Chief People Officer Succeeds by ‘Bridging Talent Strategy and Business Strategy’

Title: Chief People Officer
 
Number of years at your current credit union: One year and eight months
 
Educational background: Bachelor’s degree in psychology; master’s degree in industrial organizational psychology.
 
CU Times: What are your key responsibilities in your current role?

Treadway: I am responsible for developing and executing people resources, talent management, development and social responsibility strategies in support of the overall business plan and direction of Greater Nevada, specifically focusing in on processes that span the entire employee lifecycle, from talent acquisition through talent succession. I provide strategic leadership by articulating People needs and plans to the executive management team, Greater Nevadans and the board of directors. As a member of the executive leadership team, I assist in the development and execution of the overarching business strategic plan, and prepare reports and presentations for the board. I also oversee leadership for several support areas, including People Resources, Talent Acquisition, Social Responsibility and others.

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

Treadway: While in graduate school, I worked as a member service representative, and this was my first exposure to credit unions. I loved the meaning and passion that credit unions stand behind of helping people live greater financially and giving back to the communities in which we operated. Knowing that our work has significant impact on people’s well-being and how meaningful our work is provides me with fulfillment. 

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

Treadway: With more than 20 years of experience in human resources, I bring proven executive leadership to my role along with a reputation for building organizations and making talent and culture a competitive advantage. Bridging talent strategy and business strategy is something I prioritize to cultivate environments where people can perform their best and innovate fearlessly in service of members. I am motivated by tough challenges, empowering others and delivering world-class experiences to our members.

By leading with a servant style, I build a community and team focus, and promote creativity and effective problem solving to achieve breakthrough results. My strong interpersonal relationship skills and passion also allow me to cultivate great organizational culture and community involvement.

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

Treadway: Mentorship has been very impactful in my career. It is important to build meaningful relationships with others and be humble enough to understand you can learn from all interactions with people, no matter their title or experience level.

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

Treadway: The largest difference is being more involved in setting the direction and vision of the strategic business plan. In my current role, it has been inspiring to be involved from a financial aspect of the entire balance sheet rather than individual budgets.
 
CU Times: What’s a challenge you faced when you first joined your executive team, and how did you overcome it?

Treadway: I am still somewhat new to the credit union industry. While this is not a challenge per se, it has been an exciting opportunity to quickly learn and develop expert knowledge, and connections in the industry. 

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

Treadway: I am a successful servant leader. I ensure that I am building my team’s capabilities as I know this is what will make us successful. I am empathetic and take time to get to know my team members. Under my stewardship, I am committed to their career growth. By building a sense of community, we can better collaborate across the organization as one team. I am also energized by setting strategy and direction so that the team has clear focus, and we can have greater impact on all who we serve.

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)? 

Treadway: I listen and seek to understand with an empathetic approach. We all have our stories, journeys and experiences. Learning these are very important to gaining individuals’ trust and openness.

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

Treadway: Work/life balance is important to me – and it’s important that my team achieves it as well. I love to exercise and get outside, which benefits me mentally. I often take a quick 15-minute break to go outside and refresh myself. I also set priorities and when I may feel like there is a lot to juggle, I step back to ensure my focus is correct. 

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

Treadway: I look forward to impacting more lives and helping others develop in their career. I want to continue to be a mentor to other woman in high-level leadership roles.

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

Treadway: Greater Nevada Credit Union should continue to be a best place to work for our employees. I aim to cultivate a place where people love to come to work and deliver on their passion. It’s a place where team members have a sense of belonging and are proud to work for a company that gives back to the community.

From a community perspective, I see GNCU being one of the most well-known brands because of the impact that we make in the lives of others.

I want to continue to build a high-performance organization where employees can reach their highest levels of aspiration. We have a culture of innovation and delivery that outperforms all targets because of the People programs that we build.

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

Treadway: I would tell myself to embrace change. Always raise your hand for a challenge even if it feels a little out of your comfort zone. And relationships are key to your success – understand others, communicate effectively and lead with pure intention.

Would you or someone you know like to share your journey to credit union leadership? Please reach out to Natasha Chilingerian at [email protected]. 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.