Embrace the Summer

There’s something about summer that invites a little more breathing room. The days are longer, the sun stays out later and even in our busy industry, there’s often a small shift in pace. And on the days we are not at the beach or playing golf, we have some time to look at our work calendars and say, “Okay, what could we try now that we may not have time for later?”

That’s what I’ve been thinking about lately: how summer gives us a chance to pause and ask, “What if?” What if we tried something new? What if we gave that idea we’ve been kicking around a shot? What if we used this time to plant a seed for something that might grow?

That mindset feels especially timely after ACE25. The energy coming out of that event is still buzzing for me. So many good ideas came to life on stage, whether it was during a keynote, an award spotlight or the CU Spark Tank competition. What really stuck with me were the ideas rooted in everyday reality. Practical solutions designed for actual members and the things they’re dealing with.

One thing I appreciated about the Spark Tank ideas, in particular, was how approachable they all felt. These weren’t lofty, overly ambitious projects that required major overhauls. They were practical, well thought-out and ready to be tested…ideas credit unions could start trying out immediately.

It reminded me that trying something new doesn’t have to be complicated. Maybe this summer is the right time to reimagine how your team stays connected, whether that means creating space for new voices to lead or finally testing out a more flexible work schedule you’ve been thinking about.

On the operational side, think about how technology can help you simplify or scale something that already works. One of the Spark Tank ideas that stuck with me was about using small language models to assist with providing services to members who cannot reach out to the branch during normal business hours (such as foreign national members) and members who struggle with social anxiety. Others explored automation tools, one specifically focused on problem solving chargeback issues using AI.

For member outreach, maybe this is the season to run a “financial wellness check-up,” just like we each do with our annual doctor visits. Maybe you explore a savings program designed specifically to help young members get an early footing with financial goals.

One presentation focused on credit unions as the connecting piece between community businesses (maybe a small business member) with credit union members who need their professional services.

Or maybe you have something completely different in mind! The idea itself matters less than the willingness to give it a try. You don’t need to launch a full-blown program. Just test something. Let the season be a low-stakes test run, and see what happens. Maybe it’ll stick, maybe it won’t, but I guarantee you’ll learn something in the process.

And if you do try something, I’d love to hear how it went — what the idea was, how it played out and what the process was like.

Regardless of how you spend any down time, enjoy this beautiful Michigan summer and maybe I will bump into you on a beach somewhere! 

Thanks for reading.

« Return to "Patty's Desk"