The CUInsight Experience podcast: Identity with Tansley Stearns (#228)

Welcome to episode 228 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your hosts, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight, and Jilly Nowacki, President and CEO of Humanidei.

This episode is sponsored by Alacriti, a leading payments fintech helping credit unions modernize money movement. Alacriti enables real-time money movement experiences for loan payments, A2A transfers, digital disbursements, and bill pay. Through a single cloud-native platform that connects to RTP, FedNow, Fedwire, ACH, Visa Direct, and Zelle, credit unions can progressively modernize without overhauling legacy systems. Learn more at alacriti.com!

In this new 2026 season, Jilly 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.

Join us for this episode as we welcome Tansley Stearns back to the show. Tansley is the President & CEO of orsa credit union, and she helps challenge us to think about leadership from the inside out, sharing a candid conversation about what it actually takes to become the kind of leader you’re proud to be, not just the one who looks impressive on paper.

We talk with Tansley about a defining moment during COVID that reshaped how she thinks about people, trust, and growth and how, from that experience, came her powerful framework of “cushions and wings,” or the idea that leaders must first create safety, care, and trust before asking people to stretch, innovate, and take risks. Without the cushion, the wings can do real harm. That idea really sets the tone for our discussion on authenticity, emotional honesty, and the responsibility that leaders carry when people are watching everything that they do.

Tansley shares what it’s meant for her life and journey as a leader to let go of people-pleasing, borrowed identities, and the masks she once wore to fit into rooms that didn’t always feel like home. We explore how embracing who she truly is—laughter, emotions, bold dreams, and all—has made her a more effective and trusted leader, and she also opens up about her uncompromising standards: no “brilliant jerks,” no behavior that harms people, and no shrinking herself to make others feel more comfortable.

We also reflect on the mentors who have shaped us, the feedback that changed us, and the responsibility that we now have to show up for the next generation of leaders. We talk about values, joy, growth, and why leadership is ultimately about people, not metrics. This episode is for anyone who’s questioning who they’re becoming at work, who feels the weight of trying to belong, or who wants to lead with courage, care, and clarity, with Tansley reminding us that authenticity isn’t a destination but a practice!

[2:16] – Tansley explains how true empowerment requires balancing support (“cushions”) with opportunities to grow (“wings”).
[4:22] – Tansley argues that authenticity and visible care restore joy while leading to honest, respectful, and courageous interactions.
[7:13] – Leadership ultimately demands showing up genuinely, upholding standards, and refusing to tolerate harmful behavior.
[10:38] – Jilly adds that constructive feedback, even when challenging, reinforces self-belief and drives professional growth.
[11:28] – Hear how Tansley has learned that prioritizing meaningful spaces and courage over people-pleasing strengthens impact and personal fulfillment.
[13:42] – Jilly and Randy discuss how effective leadership requires courageous, clear communication and recognizing the people who help shape us.
[15:00] – Tansley asserts that mentors who balance trust with honest feedback enable growth without unnecessary pressure.
[18:29] – Tansley believes that showing up for others is a responsibility that can profoundly impact their lives.
[20:52] – It’s so important for leaders to intentionally create space and support others, especially women, to advance together.
[23:29] – Randy points out how early leadership often involves unlearning conformity to discover your true self.
[24:08] – Hear how Tansley realized that embracing your true style builds trust, authenticity, and reduces leadership exhaustion.
[27:45] – Authentic leadership comes from self-awareness, values, and genuinely caring about people – not from seeking approval.
[30:12] – It’s important to remember that leadership also requires enduring difficult seasons, embracing growth, and developing essential emotional skills.