The CUInsight Experience podcast: Robbie Young – You matter (#193)

Thank you for tuning in to episode 193 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your host, Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com. This episode is brought to you by Velera, formerly PSCU/Co-op Solutions, the nation’s premier payments credit union service organization and an integrated financial technology solutions provider. Velera serves more than 4,000 financial institutions throughout North America, operating with velocity to help its clients keep pace with the rapid momentum of change and fuel growth in the new era of financial services.

My guest on today’s show is Robbie Young, VP of Strategic Growth at CUInsight, and advocate for mental health awareness. Robbie shares her story explaining the “why” behind her passion for mental health awareness. She offers heartfelt insights that emphasize why it’s so important to have open and honest dialogue around mental health.

During our conversation, We explore practical ways that leaders can initiate conversations, break down stigmas, and create spaces where individuals feel seen, heard, and supported. Robbie shares valuable resources available to credit unions to provide mental health awareness and support their teams. She discusses ways to create a culture that values and recognizes mental health and shares how to measure the effectiveness of our efforts. Listen as we discuss ways to have conversations around mental health, create change for the better, and stay relevant for the future.

As we wrap up the show, listen in as Robbie shares the last time she was amazed during a Global Women’s Leadership Network event, a book she highly recommends, and lets everyone know how much they matter.

Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher 

Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List 

How to find Robbie:
Robbie Young, VP of Strategic Growth at CUInsight
cuinsight.com
Robbie: LinkedIn
CUInsight: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | X

Show notes from this episode:
A big shout-out to our friends at Velera, an amazing sponsor of The CUInsight Experience podcast. Thank you!
Want to hear more from Robbie? Click here.
Shout-out: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Shout-out: National Suicide Prevention Month
Shout-out: Robbie’s brother
Shout-out: CUDE
Shout-out: The National Credit Union Foundation
Shout-out: America’s Credit Unions
Shout-out: University of Wisconsin
Shout-out: Chad Helminak
Shout-out: CUInsight Mini-Con
Shout-out: Oprah Winfrey
Shout-out: NAMI
Shout-out: Kindly Human
Shout-out: Pamela Barnum
Shout-out: Robbie’s daughters
Shout-out: Talk Saves Lives
Shout-out: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Shout-out: LGBTQ+ community
Shout-out: Warren Buffet
Shout-out: Dale Carnegie
Shout-out: Lauren Culp
Shout-out: Arthur Ashe
Shout-out: Herb Wegner Memorial Awards
Shout-out: Out of the Darkness Walks
Shout-out: Global Women’s Leadership Network
Place mentioned: South Carolina
Shout-out: Spero Financial
Shout-out: The Julie Valentine Center
Shout-out: Brad Pitt
Shout-out: Ted Lasso
Shout-out: Jason Sudeikis
Shout-out: Brett Goldstein
Shout-out: Robbie’s dad
Shout-out: FBI National Academy
Book mentioned: The Boy, the Mole, The Fox and the Horse by Charles Mackesy
Previous guests mentioned in this episode: Pamela Barnum, Lauren Culp (episodes 39 & 115)

In This Episode:
[2:40] – Robbie talks about the loss of her brother and why she is a mental health advocate.
[4:51] – Robbie found connection and purpose by sharing stories about mental health.
[7:32] – Robbie argues that having open conversations about suicide can reduce stigma, help people feel seen, and potentially save lives.
[10:04] – Resources like NAMI and the 988 Lifeline provide crucial mental health support and advocacy.
[12:57] – Robbie points out that leaders now blend personal and professional lives, improving employee support through things like peer counseling.
[15:18] – Leading by example involves sharing personal struggles and creating supportive opportunities for team members.
[18:33] – Robbie became a Talk Saves Lives presenter, offering resources and training on suicide prevention.
[20:31] – Robbie adds that beginning conversations with empathy and listening helps people feel seen.
[22:14] – Robbie discovered that she had ADHD as an adult, which brought clarity and confidence.
[25:20] – Robbie stresses that adaptive leadership is key; start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can.
[28:32] – Building meaningful connections with members and teams leaves a lasting impression and shows real engagement.
[30:40] – Robbie explains how better mental health improves leadership and support for others and that self-care is essential.
[33:04] – Attending a Women’s Global Leadership event highlighted post-traumatic growth which resonated with Robbie after losing her brother.
[34:36] – The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse is a profound book with messages of self-acceptance and emotional expression.
[36:43] – Robbie admires her dad’s leadership
[37:56] – Robbie, in closing, emphasizes that everyone matters; the pain of losing someone is immense, which motivates her to emphasize the importance of life.