Perspectives on leadership, culture, and organizational performance. Written by the Zealyst team for credit union leaders who are serious about growth.
Purpose provides clarity and direction, especially when the path forward feels challenging. Drawing on lessons from the Camino de Santiago, this article explores how understanding your “why” can help leaders stay grounded, navigate uncertainty, and move forward with greater intention.
Recognition means more when it reflects the work, relationships, and impact behind it. This article explores what it means to build something worth recognizing by staying grounded in purpose, investing in people, and creating meaningful impact along the way.
Preparing for the CEO role takes more than experience and ambition. FORGE helps senior credit union leaders build the self awareness, strategic perspective, executive presence, and confidence needed to navigate the complexities of leadership and prepare for what comes next.
Being the person everyone can count on can be a leadership strength, but constantly saying yes can come at a cost. Learn how pausing before taking on more, understanding your capacity, and creating space for others to step up can lead to more intentional leadership and stronger teams.
Great leadership starts with balancing self respect with an understanding of what others need. Learn how the “Gold Covered Platinum Rule” can help leaders build stronger, more meaningful relationships through curiosity, listening, and respect.
The article explores how self awareness and understanding your natural strengths can make you a more effective leader. Carolyn Reeves explains that strengths based leadership isn’t about fitting a certain leadership mold, but recognizing how your natural talents influence the way you communicate, make decisions, coach others, and respond under pressure. It also highlights how Zealyst’s Lead Through Strengths experience helps credit union leaders turn that awareness into more intentional leadership.
The full Zealyst team is writing. New perspectives added regularly.
Tracie Kenyon joins co-host Jill Nowacki to explore the inner work that makes stronger executives — the self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and intentional growth that separates good leaders from transformational ones.
Safe CU President/CEO Faye Nabhani shares how she has made culture and employee development a strategic differentiator — and what credit union leaders can learn from her approach to building organizations where people truly thrive.
Liz Ponder, President/CEO of SRP FCU, shares her perspective on building a great organization by leveraging empathy and understanding — and how leading with humanity creates cultures that last.
“As women, we have a lot of work to do—and that work is something we have to continue to be impatient about.” Tansley Stearns joins Jill Nowacki for a candid conversation on identity, leadership, and the ongoing work of building a more equitable credit union movement.
Co-Founder & President/CEO
A catalyst for credit union leaders for over two decades. Passionate about igniting the potential in people and organizations.
Co-Founder & Executive Development Partner
Brings deep expertise in executive development and organizational transformation to every engagement.
Vice President, Strategic Growth
Drives strategic growth initiatives and ensures Zealyst's impact continues to expand across the credit union space.
Talent Experience Manager
Ensures every talent engagement is exceptional — from first contact through onboarding and beyond.
Leadership & Organizational Development Consultant
Specializes in helping teams and leaders unlock their highest-performing potential through purposeful development.
Leadership & Organizational Development Consultant
Passionate about culture transformation and the behavioral change that drives lasting organizational results.
Marketing Manager
Brings the Zealyst brand to life — connecting our story with the leaders who need to hear it most.
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