WYCUP recognizes scholarship recipients at World Credit Union Conference

Young credit union professionals from across the globe finally got the in-person recognition they deserved for WYCUP scholarships awarded in 2020 and 2021 during the final general session of the 2022 World Credit Union Conference.

The young professionals recognized Wednesday missed out the on previous opportunities to attend an in-person World Credit Union Conference, with COVID-19 forcing the cancellation of the annual event in 2020 and prompting WOCCU to make WCUC 2021 an entirely virtual event.

The WYCUP Scholarship program is open to nominees who are 40 or younger, have made significant contributions to their credit union or financial cooperative system and have the potential to make a global credit union impact. The WYCUP program has awarded more than 110 scholarships since 2001.

WYCUP also recognized young professionals affiliated with the Association of British Credit Unions Limited (ABCUL), as part of a new fellowship program that recognizes the growth of national YP networks

“It’s more important than ever before that we invest in our networks—that we have spaces to share and learn from one another, and in the process understand that we have more in common than our superficial differences. We have a shared interest in the success of people everywhere,” said Thomas Belekevich, WYCUP director. “So today we are here to celebrate young leaders from around the world and the connections they have made through this global network that we call WYCUP.”

Parmar speaks on importance of empathy

Using the science of empathy to change the way companies transform their organizations with a focus on leadership, communications and operations was the theme of the final keynote address of WCUC 2022, delivered by Belinda Parmar, OBE, CEO of The Empathy Business.

“Empathy is not about talking but acting. We might not agree, but empathy about you being responsible and me supporting you,” Parmar told the audience.

Parmar also emphasized the commitment to empathy is worth it because more empathetic companies make more money and are more profitable.

Still to come

The 2022 World Credit Union Conference, presented in collaboration with the Association of British Credit Unions Limited (ABCUL) and sponsored by VisitScotland National Bid Fund, concludes Wednesday night with a closing reception at the Scottish Events Campus.

Follow conference activities and see daily event photos on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram with #WCUC2022.

Get ready for 2023

Next year, World Council will host WCUC 2023 in collaboration with the Canadian Credit Union Association (CCUA), July 23-26, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. To learn more, visit wcuc.org/vancouver.