The Challenge

Responding to member needs with accessible, future-ready leadership support

Credit unions face increasing complexity across compliance, technology and member expectations. Navigating this environment requires strong, future-ready leadership, yet many organisations operate with lean staffing models and regional limitations, making it difficult to provide consistent, personalised leadership development.

Members across the industry expressed a clear need for a mentoring program that could bridge geographic divides, connect professionals across career stages and disciplines, and prepare the next generation of leaders for the future.

In 2020, the Councils Mentor Match program was introduced to provide professionals with structured leadership support and peer connection. From the start it showed strong potential, but demand quickly outpaced the capacity of a manually run initiative.

America’s Credit Unions recognised that a scalable and accessible solution was essential to fulfil its mission of boldly advancing a financial landscape where credit unions thrive.

The Solution

Scaling leadership development through partnership

America’s Credit Unions invested in Councils Mentor Match, a program connecting emerging talent with seasoned leaders across the movement. The initiative supports eight professional Councils, serving nearly 7,000 members across disciplines including CEO leadership, compliance and risk, finance, HR and organisational development, lending, marketing, operations and member experience, and innovation and technology.

In 2023, America’s Credit Unions partnered with Art of Mentoring to enhance delivery and scale impact. The partnership introduced automated matching, streamlined communications and integrated training resources for mentors and mentees, ensuring participants could easily access guidance and support, no matter their location.

Today, Councils Mentor Match is more than a mentoring initiative. It is a strategic member benefit and a future-oriented investment in leadership development, equipping participants with the skills, networks and confidence needed to strengthen both their organisations and the credit union movement as a whole.

From Manual to Modern: A Technology-Enabled Transformation

Under the leadership of America’s Credit Unions, Councils Mentor Match has evolved from a manually run initiative into a modern, scalable program. Art of Mentoring’s platform introduced automated matching, streamlined participant communications and an integrated suite of training resources accessible to participants anywhere in the country.

Program Benefits

Benefits for participants and the organisation

Leadership Pipeline
Councils Mentor Match has become a trusted mechanism for preparing future-ready leaders while delivering tangible value back to credit union members across all disciplines.

Cross-Discipline Connection
By connecting professionals across disciplines and regions, the program strengthens individual leaders and the broader credit union movement, something impossible without a scalable virtual platform.

Strategic Member Benefit
The program has evolved from an operational initiative into a cornerstone member benefit, advancing both individual careers and the collective strength of the credit union movement.

Scalable Technology
Art of Mentoring’s platform automated previously manual processes including matching, communications and resource delivery, enabling the program to grow in scale without growing in administrative complexity.