'Connect and Collaborate' Sessions Produce Meaningful Exchanges

A new addition to the World Credit Union Conference in 2025 turned out to be a huge hit with those who participated. Connect and Collaborate is an initiative comprised of networking workshops that allow participants to engage in structured, focused discussions designed to leverage collective expertise to address challenges within their own credit union roles.

Divided into two groups for large and small credit unions, the workshops provided a platform for participants to share experiences, challenges, and insights, fostering collaborative problem-solving, while allowing them to build lasting professional relationships with individuals facing similar challenges.

“And we share almost the same issues. Though we have those who have moved ahead in technology, while others are still coming up and struggling, we believe by this (conference) bringing us together, sharing our ideas with people all over the world, it will help us build some of the up-and-coming credit unions,” said Farida Toma Haji Bashir, Board Director for Boresha DT SACCO Society Ltd. (Kenya).

Pat Pierce, President and CEO of City & County Credit Union (Minnesota), and Chair of the America’s Credit Unions’ Board of Directors, said it was valuable to share information on administrative issues with industry professionals from other countries.

“We had good conversations with people from Ireland, Sicredi from Brazil, a couple through the U.S. too. It was really good; I enjoyed it a lot. There were all sorts of topics—parental leave, succession planning, all those sorts of things,” said Pierce, who added that it definitely made him think differently about several issues.