More female leaders for the credit union movement
by. Shazia Manus
It’s important to understand the rise of the female leader is happening in both big and small ways across the world. It simply looks different across different regions. Whereas professional communities in the U.S. are working to enhance the career paths of women already achieving great success, other areas of the world are working to change centuries-old beliefs that keep women out of the workforce. Often these beliefs are shared by women and men alike, making them even more difficult to overcome.
Working women in the U.S. know well the power of connection. A fully formed network is an essential component to any professional’s success. Hailing from Bangladesh, I understand intimately the determination and support it requires to achieve success in a culture that has historically relegated women to second-class status.
It is important for female credit union leaders around the globe to connect with their counterparts, learning and sharing to help one another gain a foothold in their individual markets. Today’s credit union leaders – both male and female – will play instrumental roles in this mission. By identifying and encouraging the strong female leaders on their teams to think globally and to raise their hands for volunteer and professional experiences that will expose them to different perspectives, these professionals will indeed change the makeup of our industry.
Several organizations within the movement have recognized the potential value of more women leaders to continued success of credit unions, both here in the U.S. and abroad. The World Council of Credit Unions, for example, has developed the Global Women’s Leadership Network to advance credit union women in leadership and offer women around the world exposure to international perspectives on common credit union challenges like growth strategies, alternative capital and efficiency in operations.
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