Leading in today’s diverse work environment presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities.  America’s Credit Unions Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Samira Salem addressed these and more in her recent conference session: "Rewriting the Script: Unlocking Success through Inclusive Leadership," at the National Credit Union Management Association conference. 

Salem followed up on that presentation with an appearance on CUBroadcast, where she highlighted the importance of leadership in today’s diverse work environment and emphasized leadership’s role in “ensur[ing] that we are continuing to achieve the North Star that we laid out for ourselves while ensuring that our employees are thriving and that are members are thriving.” 

Salem described six trends in the changing workplace that credit unions should take note:

• Historically diverse workplaces;
• Disruption and "boundary-less” connections between personal and professional lives;
• Employee expectation of workplace flexibility;
• Employee conflict resolution is a must-have skill for managers;
• Technology, artificial intelligence, and social media; and
• DEI becoming more embedded in work.

There are also best practices to consider for today’s inclusive leaders. Salem challenged listeners to make a commitment to enacting one or two, or all practices in their personal and professional life. Her list of eight practices are:

• Commit to inclusion and belonging;
• Confident humility;
• Curiosity and listening;
• Psychological safety;
• Ability to name and disrupt bias;
• Authenticity;
• Empathy; 
• Allyship.

Results of the America’s Credit Unions DEI survey taken during the 2024 Governmental Affairs Conference showed that more than 60% of credit unions are on a DEI journey, with 65% having some kind of DEI initiative in the works.