The labor force has never had more options. People have grown more aware about when they work, where they work, and how they work. That puts the onus on businesses to attract and continually engage their employees.

How are credit unions delivering and expanding their operations? And where should they go from here?

Credit union human resources (HR) and organizational development leaders examined it all at the 2023 CUNA HR & Organizational Development Council Conference in San Diego.

Highlights from the conference:

DDJ Myers Founder/CEO DeeDee Myers offers eight characteristics of strategic leaders, discussing how managers seeking the C-Suite must transition from a tactical focus to a broader vision of strategic leadership.

Tucson (Ariz.) Federal Credit Union Chief Culture Officer Trish Kordas says, “If we don’t engage our people, they’re going to leave us,” explaining the connection between employee engagement and an organization’s ability to attract and maintain top talent.

Author and entrepreneur Diana Kander, who believes innovation is a mindset as much as a skill or process, introduces four situations leaders often face and reframes them to arrive at innovative solutions.

A panel of HR leaders discusses how everyone is understaffed, how that’s impacting businesses, and how credit unions can navigate this trend.

UFCU Senior Specialist in Internal Communications and Events Crystal Palomino explains how the $4 billion asset credit union streamlines internal communications and eases the nightmare of workplace email inboxes.

Gallup Senior Practice Expert Vibhas Ratanjee examines the benefits of workplace managers transitioning from boss to coach.

Mike Schenk, CUNA chief economist and chief advocacy officer for policy analysis, relays the chances of a 2023 economic recession, and what a recession could look like.

Royal Credit Union Organizational Recruiting and Relations Manager Heather DeNamur and Appalachian Community Federal Credit Union Director of HR Rhonda Hazlewood lay out a three-step process credit unions can follow to become an employer of choice.

Speaker and author Lee Silber discusses the power of music to motivate, relax, and pull people together.

Hear from Kander, Kordas, Ratanjee, Schenk, Rally Credit Union's Virginia Whitham, Michigan State University Federal Credit Union's Silvia Dimma, and former CUNA HROD Council Executive Committee Chair Jan Johnson on the May 11 episode of the CUNA News Podcast.