swaystack. Har Rai shares the candid story of his first company's acquisition by Alkami — from an unexpected introduction to their founder, to a firm "no" that became a yes, to the lessons a board can teach you about timing and value...

Recorded live at Cuba Libre during GAC 2026, this episode of the Bits & Bytes Podcast with co-hosts JT Taylor and Shirley Senn features Brian Hinze, President & CEO of NCU-ISAO, and Steve Coyne, CISO & Co-founder of Pure IT Credit Union Services. Together, they break down the cybersecurity landscape facing credit unions today—from NCUA's 2026 supervisory priorities and hacktivist threa...