March is Women’s History Month, and the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues would like to take this time to recognize and celebrate women’s contributions across American history, society, and culture. The credit union movement is fortunate to have many female leaders and professionals serving members every day.
Crystal Price, Director of Marketing at Clark County Credit Union, reflects on her own career and how we can better support future women in the credit union industry.
I started my career with credit unions almost accidentally. Despite having previously worked at a big bank and having had a credit union account since I was a child, I never considered working for one. However, one day while job hunting, I came across an ad for a teller position at a credit union with only two locations in town. I applied, got the job, and from day one I knew that credit unions were something special. They cared about their members on a deeper level and my well-being too! I also experienced encouragement to learn more and do more in my position.
I’ve encountered a few women leaders throughout my credit union career who encouraged, motivated, and mentored me on my journey. One of the most instrumental women leaders in my life is Pat Bailey. She was my very first credit union manager and took me along with her in much larger endeavors. She saw potential in me and guided me to learn more about the credit union philosophy. With her help, I soon went from being a teller to being a supervisor and processing loans. She remains a long-time friend to this day.
Another woman leader who helped me get where I am today is Deborah Murphy, one more of my branch managers. She hired me as a mortgage loan officer, something I was hesitant to take as I had little loan history. Her faith in my abilities pushed me to do my best in that role. She adjusted my schedule so I could go back to school, while encouraging me to apply for a position related to my field of study of marketing (which at the time, I thought I couldn’t get). Now that I am in the marketing field, I admire my Chief Marketing Officer, Shannon Hiller. Like the other strong women leaders I’ve encountered, she believes in education and having a seat at the table. She shares her knowledge, is open to new ideas, and generally is a great person. In the last few years that I’ve worked for her, I have grown tremendously in my career.
The advice I’d give to any woman looking to start their career in credit unions is to be open to learning. The basics of how a credit union is run remain the same: we help people with their finances. But the methods that we use to help them achieve their goals are always evolving. Being able to listen and learn are major components of not only providing excellent member service but to expanding your horizons within the credit union. My next piece of advice would be to never be afraid to ask for help. Credit unions work as a team to get things done, and your success is the entire team’s success.
I feel that the best way to attract more women to the credit union workforce is letting them know that they too can have a voice and a seat at the table. Highlighting women leaders in the credit union industry is as important as highlighting our member-facing staff who work directly with our members and make huge impacts in their financial lives.
Something that I know now about credit unions that I wish I knew at the beginning of my career was that working at a credit union provides a support system for reaching your goals. When I started, I was in my early 20s and taking a “break” from college. I was trying to figure things out with what I wanted to be in life. Working at the credit union provided me the opportunity to advance in many ways. My managers were supportive of me learning the duties of other positions and encouraged learning. Also, when I felt going back to school was the best decision for me, I found financial assistance through my credit union, encouragement from my co-workers, and eventually a position that aligned with my college degrees.
My future career goals include education. I’d love to become a Chief Operating Officer of a credit union one day. I enjoy what I do and the impact I make, so these goals would be the next progression for me.
