The CUInsight Experience podcast: Todd Clark – Adapting to change (#65)
“If there weren’t hard decisions in companies, we wouldn’t need leaders.” - Todd Clark
Thank you for tuning in to episode 65 of The CUInsight Experience podcast with your host Randy Smith, co-founder of CUInsight.com. This episode is brought to you by our friends at CO-OP Financial Services. CO-OP is your trusted payment processing partner whose mission is to drive the credit union movement forward.
In this episode, I sit down with Todd Clark, President and CEO of CO-OP Financial Services, to discuss CO-OP’s digital platform, the future of credit unions, and the importance of building great teams. We also discuss why he took the position with CO-OP and some of the innovative new services and upgrades being rolled out in the next few months.
Additionally, Todd talks about how CO-OP is working to stay ahead of the pace of change in our industry and assist credit unions, large and smaller, with their service needs. As someone who’s worked with a variety of credit unions, he says that size doesn’t necessarily mean sophistication, especially when it comes to technology. Fortunately, CO-OP is here to help credit unions adapt to the fast-paced digital ecosystem, he says.
Tune in as Todd discusses how his technical background, experience as a startup founder, and collaborative leadership style has helped guide CO-OP and their vision for the future. We also get to hear about the lessons he’s learned over the years, what’s become more important to him over the years, and who he thinks of when he hears the word success.
Todd has helped make a lot of changes since he started at CO-OP, and he isn’t finished yet. Listen along as he shares all the things that are in the works to push credit unions and their members into the digital age. You won’t be disappointed!
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher
Books mentioned on The CUInsight Experience podcast: Book List
How to find Todd:
Todd Clark, President and CEO of CO-OP Financial Services
www.co-opfs.org
todd.clark@coop.org
LinkedIn | Twitter
Show notes from this episode:
Shout-out: to our friends at CO-OP Financial Services, our first sponsor of The CUInsight Experience podcast. Thank you!
Check out all the work Todd and his team are doing at CO-OP Financial Services here.
Learn more about CO-OP Think that has been rescheduled until later in the year here.
Shout-out: George Hofheimer
Shout-out: Ryan Donovan
Shout-out: Maria LaVelle
Shout-out: National Credit Union Administration
Shout-out: Texas Department of Banking
Shout-out: Samantha Paxson
Shout-out: CUNA
Shout-out: CUNA GAC
Shout-out: Todd’s dad
Shout-out: First Data
Shout-out: Fiserv
Shout-out: Barry McCarthy
Shout-out: Joe Forehand
Shout-out: Jill Nowacki
Band mentioned: Journey
Band mentioned: Eagles
Band mentioned: U2
Book mentioned: Empire Of The Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne
Download the Tunity app from the App Store here
Download the Higa spam phone call blocker app from the App Store here
Previous guests mentioned in this episode: George Hofheimer, Ryan Donovan, Maria LaVelle, Samantha Paxson, Jill Nowacki (episodes 4, 18, 37 & 64)
You can find all past episodes of The CUInsight Experience here.
In This Episode:
[01:46] – Todd, welcome to the show!
[02:30] – Todd shares what the CO-OP digital platform looks like and how credit unions can benefit from it.
[04:32] – Was this a significant change from a company perspective?
[06:30] – Todd discusses how they stay ahead of the pace of change.
[07:43] – Is there something that needs to fundamentally change to keep credit unions relevant in this fast-changing world?
[09:51] – Todd speaks about figuring out if credit unions should partner with fintech startups.
[12:15] – Todd chats about the ways CO-OP Financial Services is staying in touch with digital marketing.
[15:01] – In a year, what will you be proud that CO-OP has accomplished?
[18:23] – Todd shares what inspired him to take the position at CO-OP.
[20:29] – Todd talks about the changes and growth that has happened since he started at CO-OP.
[22:10] – How has the inspiration for your job changed over the years?
[23:24] – Todd describes his leadership style as collaborative.
[26:14] – Todd chats about cultivating the ability to make hard decisions.
[28:32] – Todd believes that the biggest mistake that young leaders make is that they think they can do it on their own.
[29:07] – Has there been a life lesson or piece of advice that you have carried through your career?
[30:56] – Todd speaks about the mentors that helped him as he took the journey to where he is today.
[33:06] – Todd details what a regular workday looks like and what a perfect day would be.
[34:35] – What do you do to recharge? Do you have work/life balance?
[35:34] – Todd shares what he was like in high school, and the first time he got into memorable trouble.
[36:25] – Todd speaks about what he wanted to be when he grew up.
[38:21] – What is the best album of all time?
[39:22] – What is your favorite book?
[40:35] – Todd says that time has become more important, and stuff is less important.
[41:34] – Todd chats about the apps he uses all the time.
[42:51] – When you hear the word success, who is the first person that comes to mind?
[44:03] – Any final thoughts or asks for our listeners?
[45:05] – Todd, thank you so much for being on the show today!
