A New CFO Just in Time for 2022’s Rising Rates, Gina Seibert 'Delivered Tough Messages'

Name: Gina Seibert

Credit union: PSECU ($8.5 billion, Harrisburg, Pa.)

Title: Chief Financial Officer

Number of years at current credit union: 21

Educational background: BSBA Finance, MBA and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

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

Seibert: As CFO at PSECU, I collaborate closely with my peers to develop and implement strategies that ensure our long-term financial health and sustainability. My oversight extends to the strategic finance team, which includes managing our balance sheet strategy, financial planning and analysis, as well as pricing and profitability. Additionally, I oversee strategic procurement, accounting, finance data analytics and facilities.

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

Seibert: I was introduced to PSECU when a former colleague informed me that her husband had a job opening for someone with a finance degree at the credit union. I started as an entry-level financial analyst and remained at PSECU because the organization has given me ample opportunity to learn and grow.

CU Times: What unique skills, experience and attributes do you bring to your role?

Seibert: Over the last 20 years, I have had the opportunity to develop strong strategic and critical thinking skills by holding various positions within the Finance line of business. I also worked in Marketing on a temporary assignment, where I learned the art of telling a story. This has strengthened my ability to simplify and communicate complex financial topics for non-finance colleagues and has been critical as we navigated a challenging environment over the last few years. I’ve also had the opportunity to develop as a leader, focusing on creating high-performing teams where employees can express their authentic selves.

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

Seibert: My husband has been my biggest supporter, constantly encouraging me to pursue my dreams. Bruce Six, CEO of Topside Federal Credit Union [$486 million, Dahlgren, Va.], was also instrumental in kick-starting my leadership path by recommending me for his role when he left the company. Additionally, Adam Johnson (C. Myers) and Travis Goodman (ALM First) have been crucial advisors, alongside George Rudolph, CEO of PSECU, who has supported my ongoing growth and development.

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

Seibert: In my current executive role, my perspective is more strategic and enterprise-level, allowing me to influence broader credit union strategy and outcomes.

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

Seibert: Joining the executive team in 2022 while interest rates were rising presented significant challenges. Early on, I had to engage in delivering tough messages on changing how we look at the economics of our business and the impact short-term decisions have on long-term health and sustainability. I tackled these by advocating for strategic changes in our pricing practices and operating expense management, and learning to be patiently persistent to bring the organization along with a new way of working.

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

Seibert: My leadership style is people-centric, with a strong emphasis on continuous improvement, mentorship and constructive feedback. I strive to create a supportive environment where staff can thrive by being their true selves, setting high expectations and leading by example.

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

Seibert: The last few years highlighted the importance of agility and the need for robust scenario planning, solid risk management practices and enterprise collaboration to deliver outcomes. This experience has enhanced our organizational resilience, enabling us to better adapt to various challenges.

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

Seibert: Being in my current role for only two years now, my immediate goal is to further develop our finance organization to future-proof our capabilities and continue enhancing my leadership skills.

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

Seibert: In collaboration and partnership with my peer team, I aim to transform our organizational processes and establish PSECU as a high-performing credit union that can seamlessly adapt to changes. This transformation will ideally increase value for our members and positively impact the communities in which we serve.

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

Seibert: I would advise my younger self to view the career path as a journey, not a race. It’s important to allow yourself to make mistakes, as these are opportunities for growth. Staying curious, asking questions, coming from a place of ‘yes,’ and finding your voice to speak up on important issues is crucial for personal and professional development.

Would you or someone you know like to share your journey to credit union leadership? Please reach out to Natasha Chilingerian at nchilingerian@cutimes.com. To qualify, the individual must be a part of a credit union’s leadership team or C-suite, and have a compelling story to share about their rise to their current leadership role.