MADISON, Wis. — The World Council Young Credit Union People (WYCUP) program will provide a complimentary educational session and networking opportunities designed for participants age 35 and younger at the World Credit Union Conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland, July 17–20, 2016.
"As the median age of credit union members and management both rise, we develop young talent to lead the global credit union movement. Young leaders are already stepping into leadership roles," said Brian Branch, World Council president and CEO. "These young leaders are finding new ways to tap into their innate wisdom and leadership capacities. Mindfulness is a great tool for credit union professionals to achieve that goal and to bring focus to the missions of their individual credit unions as well."
With sponsorship from CUNA Mutual Group, WYCUP program participants will hear from Sandra McDowell, an internationally recognized speaker on mindfulness, leadership and the neuroscience and linkages behind those concepts.
According to WOCCU, participants will learn how distractions can negatively impact their performance as leaders, and how self-awareness and focus can increase effectiveness. Participants will gain an increased understanding of how to harness the brain for improved productivity, communication, and overall wellbeing. In the afternoon, McDowell will lead WYCUP participants through an activity that will engage them in these practices and show them the benefits of mindful leadership.
Not only is McDowell a speaker, she is also a former WYCUP scholarship winner and vice president for communication and culture at First Credit Union in Powell River, B.C. Outside of this role, she founded the Leadership Academy to support the leadership development of others online.
WOCCU said the WYCUP program will showcase the phenomenal work of young credit union professionals worldwide, and include presentations from past WYCUP scholarship winners from Brazil, Canada, Jamaica and the United States. During the WYCUP networking lunch sponsored by Servus Credit Union, participants will interact with their international peers and World Council board members.
In addition to educational sessions, the WYCUP program will offer a group dinner on Monday, July 18 and a WYCUP alumni reception on Tuesday, July 19. All WYCUP alumni are invited to attend this year's WYCUP events, regardless of their age, and to connect with other alumni from 35 countries on the WYCUP Alumni Facebook Group and the WhatsApp Group for WYCUP Young Professionals.
Conference registrants age 35 and younger qualify for a discounted conference registration and can participate in the WYCUP program in Belfast. Those interested in participating must RSVP by June 25 to wharris@woccu.org.
For more information on the WYCUP scholarship program, visit www.woccu.org/wycup.