Welcome to episode 204 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your hosts, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com, and Jill Nowacki, President and CEO of Humanidei.
This episode is sponsored by Trellance. Trellance is a leading technology partner for credit unions, delivering innovative technology solutions to help credit unions achieve more. With a comprehensive suite of analytics, cloud and talent solutions, the Trellance team ensures credit unions increase efficiency, manage risk, and improve member experience.
In this season, Jill and I will have conversations centered around leadership, credit unions, and living our best lives. We will have some of the most respected leaders from around credit unions who we are grateful to call friends join us in the discussion from time to time too.
In this episode, we welcome our friend Mike Valentine back to the show. Mike is the President and CEO of BCU in Illinois, and he joins us to reflect on some insights from his 40 years in the credit union industry, offering a refreshing perspective on leadership that prioritizes authenticity. We explore how leaders can balance being true to themselves while also taking on the expectations of others.
Mike opens up about the challenges that he faced early in his career. He stresses that being a leader isn’t about fitting into a mold but rather about embracing one’s true self, which ultimately leads to stronger connections and more effective leadership. We also discuss the importance of helping teams find and express their authentic selves and how diversity in leadership styles strengthens organizations.
As we further explore Mike’s journey, he touches upon the critical moments that helped shape his leadership style, including learning from mentors and handling work-life integration. Whether you are a current or aspiring leader, this episode will offer valuable insights into how to lead with integrity and authenticity! Enjoy our conversation with Mike Valentine!
