Skip to main content

The CUInsight Network podcast: Impactful partnerships – SalesCU

Featuring Nick Brown, President at SalesCU

Nick Brown

Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.

My guest on today’s show is Nick Brown, Senior Trainer & President/CEO at SalesCU, which has the honorable distinction of being named the Top Sales Training Company for two years in a row! Nick joins me to share his journey into the credit union industry and how he found his passion for sales and coaching, explaining how SalesCU helps credit unions move from a reactive, order-taking service approach to a proactive sales culture that adds real value for members.

In our conversation, Nick covers the four essential elements SalesCU focuses on to build an effective sales culture and highlights the importance of leaders becoming effective coaches who observe, plan, develop, and hold their teams accountable in a positive way. He also shares his vision for the future, focusing on making SalesCU's programs accessible to credit unions of all sizes to help them deliver the value their members deserve.

Nick reflects on his own life-saving experience at a Children's Miracle Network hospital as a child, sharing how SalesCU is donating a portion of its earnings to support Credit Unions for Kids.

As we wrap up the episode, Nick reveals what about his childhood soccer coach inspired him, what cities he would most like to visit, and what book he believes everyone should read. Enjoy my conversation with Nick Brown!

How to find Nick

Shout-out: Star Wars
Shout-out: Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
Shout-out: Primary Children’s Hospital
Shout-out: Spider-Man
Place mentioned: Medford, Oregon
Place mentioned: Salem, Oregon
Place mentioned: Harrisonburg, Virginia
Place mentioned: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
Place mentioned: Duluth, Minnesota
Place mentioned: Lake Charles, Louisiana
Place mentioned: San Diego, California
Place mentioned: Houston, Texas
Place mentioned: Orlando, Florida
Place mentioned: Miami, Florida
Place mentioned: Honolulu, Hawaii
Place mentioned: Phoenix, Arizona
Book mentioned: The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy

[00:55] – Nick discovered his passion for credit unions after ditching engineering and embracing consultative sales.
[04:10] – Nick reflects on having discovered a passion for sales, founding SalesCU, and now helping credit unions succeed nationwide.
[07:16] – SalesCU helps credit unions build a sales culture via four elements: expectations, training, coaching, and accountability.
[11:10] – Nick argues that the reactive “order taker” approach limits member value.
[13:37] – Coaching needs to prioritize value over policy to help staff overcome fear and act proactively.
[16:36] – Leaders need coaching to shift from order-taking to proactive, consultative support for their teams.
[17:52] – It’s also important for coaches to observe, measure performance, and create custom plans that support team growth.
[21:45] – Nick argues that ongoing one-on-ones foster trust, clarify expectations, and lead to accountability.
[24:09] – Accountability needs to flow upward, driven by trust and investment, not punishment or fear of failure.
[27:32] – SalesCU celebrated 10 years by supporting Children’s Miracle Network, which once saved Nick’s young life!
[39:44] – Nick’s life was saved by timely surgery after a brain bleed was diagnosed at a CMN hospital.
[31:22] – Nick explains SalesCU’s focus for the future.
[33:20] – Nick’s childhood soccer coach modeled empathy-first leadership that still shapes his approach to coaching today.
[36:09] – Nick hopes to purchase a warm vacation home to escape Utah winters and visit clients.
[38:07] – The book The Gap and the Gain taught Nick to measure progress by growth rather than unmet ideals.
[41:00] – Nick sets strict work-life boundaries to protect family time and avoid being consumed by business.