Skip to main content
The CUInsight Experience

The CUInsight Experience podcast: Sekou Bermiss – Building resilience (#198)

“A good leader will create conversation by being honest about what they believe, even if they know people will disagree with it.” - Sekou Bermiss

Sekou Bermiss (4)

Thank you for tuning in to episode 198 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your host, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com. This episode is brought to you by Humanidei. Humanidei helps credit unions build inclusive cultures that attract, develop, and retain talent.

My guest on today’s show is Sekou Bermiss, Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at the Kenan-Flagler Business School on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Sekou is also the next keynote speaker for the upcoming CUInsight Mini-Con: Winter Event. He shares some compelling insights about his journey from a chemical engineer to a well-respected strategist and academic. His unique perspective offers listeners a look into the complex challenges and opportunities facing the credit union industry today.

During our conversation, we discuss the talent shortage, particularly in IT, with Sekou emphasizing how credit unions can appeal to younger generations who are drawn to social responsibility. Sekou explains the significance of being resilient and adaptable in today’s environment, and talks about the common traits in organizations that do that well. Listen as Sekou explains how credit unions can foster resilience and innovation by creating a culture that encourages experimentation—allowing them to remain relevant and thrive amidst constant change.

As we wrap up the show, Sekou talks about trying new things to stay relevant, he lists his current favorite reads and shares his all-time favorite albums. Enjoy our conversation and don’t forget to register for the CUInsight Mini-Con: Winter Event to hear more from Sekou Bermiss!




How to find Sekou

Sekou  Bermiss

Sekou Bermiss

A big shout-out to our friends at Humanidei, an amazing sponsor of The CUInsight Experience podcast. Thank you!
Be sure to register for CUInsight’s Mini-Con here!
Place mentioned: North Carolina
Shout-out: Filene Research Institute
Shout-out: Jill Nowacki
Place mentioned: New York
Place mentioned: Brooklyn
Place mentioned: New York City
Shout-out: Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management
Shout-out: University of Texas
Place mentioned: Austin, Texas
Place mentioned: Texas
Shout-out: Generation Alpha
Shout-out: The Great Resignation
Shout-out: Anthony Klotz
Shout-out: Jack Welch
Shout-out: ​​ExxonMobil
Shout-out: Rocky Balboa
Source of “The only constant is change.” quote: Heraclitus
Shout-out: Sekou’s father-in-law
Shout-out: Silicon Valley
Shout-out: Google
Shout-out: Florida Gators
Shout-out: Gatorade
Shout-out: Warren Buffet
Shout-out: Dale Carnegie
Shout-out: M. Night Shyamalan
Shout-out: CUInsight Community
Shout-out: Derek Thompson
Shout-out: The Atlantic
Shout-out: Plain English podcast
Shout-out: George R. R. Martin
Shout-out: Walter Mosley
Album mentioned: Talking Book by Stevie Wonder
Place mentioned: Detroit
Shout-out: Motown
Album mentioned: Life After Death by The Notorious B.I.G.
Shout-out: Jamie Foxx
Book series mentioned: A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin
Book mentioned: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Book mentioned: The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. & E.B. White
Book mentioned: How to Use Storytelling in Your Academic Writing: Techniques for Engaging Readers and Successfully Navigating the Writing and Publishing Process by Timothy G. Pollock
Book mentioned: The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter
Book mentioned: Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…And Others Don’t by Jim Collins
Previous guests mentioned in this episode: Jill Nowacki (episodes 4, 18, 37, 64, 82, 101, 113, 126, 138, 148, 161, 177 & 190)

[01:48] – Sekou shares his education and career journey.
[05:02] – Sekou offers his thoughts on The Great Resignation.
[06:42] – Strong leadership is rooted in humility, integrity, and honesty, which fosters trust and dialogue.
[09:08] – Sekou notes that accessibility to leaders is much higher now, making individual traits more important.
[10:01] – Sekou shares what it means to be a resilient organization.
[13:32] – The only thing that is constant is change.
[16:53] – Sekou highlights that a growth mindset requires ongoing learning, curiosity, and adaptability throughout life.
[19:04] – Technology requires understanding modern expectations and experimenting with new ideas to stay relevant.
[21:45] – Sekou suggests that leaders identify concerns, test solutions through experiments, and foster continuous innovation.
[23:47] – Sekou advocates for small experiments that can lead to impactful improvements.
[25:12] – Sekou emphasizes a data-driven approach with balanced privacy considerations in HR technology.
[28:04] – Rewarding innovation and fostering a supportive, creative environment are important to Sekou.
[30:23] – Sekou prefers empirical measurements over subjective “vibe-based” ones.
​​[33:33] – Investing in education and hobbies creates balance by shifting focus to what Sekou enjoys.
[36:32] – Sekou values storytelling, blending data with examples, and using plot twists for persuasive impact.
[39:39] – Sekou admires Derek Thompson’s ability to synthesize ideas simply and aims to improve his own skills.
[40:35] – Hear how Sekou is catching up on new tools for work.
[42:19] – Sekou shares his book recommendations.
[44:56] – Sekou credits Stevie Wonder’s Talking Book and The Notorious B.I.G.’s Life After Death as two of his favorite albums.
[46:05] – Sekou expresses gratitude for the credit union community, which has become an integral part of his identity.