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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!

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. 

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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

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.

AMP Up, Move Up with Cornell & CUES!

Ivy League-level leadership training, no campus visit required.

CUES and Cornell University bring you the only credit union-specific executive program designed to cultivate the next generation of visionary leaders. 

In just nine months, participants are immersed in eight key C-suite mindsets to gain perspective and learn how top execs think. 

Blending live online sessions taught by Cornell faculty and self-paced courses, this elite program combines rigorous coursework with practical, real-world application—positioning participants and their organizations for sustained success. 

Participants earn two credentials and 6.4 CEUs after completing the required coursework. 

Your Fast-Track to the C-suite 

The Fast Path to Executive Readiness

This immersive online experience will broaden your C-suite knowledge and provide you with practical insights you can apply immediately to accelerate your leadership journey. 

What You’ll Experience 

• Dive deep into eight C-suite roles: CEO, CFO, COO, CMO, CIO, CCO, CRO, CHRO
• Learn directly from world-class Cornell faculty in a flexible online format
• Build confidence in strategic thinking and gain an enterprise-level perspective
• Be promotion-ready when the time is right
• Earn dual credentials: the CUES Certified Credit Union Executive Manager (CEM) designation and the Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership from Cornell University and CUES

Build Your Bench  

Fortify Your Leadership Pipeline for Long-Term Success

Strong leadership pipelines aren’t optional—they’re essential. The good news is, the next generation of C-suite leaders may already be on your team. CUES Advanced Management Program from Cornell University provides a high-impact, flexible solution to strengthen and prepare your executive bench.

Why HR and Talent Development Leaders Choose This Program

• Ivy League-level instruction from Cornell faculty, paired with credit union-focused curriculum
• In just nine months, your high-potential leaders will be ready for advancement when the time is right
• Strengthen your pipeline and help fulfill NCUA succession planning requirements for U.S. credit unions
• Develop strategic thinkers and instill an enterprise-level perspective across your leadership team
• 100% online with no travel required, minimizing disruption while scaling leadership development

Program Overview

CUES Advanced Management Program from Cornell University explores eight key C-suite roles—CEO, CFO, COO, CMO, CIO, CCO, CRO, CHRO—through project work, case studies, and immersive learning.

The final course brings it all together, helping participants strategically integrate their learnings and empowering them to lead across functions and cultivate growth mindsets.

Participants can expect to spend approximately 6-12 hours on each course, including online learning and project work, while building strong, real-world leadership skills along the way.

About eCornell

Ivy League Curriculum & Expert Faculty

Developed by Cornell University’s top faculty and industry leaders, eCornell courses are world-class and designed for practical impact. Courses are built on proven, high-quality curricula designed for practical application in the real world.

Expert-Led, Flexible Learning

Subject-matter experts guide, challenge, and help you apply concepts to your daily work. Structured start and end dates make courses easy to fit into busy schedules, allowing you to complete learning at your own pace. 

Collaborative, Interactive Experience

You’ll join a cohort of credit union staff from across North America. Engaging discussions, shared experiences, and instructor-led feedback foster collaboration, networking, and practical learning. 

Hands-On Practice & Application

Courses feature projects, scenarios, and interactive activities that challenge you to apply concepts directly to your organization. 

Outcome-Focused Learning

Every course aims for tangible results. You’ll build problem-solving skills and confidently analyze, assess, and implement solutions you couldn’t before. 

Program Details

Designed to fit seamlessly into your busy schedule, CUES Advanced Management Program from Cornell University offers a rigorous yet flexible leadership development experience. 

Program Length

The program runs over nine months—from July 2026 to April 2027. 

Learning Format

Participants complete eCornell courses independently, and join their classmates for live, interactive sessions, helping them build a network of colleagues. 

Time Commitment

Participants complete eight self-paced courses on eCornell. Each course is open for two weeks and paired with a 90-minute live online session led by Cornell faculty. 

Most participants spend approximately 6-12 hours on each course, including online learning and project work.

Credentials & Credits

Students who attend all sessions and complete required course work: 

• Earn the prestigious Certified Credit Union Executive Manager (CEM) designation

• Receive an Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership from Cornell University and CUES

• Earn 6.4 CEUs

• Program Orientation

   

• Course 1: The CEO Mindset—Developing and Communicating Vision and Strategy

• Live-Taught Session 1: Leading with a CEO Mindset

• Course 2: The CFO Mindset—Understanding Financial Statements

• Live-Taught Session 2: The CFO Mindset—Connecting the Numbers to Strategy and Performance

• Course 3: The COO Mindset—Change, Disruption, and Growth

• Live-Taught Session 3: The COO Mindset

• Course 4: Brand Purpose

• Live-Taught Session 4: The CMO Mindset: Brand Purpose

• Course 5: AI and Digital Technology: Opportunities and Pitfalls

• Live-Taught Session 5: AI and Business Transformation

• Course 6: The CCO Mindset—Structuring Business Agreements for Success

• Live-Taught Session 6: The CRO Mindset—The Relationship between the CRO and Legal Counsel

• Course 7: The CHRO Mindset—Motivating People for High Performance

• Live-Taught Session 7: The CHRO Mindset—Leading High-Performance Teams

• Course 8: Future Looking Skills—Preparing for the Future

• Live-Taught Session 8—Final Thoughts: What is Your Mindset? How to Lead Change

Course Instructors

Live Session Instructors

Collaborate with Peers. Learn from Experts. Lead with Clarity.

Directors—join your colleagues for this two-day seminar to take a deep dive into governance best practices. This highly-interactive seminar will give you the opportunity to explore the four pillars of good governance—strategy setting, board process, board makeup and fiduciary oversight—and learn how to transition your board’s mindset from oversight to futurist. 

The role you play is critical to your credit union’s long-term strength. Learn more by visiting our “Agenda” tab. Questions? Contact us or email events@cues.org. 

Also, you can plan a full-board retreat at our director seminars! Contact CUES and we’ll help you arrange meeting space before or after the event.

Why Attend?

Board Members:

• Your role as a board member, and the decisions you make, are vitally important to the health and well-being of your CU. Attend and head home confident in your responsibilities.
• Walk away with practical tips and tools you can use right away.
• You’ll benefit from a two and a half day look at high-performing governance practices.
• This seminar is highly interactive; you’ll have plenty of time to get your questions answered, and discuss issues in-depth.
• You’ll have the opportunity to challenge common assumptions, and stretch your own ways of thinking about governance philosophy.
• You’ll meet other directors, and develop a network of colleagues you can reach out to after the seminar is over.

CEOs: Why Send Your Board Members to this Event?  

• High performing boards lead to high performing credit unions. Your board members will learn strong governance practices that will improve functionality.
• The seminar focuses on the practical rather than the theoretical. Your board members head home with tools and ideas ready to implement.
• The board and the decisions it makes are vital to the health of your CU; sending your directors is an investment in your credit union’s future.
• Keeping up with the ever-changing governance environment is imperative; this seminar is a must attend for new and veteran board members alike.
• You can be confident knowing your board is functioning at its best.  
• Plus, your board members will:
  • Walk away with practical tips and tools they can use right away.
  • Meet others in the same role, and develop a network of colleagues they can reach out to after the seminar is over.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Putting your organization in front of the credit union movement's top executives, directors, and future leaders will accelerate your sales performance. Explore all CUES' sponsorship opportunities.

Learn More