Join the Legacy of Bold, Transformational Leadership
Challenges in the financial services marketplace are inevitable—how you respond is what sets you apart. At CEO Institute I, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, learn to manage change, and remain an agile, future-focused leader.
Delve into strategic planning to gain an advantage over your competitors and develop a successful path for your credit union. Discover how change can positively affect your organization while discussing:
- The driving forces that shape your business and maintaining a competitive advantage
- Business model innovation
- Developing strategic segmentation
- Applying customer-centricity to the credit union members simulation
- Viable change scenarios and potential outcomes
- How to formulate and focus your vision
- The strengths of effective leaders and how you can enhance your own leadership skills
Following CEO Institute I, apply what you learned to real-world conditions at your own credit union in a hands-on, post segment assignment.
Join the conversation: #CUESCEOInstitute
Start Your CEO Institute Journey Now!
CEO Institute I Scholarship
BenefisCU is fully funding a scholarship for CEO Institute I: Strategic Planning to support industry leaders. This opportunity covers the full registration fee for full-time credit union professionals ready to commit to the three-year CEO Institute curriculum and its hands-on action learning projects. If you have a strong vision for the credit union movement and a track record of leadership initiative, submit your application by
December 18, 2026.
Why Attend CEO Institute I: Strategic Planning?
When you attend:
- Your credit union will benefit directly from the post-segment assignment of completing a scenario planning project specific to your organization.
- The curriculum was developed specifically for credit unions by the faculty members and lecturers at The Wharton School .
- Participants who successfully complete all required elements of the program will be awarded the prestigious Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation.
- You’ll be joining a unique and tightly allied fellowship of credit union leaders, making you part of a powerful network of successful professionals.
- Many esteemed faculty members are there for their students even after graduation, offering another level of support.
- The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania is ranked #1 in a tie for first place in U.S. News & World Report’s list of 2021 Best Business Schools.
- You’ll earn up to 34 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits each week.
-
1,427
CUES pioneering and industry-leading CEO Institute program has graduated 1,427 industry executives, propelling their credit unions and their careers.
-
1,071
Over the past 30 years, 1,071 industry professionals have earned the prestigious Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation.
-
34
Attendees can earn up to 34 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits for attending CEO Institute I.
Have You Attended CEO Institute in the Past?
We'd love to hear about your experience!
Curriculum
Scenario Planning
- Analyze the driving forces that shape your world, create a limited number of viable views of the future, and develop an effective action plan based on each possibility.
- Examine real-world examples to help you apply scenario planning principles to your organization’s future.
- Direct your energy to manage events that have not yet occurred, thereby limiting future consequences.
Competitive Advantage in Changing Times
- Identify ways to maintain a competitive advantage in today’s fast-changing financial services industry.
- Address the challenges of new competition, regulation and technology that are continually changing the game and creating intense pressure to stay on top of new developments.
- Discuss issues specific to your credit union and evaluate strategies to build and sustain a competitive advantage.
Industry Scenarios
- Reveal elements and trends to include in every potential scenario.
- Map out a series of viable scenarios to create successful plans for a variety of circumstances.
Strategic Segmentation
- Develop effective methods to identify your competition and distinguish your offerings from theirs.
- Discover the keys to in-depth market analysis and competitive segmentation.
Organizational Change
- Examine underlying forces that are shaping information technology and organizational change throughout the financial services industry.
- Establish a firm foundation and strategies for staying on top of the possibilities and perils of this elusive and demanding area.
Creating Vision
- Formulate and focus your vision.
- Adopt communication skills visionary leaders use, increasing your influence and effectiveness.
Leadership
- Examine how great leaders have risen to a variety of challenges.
- Discover how to apply their strengths and concepts to enhance your own leadership skills.
Applying Customer Centricity to Credit Union Members Simulation
Take Your Place at The Top
As a credit union leader, you’re expected to exceed members’ needs, be strong community partners, and meet regulatory requirements—all while keeping your institution financially sound.
CUES’ prestigious CEO Institute is a career- and life-changing experience that combines the faculty and resources of the nation’s top business schools into an unparalleled educational program that will prepare you to excel at any challenges and opportunities you face.
CEO Institute’s robust curriculum meets your needs, including interactive presentations, collaborative exercises, and powerful case study simulations laser-focused on significant executive leadership topics.
As a graduate of this transformational program, you’ll be equipped with a comprehensive understanding of leadership issues and approaches that will immediately benefit your credit union. With enhanced strategic thinking skills, you’ll be able to:
- Effectively make decisions
- Better manage change
- Improve business processes
CEO Institute consists of a series of one-week sessions* held over three years, supplemented with pre-reading, homework assignments, and project work that add considerable value to your interactive learning experience. Attendees can include:
- CEOs
- SVPs
- Future leaders
Overview
Learn more about each segment of CEO Institute.

The Wharton School
University of Pennsylvania
Highlights: scenario planning, member-centricity simulation, strategic segmentation
Year I Project: Give back to your credit union by completing a scenario planning project specific to your organization.
Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management
Cornell University
Highlights: change management, negotiation techniques, effective group performance and process
Year II Project: Apply the lesson you learned in organizational effectiveness to a business challenge or opportunity for your credit union.
Darden Executive Education
University of Virginia
Highlights: Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI), managing change, motivation techniques
The Takeaway
When choosing an executive education program, it’s important to consider what you’ll get in return. When you attend CUES’ CEO Institute:
- You’ll be joining a unique and tightly allied fellowship of credit union leaders. CEO Institute graduates form strong bonds, and tend to stay in contact with each other year after year, creating a powerful network of successful professionals.
- Your credit union will benefit directly, thanks to the in-between segment projects you’ll complete.
- You’ll benefit from an executive education program developed specifically for credit unions.
- All classes are taught by world-class professors, authors, and researchers.
- Many of the esteemed CEO Institute faculty are there for you even after graduation, offering another level of support.
- You’ll earn up to 34 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits each week.
Plus, if you successfully complete all required elements of the program, you’ll be awarded the prestigious Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation.
Becoming a Certified Chief Executive
When you have successfully completed all three weeks of CEO Institute and two between-segment action-learning assignments, you’ll have achieved Certified Chief Executive (CCE) status.
The CCE designation establishes a standard of education and excellence for credit union leaders. It signifies you have made an ongoing commitment to your professional development and obtained a level of expertise recognized throughout the credit union movement.
The Impact
Credit unions realize the value of the CCE designation, and they’re willing to pay for it. Recent statistics released by Industry Insights indicate credit union executives holding the CCE designation make more than their peers without it.
The study showed CFOs with the designation typically earn a 23% premium; COOs, a 14.8% premium; and CEOs, a 6.3% premium.
CEO Institute provides very real benefits for you and your credit union. Begin the journey toward your future today.
Register now by contacting Teresa Brogan, Executive Education Specialist, at 800.252.2664 or 608.271.2664, ext. 331; or email teresab@cues.org.
CEO Institute offers a robust professional development experience for:
- Dedicated CEOs who value professional development and keeping abreast of the latest management strategies
- Credit union executives looking for the in-depth business education needed to take their career to the next level
- Future leaders who want to bring more strategic skills to the table and help their organization thrive
Tuition includes:
- Classroom instruction at a world-renowned educational institution
- Five nights of on-campus executive accommodations
- Class materials
- Most meals
Yes! This institute meets the following standards:
- Earn up to 34 CPE Credits
- Program Level: Overview
- Delivery Method: Group-Live
- Field of Study: Business Management & Organization
- Prerequisites: None
The Credit Union Executives Society (CUES) is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, through its website linked above.
Yes! Earn your Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation by successfully completing all three weeks of CEO Institute and two between-segment assignments. This title signifies you’ve made an ongoing commitment to your professional development, obtaining a level of expertise recognized throughout the credit union industry.
The comfort and well-being of our attendees is of utmost importance to us; we will make every effort to make sure you are comfortable at our events!
Please email events@cues.org as soon as you know you’re attending a CUES event. Be sure to include your name, credit union, the CUES event you are registered for, and everything we need to know to accommodate your request.
We’ll be in touch with any questions we have, and let you know how we can help.
ALL CANCELLATIONS MUST BE IN WRITING. (cues@cues.org)
- Prior to 120 days – full refund
- 61-120 days before start of event – 50% refund
- 0-60 days before start of event – no refund
Your spot will be secured when payment is received. Substitute attendees are welcome, subject to eligibility. CUES reserves the right to cancel or reschedule the event due to unforeseen circumstances, and will refund fees if the event is rescheduled or location is changed and you are unable to attend.
BenefisCU is fully funding a scholarship for CEO Institute I: Strategic Planning to support industry leaders. This opportunity covers the full registration fee for full-time credit union professionals ready to commit to the three-year CEO Institute curriculum and its hands-on action learning projects. If you have a strong vision for the credit union movement and a track record of leadership initiative, submit your application by December 18, 2026.
Join the Legacy of Bold, Transformational Leadership
Challenges in the financial services marketplace are inevitable—how you respond is what sets you apart. At CEO Institute I, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, learn to manage change, and remain an agile, future-focused leader.
Delve into strategic planning to gain an advantage over your competitors and develop a successful path for your credit union. Discover how change can positively affect your organization while discussing:
- The driving forces that shape your business and maintaining a competitive advantage
- Business model innovation
- Developing strategic segmentation
- Applying customer-centricity to the credit union members simulation
- Viable change scenarios and potential outcomes
- How to formulate and focus your vision
- The strengths of effective leaders and how you can enhance your own leadership skills
Following CEO Institute I, apply what you learned to real-world conditions at your own credit union in a hands-on, post segment assignment.
Join the conversation: #CUESCEOInstitute
Start Your CEO Institute Journey Now!
CEO Institute I Scholarship
BenefisCU is fully funding a scholarship for CEO Institute I: Strategic Planning to support industry leaders. This opportunity covers the full registration fee for full-time credit union professionals ready to commit to the three-year CEO Institute curriculum and its hands-on action learning projects. If you have a strong vision for the credit union movement and a track record of leadership initiative, submit your application by
December 18, 2026.
Why Attend CEO Institute I: Strategic Planning?
When you attend:
- Your credit union will benefit directly from the post-segment assignment of completing a scenario planning project specific to your organization.
- The curriculum was developed specifically for credit unions by the faculty members and lecturers at The Wharton School .
- Participants who successfully complete all required elements of the program will be awarded the prestigious Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation.
- You’ll be joining a unique and tightly allied fellowship of credit union leaders, making you part of a powerful network of successful professionals.
- Many esteemed faculty members are there for their students even after graduation, offering another level of support.
- The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania is ranked #1 in a tie for first place in U.S. News & World Report’s list of 2021 Best Business Schools.
- You’ll earn up to 34 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits each week.
-
1,427
CUES pioneering and industry-leading CEO Institute program has graduated 1,427 industry executives, propelling their credit unions and their careers.
-
1,071
Over the past 30 years, 1,071 industry professionals have earned the prestigious Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation.
-
34
Attendees can earn up to 34 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits for attending CEO Institute I.
Have You Attended CEO Institute in the Past?
We'd love to hear about your experience!
Curriculum
Scenario Planning
- Analyze the driving forces that shape your world, create a limited number of viable views of the future, and develop an effective action plan based on each possibility.
- Examine real-world examples to help you apply scenario planning principles to your organization’s future.
- Direct your energy to manage events that have not yet occurred, thereby limiting future consequences.
Competitive Advantage in Changing Times
- Identify ways to maintain a competitive advantage in today’s fast-changing financial services industry.
- Address the challenges of new competition, regulation and technology that are continually changing the game and creating intense pressure to stay on top of new developments.
- Discuss issues specific to your credit union and evaluate strategies to build and sustain a competitive advantage.
Industry Scenarios
- Reveal elements and trends to include in every potential scenario.
- Map out a series of viable scenarios to create successful plans for a variety of circumstances.
Strategic Segmentation
- Develop effective methods to identify your competition and distinguish your offerings from theirs.
- Discover the keys to in-depth market analysis and competitive segmentation.
Organizational Change
- Examine underlying forces that are shaping information technology and organizational change throughout the financial services industry.
- Establish a firm foundation and strategies for staying on top of the possibilities and perils of this elusive and demanding area.
Creating Vision
- Formulate and focus your vision.
- Adopt communication skills visionary leaders use, increasing your influence and effectiveness.
Leadership
- Examine how great leaders have risen to a variety of challenges.
- Discover how to apply their strengths and concepts to enhance your own leadership skills.
Applying Customer Centricity to Credit Union Members Simulation
Take Your Place at The Top
As a credit union leader, you’re expected to exceed members’ needs, be strong community partners, and meet regulatory requirements—all while keeping your institution financially sound.
CUES’ prestigious CEO Institute is a career- and life-changing experience that combines the faculty and resources of the nation’s top business schools into an unparalleled educational program that will prepare you to excel at any challenges and opportunities you face.
CEO Institute’s robust curriculum meets your needs, including interactive presentations, collaborative exercises, and powerful case study simulations laser-focused on significant executive leadership topics.
As a graduate of this transformational program, you’ll be equipped with a comprehensive understanding of leadership issues and approaches that will immediately benefit your credit union. With enhanced strategic thinking skills, you’ll be able to:
- Effectively make decisions
- Better manage change
- Improve business processes
CEO Institute consists of a series of one-week sessions* held over three years, supplemented with pre-reading, homework assignments, and project work that add considerable value to your interactive learning experience. Attendees can include:
- CEOs
- SVPs
- Future leaders
Overview
Learn more about each segment of CEO Institute.

The Wharton School
University of Pennsylvania
Highlights: scenario planning, member-centricity simulation, strategic segmentation
Year I Project: Give back to your credit union by completing a scenario planning project specific to your organization.
Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management
Cornell University
Highlights: change management, negotiation techniques, effective group performance and process
Year II Project: Apply the lesson you learned in organizational effectiveness to a business challenge or opportunity for your credit union.
Darden Executive Education
University of Virginia
Highlights: Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI), managing change, motivation techniques
The Takeaway
When choosing an executive education program, it’s important to consider what you’ll get in return. When you attend CUES’ CEO Institute:
- You’ll be joining a unique and tightly allied fellowship of credit union leaders. CEO Institute graduates form strong bonds, and tend to stay in contact with each other year after year, creating a powerful network of successful professionals.
- Your credit union will benefit directly, thanks to the in-between segment projects you’ll complete.
- You’ll benefit from an executive education program developed specifically for credit unions.
- All classes are taught by world-class professors, authors, and researchers.
- Many of the esteemed CEO Institute faculty are there for you even after graduation, offering another level of support.
- You’ll earn up to 34 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits each week.
Plus, if you successfully complete all required elements of the program, you’ll be awarded the prestigious Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation.
Becoming a Certified Chief Executive
When you have successfully completed all three weeks of CEO Institute and two between-segment action-learning assignments, you’ll have achieved Certified Chief Executive (CCE) status.
The CCE designation establishes a standard of education and excellence for credit union leaders. It signifies you have made an ongoing commitment to your professional development and obtained a level of expertise recognized throughout the credit union movement.
The Impact
Credit unions realize the value of the CCE designation, and they’re willing to pay for it. Recent statistics released by Industry Insights indicate credit union executives holding the CCE designation make more than their peers without it.
The study showed CFOs with the designation typically earn a 23% premium; COOs, a 14.8% premium; and CEOs, a 6.3% premium.
CEO Institute provides very real benefits for you and your credit union. Begin the journey toward your future today.
Register now by contacting Teresa Brogan, Executive Education Specialist, at 800.252.2664 or 608.271.2664, ext. 331; or email teresab@cues.org.
CEO Institute offers a robust professional development experience for:
- Dedicated CEOs who value professional development and keeping abreast of the latest management strategies
- Credit union executives looking for the in-depth business education needed to take their career to the next level
- Future leaders who want to bring more strategic skills to the table and help their organization thrive
Tuition includes:
- Classroom instruction at a world-renowned educational institution
- Five nights of on-campus executive accommodations
- Class materials
- Most meals
Yes! This institute meets the following standards:
- Earn up to 34 CPE Credits
- Program Level: Overview
- Delivery Method: Group-Live
- Field of Study: Business Management & Organization
- Prerequisites: None
The Credit Union Executives Society (CUES) is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, through its website linked above.
Yes! Earn your Certified Chief Executive (CCE) designation by successfully completing all three weeks of CEO Institute and two between-segment assignments. This title signifies you’ve made an ongoing commitment to your professional development, obtaining a level of expertise recognized throughout the credit union industry.
The comfort and well-being of our attendees is of utmost importance to us; we will make every effort to make sure you are comfortable at our events!
Please email events@cues.org as soon as you know you’re attending a CUES event. Be sure to include your name, credit union, the CUES event you are registered for, and everything we need to know to accommodate your request.
We’ll be in touch with any questions we have, and let you know how we can help.
ALL CANCELLATIONS MUST BE IN WRITING. (cues@cues.org)
- Prior to 120 days – full refund
- 61-120 days before start of event – 50% refund
- 0-60 days before start of event – no refund
Your spot will be secured when payment is received. Substitute attendees are welcome, subject to eligibility. CUES reserves the right to cancel or reschedule the event due to unforeseen circumstances, and will refund fees if the event is rescheduled or location is changed and you are unable to attend.
BenefisCU is fully funding a scholarship for CEO Institute I: Strategic Planning to support industry leaders. This opportunity covers the full registration fee for full-time credit union professionals ready to commit to the three-year CEO Institute curriculum and its hands-on action learning projects. If you have a strong vision for the credit union movement and a track record of leadership initiative, submit your application by December 18, 2026.


