In both her professional and personal life, Alissa Sykeshas always focused her internal lens on improving efficiency. Asvice president of lending at Sunmark Federal Credit Union inLatham, N.Y., Sykes' responsibilities include overseeing allaspects of lending, including mortgages, home equity loans,consumer and business loans, loan servicing and collections.

“I love learning and trying new things,” Sykes said. “A titledoesn't make a leader. I look for people who are willing to pushout of their comfort zone and go against the grain in acollaborative way.”

For Sykes, nothing is more empowering than building knowledgeand understanding beyond the confines of a specific area ofexpertise. She said it's important to take the time to invest inyourself, and recalls a time when her request to attend aleadership conference in California was denied because her creditunion couldn't afford to send her. Skyes admits that at first, shetook it personally.