New WYCUP Report: What Credit Union Emerging Leaders Worldwide Want Leaders to Know
Findings from credit union professionals 40 and under set the stage for the November WYCUP Waypoint Virtual Summit
MADISON, Wis.—Credit union emerging leaders are seeking clearer paths to leadership, a role in shaping technology decisions and more opportunities for professional development and global connection, according to a new report from World Young Credit Union Professionals (WYCUP), a program of the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU).
The report, Ask. Learn. Lead., draws on voluntary responses from professionals age 40 and under in 27 countries, submitted during registration for the 2026 WYCUP Global Gateway virtual session series. It offers credit union executives and boards a window into the questions and priorities shaping emerging leaders’ careers.
Key Findings
Leadership pathways. Across regions and career levels, respondents asked how succession frameworks work, how advancement decisions are made and what mentorship opportunities are available at their institutions.
Technology and digital strategy. The only theme identified in responses from all 27 participating countries, technology prompted questions about involvement in digital planning, AI readiness, fraud prevention and how investments can improve member access while meeting operational goals.
Cooperative values and institutional direction. Respondents across multiple regions asked how credit unions can sustain their cooperative identity as they grow and balance social purpose with financial performance.
Career sustainability. Common concerns included access to professional development and mentorship, along with navigating careers where peer networks are limited. This theme was most prominent in North American responses.
Global professional connection. International training, cross-border exchange programs, and global peer networks were consistent priorities for participants whose local institutions have limited capacity to provide those opportunities.
Recommendations
The report calls on credit unions to make professional development an institutional priority through clearer succession pathways, structured mentoring and peer development, and support for participation in global professional networks. It also recommends giving emerging leaders formal roles in technology and strategic planning.
“The questions in this dataset reflect what credit union emerging leaders are encountering in their day-to-day careers,” said Kassandra Schroeder, Director of WYCUP and Global DE Programs at WFCU. “The report is designed to give senior leaders a direct view into those priorities so they can respond to them.”
WYCUP Waypoint Virtual Summit — 3-4 November 2026
The WYCUP Waypoint Virtual Summit on 3-4 November 2026 offers credit union emerging leaders the opportunity to engage with peers and speakers from across the global cooperative movement — directly addressing the themes of global connection and professional development identified in the Ask. Learn. Lead. Report. Credit union leaders and HR professionals are encouraged to share the report and the summit registration with emerging leaders at their institutions. The virtual event is free to attend.
About the World Young Credit Union Professionals
World Young Credit Union Professionals (WYCUP) is an initiative of the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions that brings together a global network of emerging leaders in the credit union and cooperative financial sector. WYCUP provides connection, learning, and leadership development opportunities for professionals at credit unions and cooperative financial institutions worldwide. Learn more at wycup.org.
About the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions
The Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) is the philanthropic engine of the global credit union movement and a strategic partner of the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU). WFCU advances global cooperative leadership by investing in women's empowerment, emerging leaders and development education, and ensures global financial resilience through financial inclusion and disaster relief. Learn more at doglobalgood.org.
