My Journey to Credit Union Leadership: Scott Sager of Colorado CU

Editor’s note: For this new, weekly Q&A series, CU Times is asking executives who are new to their credit union’s senior-level leadership teams to share details about their professional evolution. If you or someone you know would like to share your journey to credit union leadership, please reach out to Natasha Chilingerian at nchilingerian@cutimes.com. To qualify, you must have been placed or promoted into a new senior-level leadership role within the last three years at a credit union. 

Name: Scott Sager

Credit union: Colorado Credit Union ($378 million, Littleton, Colo.)

Title: CFO

Age: 36

Number of years at current credit union: Joined Sept. 26, 2022

Educational background: Bachelor of science in accounting from the University of Wyoming

CU Times: What are your key responsibilities in your current role?

Sager: I’m responsible for the accounting and financial management of the credit union. I get to evaluate and forecast different products and scenarios, and collaborate with senior leaders to guide the success of Colorado Credit Union. In this economic environment, it feels even more important to understand the impact that a potential recession can have on Colorado Credit Union and be prepared to navigate through the coming years.

CU Times: What drew you to the credit union industry?

Sager: I simply needed a job. As I engaged in the credit union industry and became more involved, I realized how credit unions align closely with my own personal values. I have always been passionate about making a positive impact on people’s lives and contributing to the well-being of my community.

CU Times: What unique skills, experience and attributes do you bring to the C-suite?

Sager: Something that might be unique about me is that even though my skills align with analyzing business impact, my thought process is driven to focus on the impact to the member. Through member interactions, I’ve realized how important it is to be there for our members, especially in a time of need. Not only does this mindset have a good impact for the member experience, sustaining relationships with engaged members also helps drive a stronger credit union and improves financial performance.

CU Times: Which person (or people) do you credit the most for helping and supporting you along your career journey?

Sager: When I first got the opportunity to become a CFO, my wife encouraged me to take the leap, and she has made sacrifices and remained supportive every step of the way. In the industry, I’ve been blessed to build strong friendships with other credit union professionals and work for amazing CEOs who are willing to guide me through any challenges presented. I’ve pulled different attributes out of so many relationships, and I’m truly grateful for all their support in many ways.

CU Times: What are some of the biggest differences between working in your current executive level role and your previous, non-executive roles?

Sager: At the executive level, I see how much the decisions we make can impact employees’ and members’ lives. The most significant difference that I’ve noticed is the heightened level of responsibility and visibility. Before I was in an executive role, I remember discussing with coworkers the decisions that managers made, trying to understand their logic, and being critical of the path forward. Reminding myself that others are watching me and that our decisions carry more weight reinforces the commitment to make the right decision and align with the organization’s values and goals.

CU Times: What’s a challenge you faced when you first joined your executive team, and how did you overcome it?

Sager: When I arrived at Colorado Credit Union, I had preconceived ideas of how I could help the organization meet its goals. I came in ready to make it happen. Fortunately, I quickly realized that what I was thinking might not be right and that the organization had been functioning successfully for years. So, I shifted my focus. It became more important to me to establish a strong foundation of trust and mutual respect before approaching new ideas. I’m now reaching the point where I understand the current environment and am collaborating with others so we can make meaningful changes together.

CU Times: How would you describe your current leadership style?

Sager: My leadership style is holistic in that it’s focused on the collective success of the organization. I find it most important to establish a culture of trust that fosters collaboration, creativity, and encourages people to challenge “the way we’ve always done it” to drive future success. After trying to implement change on my own, and seeing the challenges it can create, I’ve realized that collaborating with others to solve problems improves the outcomes of the solutions we find because we see things through different views that are all important.

CU Times: Do you approach your job any differently now compared to how you did pre-pandemic? If yes, how so?

Sager: The pandemic helped me better identify what is important. It’s about the people; I place more importance on collaborations and staying connected with those I work with. The relationships we have will last longer than our time working together. With this perspective, I find it even more important than before to connect with people instead of always focusing on the work.

CU Times: What’s next for you on your executive career journey? Do you have any specific career goals you’re working toward?

Sager: My ultimate goal is to excel as a CEO of a credit union. Right now, I enjoy what I’m doing and am focused on performing to the best of my abilities. Regardless of whether I stay where I am or reach my goal, I’m working to enhance my leadership abilities, develop a strong network and expand my expertise so that I can make a meaningful impact.

CU Times: What big-picture impact do you hope to make within your credit union, as well as for your members and community?

Sager: The big picture impact for me comes down to one goal: Adding value. By taking a member-centric approach, pursuing sustainable growth and actively engaging with our community, I just want to finish my career knowing that I had a lasting positive impact that benefits our community.

CU Times: What career advice would you give your younger self?

Sager: In looking back, I followed instructions well, and avoided challenging situations. As I gained experience and confidence, I finally gave myself permission to speak up and share my perspective. Doing this provided more success for the teams I’ve worked with as I found my ideas had merit and sometimes provided better outcomes.