The latest from John Pembroke

Mar 7, 2022 - by John Pembroke, CUES

Don’t relegate learning to nationally designated months

Last month, the CUES staff delivered on our organizational value to “actively pursue learning” by celebrating Black History Month with a series of educational activities. For example, team members played ...

Feb 7, 2022 - by John Pembroke, CUES

The value of thinking broadly about leadership learning

Leadership matters because leaders who inspire extraordinarily performing teams are the ultimate advantage for any organization—whether that organization is a business, a nonprofit or a sports team. In this ...

Jan 7, 2022 - by John Pembroke, CUES

What’s NEXT for talent leadership?

Successful credit unions have long adapted to market conditions. As interest rates have changed, they’ve re-examined their loan portfolio concentrations. As new players have come into the market, they’...

Dec 3, 2021 - by John Pembroke, CUES

Your best people strategy for 2022

It’s often said that “your people are your greatest asset.” But in fact, your greatest asset is the right people with the right resources and knowledge in the right ...

Nov 18, 2021 - by John Pembroke, CUES

Talent development: A party plus a plan

It has been said that leading scientists grumble when it’s time to pause their research, write a paper about their most recent findings and attend a conference to share ...

Oct 22, 2021 - by John Pembroke, CUES

Your 2022 talent road map

There’s probably nothing a CEO, executive or HR leader would pay more for than an accurate and reliable picture of what is to come. While I can’t provide ...

Sep 3, 2021 - by John Pembroke, CUES

What top talent wants

In this time of continued pandemic uncertainty, credit unions have shown they are willing to pay to have top talent leading their organizations. I know this because our annual survey ...

Aug 2, 2021 - by John Pembroke, CUES

Choosing to learn? Learn to choose

To protect our collective health over the last 18 months, many organizations did more business online. Credit unions accelerated their digital transformation efforts—and people of all ages did their ...

John Pembroke

CUES

Web: www.cues.org

As president/CEO of CUES, John Pembroke came full circle in his career. His first exposure to business was a high school internship working in his father’s church credit union. He developed a deep connection to the impact credit unions make on their members’ lives. That experience and being raised by parents with advanced degrees taught him to value education, faith, relationships, and personal growth.

These values, combined with a progressive mindset, a desire to innovate, and an entrepreneurial spirit, were central to John’s success, allowing him to build a unique brand. Known for driving organizational growth and profitability, he leveraged his diverse business skills, relationship-building expertise, and leadership ability at PSCU, Cox Enterprises, Kellogg, Kraft Foods, and Procter & Gamble.

Under John’s leadership, CUES membership tripled, member loyalty increased, new and innovative talent development offerings were developed and launched, and the financial condition of the organization was improved. Also, CUES came to be viewed as an industry thought leader in talent development and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). In addition, he worked with his board to evolve its governance efforts and make DEI a priority throughout the entire organization.

One of John’s favorite quotes is by Greek philosopher Heraclitus: “Change is the only constant in life.” He lived by this maxim, consistently embracing opportunities to improve himself, his life, and the lives of others. For more than 25 years, he led companies with the same enthusiasm and was a trailblazer in the financial services, technology, consumer products, media, and non-profit industries.

John held a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. in Marketing and Policy Studies from the Booth School of Business of the University of Chicago.

Whether watching sports, traveling, spending time with friends and family or enjoying listening to new music—which was something he did every Friday—John considered having fun vital to a full life. He will be missed.