Lending VP’s Long Tenure Fosters a Collaborative, Relatable Leadership Style

Age: 35
 
Number of years at current credit union: 12
 
Educational background: Associate’s degree in communication with a focus in marketing from the New England School of Communications; 2024 graduate of Credit Union Management School, including CCUE designation; completed the Bangor Region Leadership Institute in 2021.

CU Times: What are your key responsibilities in your current role?

CU Times: What drew you to the credit union industry?

Ramsay: I came from a background in subprime lending and saw many people who could benefit from better rates and more education. UCU was my primary financial institution and my first account, and I believed in its mission from the start. I knew I could help more people by joining an organization that prioritized member success over profits.

CU Times: What unique skills, experience and attributes do you bring to your role?

Ramsay: I’m passionate about the credit union movement and about lending, and my background in marketing and communications gives me a unique ability to sell the credit union difference. I lead with these passions and work within my teams to serve our members with those values at the forefront of our work. We remain driven by supporting what is best for our members and our communities.

CU Times: Which person (or people) do you credit the most for helping and supporting you along your career journey?

Ramsay: My supervisor – but more importantly, my mentor and friend – April Gleason, UCU’s Chief Lending Officer, has supported me through nearly every step of my management journey. There are very few weeks when we aren’t talking about my growth or new opportunities. We have been strategically working through my professional development for at least the last eight years, and her knowledge and passion make her an incredible person to work alongside.

CU Times: What are some of the biggest differences between working in your current executive level role and your previous, non-executive roles?

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

Ramsay: Moving into a senior role brings many expected and unexpected challenges, and one of the biggest is transitioning from peer to supervisor. As someone who started as an hourly staff member and worked my way up, I had navigated this before. The key is to remember where you came from and approach situations with the best intentions, and everything else will follow.  

CU Times: How would you describe your current leadership style?

Ramsay: Having grown within UCU for over 12 years, I bring the perspective of someone who has held the roles my managers now hold. This experience leads me to a collaborative leadership style and helps me understand and relate to the challenges of leading a team. It’s easy to remember where you came from when you have worked your way up from entry level to VP.

CU Times: What are some lessons you've learned over your career concerning how to communicate well with others? 

Ramsay: One of the biggest lessons I have learned over my career is how to communicate with many different personalities. I have managed teams in call centers, sales, underwriting and processing – roles that naturally attract very different types of people. Adapting my communication style and relating to folks in varied roles has been essential.

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

CU Times: What’s next for you on your executive career journey? Do you have any specific career goals you’re working toward?

Ramsay: I’m continuing to build my knowledge in real estate and business lending. I want to continue to grow within my role and expand our lending departments while maintaining exceptional member service. I’m also working to deepen my knowledge of big-picture strategic planning.

CU Times: What big-picture impact do you hope to make within your credit union, as well as for your members and community? 

Ramsay: I want us to be known for educating and assisting our members and helping them achieve their goals. The more we help our members become smart consumers, the more they can save and the better positioned they are to reach their goals. I believe this will strengthen the communities we serve and support financial literacy overall.

CU Times: What career advice would you give your younger self?

Ramsay: Don’t be impatient and take every opportunity available. What you may perceive as a setback, such as not getting the role you want, may lead to learning experiences you don’t expect. When organizational changes placed me in the call center manager role for a year, it wasn’t a position I imagined for myself (I’m a born lender), but I learned so much about our members, problem-solving on the fly and communication. What once felt like a detour became an important part of shaping the manager I am today.

Would you or someone you know like to share your journey to credit union leadership? Please reach out to Natasha Chilingerian at natasha.chilingerian@arc-network.com. 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.