In From Victory to Vision: Leadership Beyond a Majority Vote, CUES CEO Heather McKissick explores what it really means to lead with strong governance, spotlighting Seattle Credit Union President/CEO Richard Romero’s hard-won lessons as a case in point. Romero shares how a narrowly passed board decision early in his career taught him that success isn’t measured by securing approval, but by earning alignment. His reflections, captured in a thoughtful video, bring to life the balance between oversight and trust that every credit union leader must master.
McKissick expands on Romero’s experience to outline actionable strategies for achieving governance alignment: pausing to build consensus before moving forward, maintaining clear boundaries between board and management, and fostering transparent, ongoing dialogue between the board chair and CEO. Together, her article and Romero’s insights challenge leaders to move from victory to vision, transforming governance from a procedural responsibility into a shared practice of purpose-driven leadership.
