There’s a saying that there is no wisdom without experience.
But as every seasoned credit union leader knows—experience alone doesn’t guarantee growth, insight, or progress.
We’ve all met leaders who’ve been in the industry for decades but seem stuck in the same loop. They’ve seen market shifts, survived recessions, and sat through more conferences than they can count—yet they still resist change. They keep stumbling over the same truths about innovation, culture, and technology, only to dust themselves off and carry on as if nothing happened.
So what separates experience from wisdom?
Turning Experience Into Insight
Ancient philosophers had it right: wisdom comes not just from time served but from reflection, humility, and daily intention.
As Epictetus said, “It’s impossible to learn that which you think you already know.”
Credit union leaders who believe they’ve “seen it all” can quickly lose touch with the members and communities they serve. Complacency, ego, and entitlement are subtle traps—especially when times are good.
Marcus Aurelius reminded himself: “Stop allowing your mind to be a slave, to be jerked about by selfish impulses, to kick against fate and the present, and to mistrust the future.”
Wisdom, then, is not something we possess—it’s something we practice.
From Experience to Action
In today’s financial landscape, the difference between surviving and thriving often comes down to whether your leadership team turns experience into insight. Consider these questions:
- When was the last time you challenged one of your own long-held assumptions?
- Do your strategy meetings feel like echoes of last year’s agenda—or are they exploring new territory?
- Are you listening more than you’re speaking?
At YMC, we see it all the time: the most effective credit union leaders aren’t the ones with the longest résumés—they’re the ones still curious, still learning, still uncomfortable enough to grow.
Wisdom Is a Verb
Wisdom isn’t a byproduct of tenure—it’s the result of deliberate effort.
It shows up when you reflect before reacting. When you pause to ask your team what they see that you don’t. When you push past the easy answer to uncover the right one.
In leadership, as in life, wisdom isn’t a noun. It’s a verb.
It’s something you do.
So, to our fellow credit union leaders: keep doing the work.
Keep questioning. Keep listening. Keep learning.
That’s how experience becomes wisdom—and how your credit union becomes more than a financial institution. It becomes a force for good.