Most Important Skills for a Vice President, Education and Social Impact at California Nevada and Utah Credit Unions
For a role like Amanda's, encompassing education and social impact, the ability to "think outside of the box" and act as a "dot connector" is crucial, facilitating connections between individuals to optimize their work. Furthermore, success requires the ability to negotiate contracts and, most importantly, foster a culture that aligns with the industry's mission, "building something creatively together."
Networking, Negotiation, Culture Building, Creative Thinking, Communication
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Amanda Garcia-Merz
Vice President, Education & Social Impact
California Credit Union League, Nevada's Credit Unions and the Utah Credit Union Association
Sacramento State
English, Writing & Education
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Education
Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. Thinking outside the box and enjoying making connections are crucial for success in this role, especially being a 'dot connector' to help others excel.
2. Negotiation skills are important when reviewing contracts and proposals, ensuring the best value and coverage of essential topics.
3. Building a positive culture within the industry is vital, requiring the ability to creatively integrate various components to achieve the organization's mission.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
A job like mine requires someone who can think outside the box and enjoys making connections. When I speak with someone, whether it's on the education side or the impact side, I'm thinking about who else I can connect them with so they can do the best job possible.
Being a connector, a "dot connector," is a valuable asset. You also need to be able to look at contracts and negotiate to a certain extent. This is because people will come to you with their ideas and proposals.
Then, you need to be able to say, "Yes, and we want to look at this perhaps in a less expensive way." Or, "We need to ensure that you are covering these topics."
Most importantly, you really need to be about the culture building of the industry you are in. Whether you're in the credit union, banking, or any other space that requires staff education, you should be able to look at all the different components. You need to creatively build something that fosters a culture striving to achieve the industry's mission.