World Council of Credit Unions’ President and CEO Elissa McCarter LaBorde, speaking in Brazil, encouraged women and youth to show up and put their best selves forward by connecting with different cultures through their international network.
“You are a very important part of this global credit union movement, and we need you to all help us tell our story, to help us argue that credit unions are uniquely positioned to drive inclusion in every small town, big city, or dispersed island around the globe,” said McCarter LaBorde.
McCarter LaBorde emphasized that young people in the audience could put their best selves forward by meeting future challenges, such as climate disasters and income inequality.
From personal experience, McCarter LaBorde got her biggest applause during a question-and-answer session when asked how she, as a married mother of three children, balances life and work with such a demanding job. She advised women to forget about achieving a perfect balance and believe in themselves.
“If I have to pick my kid up from school, I’m just going to have to do that and say that I’m doing it, and model that as the makeup of a leader, right? There are different ways to lead. And for me, if we’re going to have women and men be deeply engaged with their families, which we know is critically important, then we need to acknowledge that we need to accommodate the messiness of life,” said McCarter LaBorde. “I think modeling that behavior for others makes it a little easier for women to take big jobs and not always second guess taking that new job—or saying, ‘should I wait until I’m older and my kids are older’? Because those opportunities will pass you by if you don’t take them.”
Global Women’s Leadership Network (GWLN) Director Lena Giakoumopoulos also encouraged credit union women to get involved in the international program to grow their potential and open more possibilities.
“The opportunities are there, and it’s just another resource for you to strengthen your professional toolkit and evolve your professional toolkit,” said Giakoumopoulos. Source: WOCCU
