Diversity & Inclusion – Why credit unions should care

Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) programs have been around for decades, and frankly have created a limited amount of true positive impact. Credit union leaders have been trained on understanding the importance of diversity, but the overall progress of women and minorities into top leadership roles in larger credit unions continues to be tepid.

We know that gender-diverse and ethnically diverse companies are more likely to outperform their national industry median, but we’ve not systemically embraced D&I as a business imperative.

As credit union CEO retirements occur over the next 10 years, there is a window of opportunity to reshape the face of our industry leadership. I believe the credit union industry is ready for a deeper level of discussion, focused on tangible solutions to building a more diverse and inclusive workplace. The credit union industry’s commitment to the Cooperative Principles uniquely positions credit unions to be known as an industry with a deep commitment to Diversity and Inclusion.

 

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