Paul Farrell, Digital Marketing Specialist at Lafayette Federal Credit Union, recently completed his journey as the 2023 Emerging Leader, which culminated with a trip to Madison, Wisconsin. Reflecting on this transformative experience, Paul shares insights into how the program shaped his professional and personal growth, key takeaways from his visit with industry leaders in Madison, and why he encourages other young professionals to pursue this prestigious opportunity.

How did the experience impact you professionally and personally?
Since winning the award my confidence in my ability to lead, achieve growth, and improve systems has been enhanced. Through the professional development process, I have gained a better understanding of my leadership skills and style. This process has helped me identify the type of leader I aspire to be and how to positively influence my team. My peers have recognized me as an experienced professional, and my ideas and thoughts have been valued. The knowledge I gained from the conference has equipped me with resources to help my credit union thrive and grow. 

Additionally, the networking opportunities and connections made with the speakers and the Trustage team will provide me with more resources as I progress in my career.

Lastly, my achievements have led to speaking engagements at various conferences with the MD|DC Credit Union Association, and these engagements have been acknowledged by my credit union and the leadership team.

What were your key takeaways from the trip to Madison where you met with industry leaders?

• As a leader it is important to set a vision for your team, never take yourself too seriously, and take your time when building your team and hiring.
• The support from Filene to further enhance our member data and persona to better serve our members
• The many research opportunities with Filene are accessible to our credit union
• The importance of understanding our members in minority communities, and how to serve various cultures
• The importance of DEI in our organization and how the lack of intentionality can affect our credit union
• The resources we have available with TruStage show they are not a one-dimensional partner, but they provide a wealth of resources

Would you encourage other young professionals to apply for the Emerging Leader program?
I would encourage every young professional to apply. I have met so many leaders and learned more about the opportunities we have with the MD|DC Credit Union Association. My experience as an emerging leader has helped me to become recognizable with many other CU peers and created unique opportunities for me to share my ideas/progress quarterly with our leadership team.

This award helped me to establish myself as a leader in the credit union space, and I can’t wait to see where my career goes from here. 

To find out more about the Young Professionals Network and the Miriam Rivera Lieb Emerging Leader Award, click here.