In this heartfelt episode of the Women of Community Banking podcast, host Anurag Mukherjee sits down with @KarenKoundourakis, Chief Retail Officer of Lake Michigan Credit Union ( @LMCU ) in Tampa, Florida. Karen shares her inspiring journey, from her early career in social work and community banking to finding her true calling in the credit union movement.Karen, a proud adoptive mother, opens up about her deep passion for helping children succeed and her personal experience adopting her daughter from Guatemala. She discusses how her personal mission aligns perfectly with the credit union's purpose of changing lives, emphasizing that true leadership lies in the small, daily moments of mentorship and empowerment.The conversation delves into the challenges Karen has faced as a woman leader, particularly in balancing competing priorities, and how she navigates these with grace and a focus on her core values. She shares her unique perspective on celebrating failures as opportunities for growth and building sustainable infrastructure for the future.Looking ahead, Karen discusses her vision for leveraging artificial intelligence and technology not to replace jobs, but to enhance human capacity within the financial industry, allowing team members to focus on building meaningful relationships and providing financial coaching. She outlines how leaders have a responsibility to prepare their workforce for the jobs of tomorrow.Finally, Karen offers an optimistic outlook on the credit union movement in 2025. Despite economic challenges, she emphasizes the unwavering commitment of credit unions to their members, highlighting the need for innovation and a "smart optimism" to continue changing lives regardless of external conditions. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in purpose-driven leadership, community impact, and the future of financial services.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Karen Koundourakis03:01 The Essence of Leadership05:57 Karen's Journey in Banking and Community Service09:04 Passion for Helping Kids11:54 Overcoming Challenges as a Woman Leader16:11 Role and Vision at LMCU19:01 Future Aspirations for Kids and Technology23:03 Optimism for the Credit Union Movement

n this insightful episode of the "Women of Community Banking" podcast, @AmeriCUMarketing Credit Union COO Alissa Sykes Tulloch shares her inspiring journey from teller to executive. With over two decades of experience, Alissa dives into her passion for community impact and the "people helping people" philosophy. She discusses leveraging data for personalized member experiences, navigating growth challenges, and exciting initiatives like mergers and new product development. Discover why Alissa is optimistic about the credit union industry's crucial role in supporting communities through economic shifts.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Alisa Sykes Tulloch02:05 The Impact of Community Banking04:45 Alisa's Career Journey08:59 The Role of Credit Unions in Financial Literacy11:45 Challenges in Talent Development14:45 Leveraging Data for Decision Making19:06 Exciting Developments at @AmeriCUMarketing Credit Union21:29 Outlook for 2025 and Beyond#AlissaSkyesTulloch#creditunions #marketing #lending #financialliteracy #womeninleadership #data #decisionmaking #newyork

S𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗹: 𝗔 𝗖𝗢𝗢’𝘀 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴On the Women of Community Banking Podcast we sat down with Sam Tate, Chief Operating Officer at First City Credit Union to talk about her journey - immigrating to a new country, building from the ground up, and rising into executive leadership.This isn’t just a story of career growth. It’s about resilience, reinvention, and leading with clarity in an industry that’s evolving fast.Sam’s insights on operational leadership, culture, and member-centricity are a powerful reminder of what community banking stands for - and what it can become.#creditunions #WomenInBanking #CreditUnionMovement #communitybanking #leadershipjourney #WomenWhoLead