“Don’t lose that zeal and passion, but don’t trade on the cheapest human emotions—fear and contempt.” – Scott Simpson

Welcome to episode 227 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your hosts, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight, and Jilly Nowacki, President and CEO of Humanidei.

This episode is sponsored by Alacriti, a leading payments fintech helping credit unions modernize money movement. Alacriti enables real-time money movement experiences for loan payments, A2A transfers, digital disbursements, and bill pay. Through a single cloud-native platform that connects to RTP, FedNow, Fedwire, ACH, Visa Direct, and Zelle, credit unions can progressively modernize without overhauling legacy systems. Learn more at alacriti.com!

In this new 2026 season, Jilly and I will have conversations centered around leadership, credit unions, and living our best lives. We will have some of the most respected leaders from around credit unions who we are grateful to call friends join us in the discussion from time to time too.

For this episode, we are joined by Scott Simpson, President/CEO of America’s Credit Unions. Listen in this episode as we step away from job titles and LinkedIn headlines to talk about the moments that shape a career—the quiet hinge points, the unexpected invitations, and the decisions that feel terrifying in real time but obvious in hindsight. We talk with Scott about the “green light” moments that changed everything: being pulled into politics by a friend, stepping into the middle of a high-stakes bank–credit union fight, and then finally receiving one of the most surprising career taps imaginable—being told to apply for a CEO role he never expected to be offered! What followed wasn’t just a promotion but a defining lesson in humility, courage, and emotional discipline.

One of the most powerful parts of our conversation with Scott is the story that he shares about the leader he unintentionally jumped over and the grace that man showed in response. That choice, Scott tells us, didn’t just transform a working relationship; it reshaped his entire career, and we reflect on what it means to name the elephant in the room, ask “Are we okay?” after hard decisions, and lead from empathy rather than ego.

Scott also opens up about balancing youthful confidence with seasoned wisdom, resisting the pull toward fear or contempt, and learning to keep “motoring” even when the road ahead feels unclear. From Utah to California to Washington, D.C., his journey shows how small rooms and overlooked moments can ripple across an entire industry, so, for anyone feeling impatient, stuck, or hungry for what’s next, this episode offers something more meaningful than a career checklist. It’s a reminder that growth doesn’t come from chasing status but rather from executing where you stand, lifting your part of the piano, and trusting that the road will bend when it’s time! Enjoy our conversation with Scott Simpson!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts and Spotify

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Scott Simpson, President/CEO of America’s Credit Unions
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“When someone joins an organization, you're not just buying into the work; you're buying into the leader too.” - Jilly Nowacki

Welcome to episode 225 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your hosts, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight, and Jilly Nowacki, President and CEO of Humanidei.

This episode is sponsored by Alacriti, a leading payments fintech helping credit unions modernize money movement. Alacriti enables real-time money movement experiences for loan payments, A2A transfers, digital disbursements, and bill pay. Through a single cloud-native platform that connects to RTP, FedNow, Fedwire, ACH, Visa Direct, and Zelle, credit unions can progressively modernize without overhauling legacy systems. Learn more at alacriti.com

In this new 2026 season, Jilly and I will have conversations centered around leadership, credit unions, and living our best lives. We will have some of the most respected leaders from around credit unions who we are grateful to call friends join us in the discussion from time to time too.

Following up on the first episode of the new 2026 season, we reflect on what leadership really looks like when you’re living it and not just reading about it. Early on for both of us, building something from nothing made every decision very personal. People weren’t just joining a company; they were trusting in us and the vision that we brought, and Jilly shares her own experience founding Humanidei and leading leagues, and we both explore the idea that when you hire someone, they’re buying into more than just the work; they’re buying into you as a leader and the philosophy that you bring. That alignment, we have found, can make all the difference in long-term growth and culture.

We talk about the joy and the challenge of watching people grow. From employees stepping into new roles, achieving personal milestones, or moving on to other leadership positions, seeing that impact has been one of the most rewarding parts of our careers, yet it’s easy to overlook these moments in the day-to-day hustle, and we explore why it’s so important to recognize and nurture those “rock stars” and high-potential performers while gracefully letting go of those who unfortunately are not fully invested.

We also dive into the weight of leadership, the balance between people and numbers, and how survival phases can make it especially difficult to hold onto joy. Both of us share personal lessons about the seasons of leadership and how knowing where to contribute at your highest value and building meaningful relationships inside and outside the organization can sustain inspiration over the long haul.

By the end of our discussion, we land on one key truth: leadership isn’t measured by metrics alone. It’s measured by the people whose lives you have touched and the culture that you have fostered. We encourage leaders, whether you’re a year into the role or decades in, to pause and ask yourself: who has grown because of your leadership? For us, that reflection is often the most rewarding part - and the part that makes us smile!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts and Spotify
Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List

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“Purpose makes leadership feel worth it.” - Randy Smith

Welcome to episode 225 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your hosts, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight, and Jill Nowacki, President and CEO of Humanidei.

This episode is sponsored by Alacriti, a leading payments fintech helping credit unions modernize money movement. Alacriti enables real-time money movement experiences for loan payments, A2A transfers, digital disbursements, and bill pay. Through a single cloud-native platform that connects to RTP, FedNow, Fedwire, ACH, Visa Direct, and Zelle, credit unions can progressively modernize without overhauling legacy systems. Learn more at alacriti.com!

In this new 2026 season, Jill and I will have conversations centered around leadership, credit unions, and living our best lives. We will have some of the most respected leaders from around credit unions who we are grateful to call friends join us in the discussion from time to time too.

We open this season with a clear intention: leadership that feels meaningful, sustainable, and human, and we are much less focused on fixing what’s broken and more on naming what helps leaders feel grounded, energized, and aligned with why they do the work in the first place.

Purpose is ultimately the throughline, and Jill shares why it continues to matter so deeply to her, not just as a concept but as something that directly shapes well-being, motivation, and joy at work. From leadership teams to individuals feeling stuck, burned out, or in transition, she reflects on how a lack of purpose shows up in mental health, engagement, and fulfillment, with the question not being just how leaders define purpose for themselves but also how they help their teams understand the value of what they contribute every day.

We also add another lens: purpose as the difference between motion and direction; running fast doesn’t help if you’re headed the wrong way. Together, we explore what it looks like to slow down just enough to make sure that the work is worth doing—especially after years marked by urgency, disruption, and constant change. Our conversation also touches on what leaders are grappling with right now. While AI and technology continue to evolve, Jill observes a noticeable shift as 2026 begins: less panic, more curiosity, and a renewed focus on staying human-centered while using new tools appropriately.

You will also get a preview of what’s ahead this season, including conversations about career-defining moments, celebrating wins, building legacy, staying grounded, and finding joy in watching others succeed. Thanks for tuning in, and we hope that you enjoy this first episode of a new season of the show!

Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts and Spotify
Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List
Previous guest mentioned in this episode: Tracie Kenyon (episodes 12 & 20

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