Birkenbeul: I love the people-centric philosophy of credit unions; at Financial Center, that’s apparent through the ways we support both members and employees. I also like the challenge of supporting organizational growth and change, so it was a natural fit to work with a credit union that’s focused on paving the way for continued growth and opportunity.
 
CU Times: What unique skills, experience and attributes do you bring to your role?

Birkenbeul: I began my career in operations management, and the experience of managing the day-to-day challenges of running a business greatly informs how I relate to my peers today in a support role. To some extent I’ve been in their shoes, which helps me bring realistic and relevant ideas to the table.

I’ve also worked in both the private and public sectors, which has given me the opportunity to hone my leadership skills in different contexts. I’ve got diverse experiences to draw from when leading teams or partnering with others to solve problems.
 
CU Times: Which person (or people) do you credit the most for helping and supporting you along your career journey?

Birkenbeul: My team members. I’ve managed a lot of people, and each person I’ve served as a leader has taught me something that influences how I lead today.
 
CU Times: What are some of the biggest differences between working in your current executive level role and your previous, non-executive roles?

Birkenbeul: Executive-level positions provide opportunities for wider systems thinking. You need to learn to look at the whole while recognizing the intricacies and interconnectedness of the pieces that make it up. While an executive still oversees a specific piece or function of the organization, you can’t be successful in this kind of role without focusing first and foremost on the big picture goals, priorities and culture of the organization. As a result, it becomes really clear at this level that we’re all dependent upon one another for success.

CU Times: What’s a challenge you faced when you first joined your executive team, and how did you overcome it?

Birkenbeul: When I joined Financial Center, not only was I new, but my position was, too. I needed to build trusting relationships with my colleagues and begin to craft a vision for the future of talent development and my part in it. At less than a year in, that’s honestly something I’m still working on. It takes time to listen and learn how you can best serve the organization.
 
CU Times: How would you describe your current leadership style?

Birkenbeul: Grounded and adaptable. While my core beliefs and values underpin everything I do, I strive to adapt to the unique and changing needs of each individual, team and organization that I serve.
 
CU Times: What are some lessons you’ve learned over your career concerning how to communicate well with others? 

Birkenbeul: Too often we focus on just trying to be heard. But when you put in the effort to learn what truly drives others – what their needs, goals, challenges and values are – you can create common purpose and build strong collaboration and communication around it.

CU Times: What are some ways in which you achieve work/life balance, set boundaries and/or avoid burnout at work?

Birkenbeul: I’ve found that when I equip my team with the right culture, expectations, autonomy and accountability, it leads to appropriate balance and boundaries that extend to me as the leader. Perspective also helps; we’re on a journey with no finish line, so we have to pace ourselves to continuously move forward, innovate and provide value.
 
CU Times: What’s next for you on your executive career journey? Do you have any specific career goals you’re working toward?

Birkenbeul: Right now, I’m focused on learning more about the credit union industry and my place in it. As I look to the future, my goal is to multiply my impact through effective leadership of others.
 
CU Times: What big-picture impact do you hope to make within your credit union, as well as for your members and community? 

Birkenbeul: I consider myself successful if I can help employees uncover more of the natural gifts they have to offer – to each other, our members and our community.
 
CU Times: What career advice would you give your younger self?

Birkenbeul: It’s not your job to have all the answers.

Would you or someone you know like to share your journey to credit union leadership? Please reach out to Natasha Chilingerian at [email protected]. To qualify, the individual must be a part of a credit union's leadership team or C-suite, and have a compelling story to share about their rise to their current leadership role.