Barb Lohman Shares The Leadership Lessons That Shaped Her Career

 Recorded live at the 2026 Vermont Association of Credit Unions Enlighten Conference at Killington Resort, CU Spotlight hosts JT and Phil sit down with Barb Lowman, CEO at CUNA Strategic Services (CSS). Fresh off delivering the keynote at the inaugural New England Sister Society meeting, Barb shares the leadership lessons that shaped her 30+ year career — starting as a teller — and dives deep into CSS's reinvented model for supporting credit unions and leagues. She also unveils a groundbreaking pilot partnership between CSS and the Association of Vermont Credit Unions that's poised to change how small leagues serve their members.3 Key Takeaways:Say yes before you're ready. Barb's career was defined by taking on roles she didn't fully know how to do yet — and figuring it out along the way. Daring to say yes (and knowing when to say no) is the foundation of real leadership growth.Start with the problem, not the product. CSS's entire model is built around listening first — understanding what credit unions and their members actually need before matching them with the right fintech solution. It's the antidote to the classic "signed a contract at the cocktail reception" problem.Small leagues don't have to go it alone. The CSS/Vermont pilot proves that leagues without large staffs can still deliver robust fintech engagement to their member credit unions — through fractional resources, shared support, and the right partnerships. Independence and collaboration aren't mutually exclusive. Shine a light where it matters.