CU Gave Community Engagement VP 'Hope When Hope Was Extremely Hard to Find'

Name: Juli Lewis

Credit union: USF Federal Credit Union ($1.1 billion, Tampa, Fla.)

Title: VP of Community Engagement

Number of years at current credit union: Eight months

Educational background: University of South Florida (USF) graduate

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

Lewis: I am responsible for community engagement, business development, financial wellness, DEI and concierge services.

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

Lewis: I kind of stumbled into it, to be honest. I goofed around a little too much at college during my first year and lost my scholarship. I had to find a way to get college paid for and, at the time, Suncoast Credit Union was offering 100% tuition/book reimbursement. I was lucky enough to be selected as a teller (starting at $6.15 an hour … giving you a hint of my age), with plans to leave after I obtained my degree. I had planned to go into the medical field but when I viewed my first surgery, I passed out (I’m embarrassed to say it was through a scope … there wasn’t even any blood)! Anyway, I needed a plan B and by that time, I had learned more about the credit union culture and had fallen in love. I had a passion for helping others and being able to share my financial hurdles with others gave me an even stronger passion for financial wellness.

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

Lewis: With a background in social work, I pride myself in being able to connect with others and to find commonalities to build relationships from. We are much more alike than we are different. Also, growing up around others who were not as ‘accepting’ of differences has always challenged me to find ways to create a sense of belonging wherever I go.

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

Lewis: There are so many! Suncoast [$18.4 billion, Tampa] gave me my first chance when they hired me as a teller … even when they had to go through a few extra steps to make it happen (maybe I’ll save that story for another time). Then, in 2017, the passion I have for credit unions was magnified a million times over when I went through the most challenging year of my life. On top of a tragic boat accident, our generator exploded after hurricane Irma, catching our home on fire. We lost everything, including our three pets. Within what seemed like minutes, credit union peers from all over the state were calling and coming by. They booked us a hotel for a few weeks so we would have a place to go while we figured out how to start over. They brought bags of clothes and personal items. They gave me an office to work from and raised money to help us with essentials. They took our kids shopping for school and made sure our daughter still got to go to homecoming. The support and the love that we felt from the credit union industry was amazing. ‘People helping people’ has always been something I knew that credit unions do, but in that moment, they gave me hope when hope was extremely hard to find.

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

Lewis: I guess the biggest difference is that I get to be a part of passing the torch and building up future credit union leaders by helping them to grow their networks, providing resources and helping them find their own ‘why.’ Instead of just making decisions, I like to guide others through the strategy so that they can see why certain decisions are made and how their role impacts the mission of the organization.

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

Lewis: Although I wasn’t new to the credit union world, I was new to USF FCU … and joining at an executive level. The challenge then becomes proving that you are worthy of being their leader, which takes authenticity and vulnerability. I started by learning everything I could from everyone around me, taking lots of notes and just being present. We are all on the journey together, trying to work toward the same goals. I just want to be someone who helps make it easier for us all to get there.

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

Lewis: I would say that I am a servant leader. My work love language is doing things for others and helping others to feel empowered. I also try to keep open communication going and create a space where everyone feels that they can be open and honest with each other.

CU Times: What are some lessons you’ve learned over your career concerning how to communicate well with others? And, do you approach communication differently depending on the generation of the recipient (boomer, Gen X, millennial and Gen Z)?

Lewis: I do a lot of active listening and I try to practice the pause. It’s OK not to have an immediate response (most of the time). I ask questions and try to learn the preferred communication styles of others and what fuels them (both good and bad). Honestly, I don’t necessarily approach people differently according to their generation as I have learned that people are unique and don’t like to be labeled or put into a box. And no matter what the age, race, gender, etc., empathy and a welcoming smile are universal.

CU Times: What are some ways in which you achieve work/life balance, set boundaries and/or avoid burnout at work?

Lewis: I start each day doing something that makes me feel proud and sets a positive tone for the day. We also have such a great culture at USF FCU that it’s hard to get burned out!

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

Lewis: I would love to help USF FCU to build our own charitable foundation to continue to increase our community impact.

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

Lewis: I really enjoy having the opportunity to speak at various credit union events around the world and to connect with other credit union professionals who are just as passionate about the movement. I would like to continue to help showcase USF FCU as a leader in the industry and be able to help smaller credit unions with best practices and resources that may be limited or out of reach for them. I would also love to see the day when the average credit union member age is below 40 and when credit union membership is as sought-after as having the latest iPhone. We are definitely more valuable!

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

Lewis: Build your network. This world has so many people in it and we only get the opportunity to meet a fraction of them. If someone crosses your path, there is a reason for it. Find it.

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.