January 20, 2012

This is bonus coverage from “Follow the Leader” in the February 2012 issue of Credit Union Management magazine.

Credit unions in Canada are bringing the benefits of mentorship to an international level through the Canadian Co-operative Association’s Women’s Mentorship Program. The annual professional development program provides an opportunity for female credit union managers from Asia, Africa and the Americas to attend four weeks of governance and leadership training at CCA and on-the-job shadowing with a Canadian credit union executive mentor. Since 2002, more than 200 Canadian credit unions have mentored 151 women from 16 countries, and the next class of mentees will train in Canada April 28-May 25.  

"The objective is to provide high-level professional development for women credit union managers from developing countries,” explains Laurie Tennian, member engagement co-coordinator/international development for the CCA, based in Ottawa, Ontario. The women can learn “about best practices around daily operations and human resource management, as well as strategic planning, marketing, board vs. management roles and responsibilities, and our overseas guest learns a new culture.”

In addition, the women return home as more respected business managers with a veteran executive—or several—to whom they can turn for support, Tennian adds.

“In many cases, the two sides continue to dialogue via email long after they go home, and [because the women] are viewed as an ‘internationally trained person,’ they gain more respect among their peers and fellow staffers, as well as the board, as a result of training in Canada. In many cases, membership increases because she is seen as being trustworthy and, therefore, the credit union is a good place to save, obtain loans.”

The impact of the mentoring and training is transformational, says Sylvester Kadzola, CEO of Malawi Union of Savings and Credit Co-operatives, whose member credit unions’ managers have participated.

“There can be no question about the significance of this program. It has expanded the managerial horizon of women managers in Malawi. When they return from Canada, you see the transformation. They have a new sense of self-confidence, a renewed sense of responsibility and commitment to their co-operative. It is one of those programs that you can actually see practical results almost immediately.”

Tennian adds that, like most mentorships, both sides are transformed by the experience. “It is definitely a two-way exchange of learning. Canadians learn as much (or more) … they learn about a credit union in another country, [including] best practices. They also learn about international development, learn a new culture,” and see how another manager operates and incorporates the “same seven principles of cooperation” that [Canadian credit unions] operate on.”

A former editor of Credit Union Management, Kristin Gilpatrick is a freelance writer based in Wisconsin.