Tiny but Mighty: My DE Journey

In June, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Credit Union Development Education (CUDE) program in Madison, Wisconsin. I walked in expecting a week of professional development. I walked out with something much bigger: a renewed sense of purpose, a stronger voice, and a whole lot more confidence in myself. When I got the email saying I had received a scholarship from CUBFI (the League’s Foundation) to attend, I was shocked. I never win anything…ever. I was honored and excited, but then the doubt crept in. Am I really worthy of becoming a Credit Union DE? On top of that, I had never traveled alone before. I was nervous, scared, and honestly kind of panicked. I felt like a little kid with a backpack too big for my shoulders, staring up at the big world, unsure where to go next, and at 4'11", I looked the part too.

But I did it!

My travel to Madison went off without a hitch. Flights were smooth, connections were easy, and I actually started to feel a little brave. Those who know me won’t be surprised to hear I struck up conversations with just about everyone along the way. Thankfully, my seatmates were willing to talk, or I don’t know what I would’ve done. Once I arrived, everything changed. CUDE is not just a training. It is a full-on immersion into the heart of the credit union movement. We didn’t just talk about cooperative principles, we lived them. We dug into tough issues like inequality, poverty, financial exclusion, and food insecurity. We didn’t keep things surface-level. We went deep.

One of the most powerful moments was visiting Porchlight, an organization in Madison doing incredible work to support those experiencing homelessness. Listening to their stories reminded me that financial wellness is about far more than money. It is about human dignity, safety, and the opportunity to start over and move forward. It ties in with the credit union philosophy of People Helping People, where meeting people where they are is not just a value, it is a responsibility. The people we met and the stories we heard at the Veterans Transitional Housing Program really touched me. I cried a little...I was deep in my feelings.

The week was packed with purpose. Teamwork, competition, collaboration, challenges, and more laughs than I could count. There were time constraints, quick turnarounds, and real conversations about the issues we were trying to tackle. But the energy, the spirit, and the shared mission made every second count. The people I met there are true credit union people, not just people who work at a credit union. Our job titles didn’t matter, nor did we know each other’s titles. We simply trusted the process and made it through together, letting each of our strengths shine when needed.

I was incredibly lucky to be placed with an amazing team, people from all across the country, and our phenomenal mentor Grace from Africa. Each of them brought something special to the experience, and I’m so grateful for the bond we built: Kara Robinson (Tinker FCU, Oklahoma), Caitlin Vance (SPCCU, South Carolina), Freida Afandi (Humanidei, California), Kirby Boyd (My Community CU, Texas), Kristina Kovacevic (First Alliance CU, Minnesota), Monica Gilbert (Financial Health FCU, Indiana), Nathan Bill (TwinStar CU, Washington), Stephanie Barton (Black Hills FCU, South Dakota), and our inspiring mentor Grace Watsiera (ACCOSCA, Africa).

We supported each other, challenged each other and became a family over five days. We laughed until we cried (and cried until we laughed again... and by “we,” I mean me… and maybe a couple others).

CUDE helped me see how much this movement needs us to lead with empathy, courage, and heart. It reminded me why I love what I do, and how I can take it even further, not just in my job, but in how I show up in the world. To anyone in credit union land who’s thinking about going to CUDE, do it. Especially if you’re nervous and unsure. Because it won’t just build your knowledge. It will stretch your heart, strengthen your voice, and connect you to something much bigger than yourself. You’ll come back more grounded, more inspired, and more confident in the impact you can make. You’ll return as an even stronger version of the amazing person you already are. And that’s a beautiful thing.

And just when I thought the journey was complete, the universe threw in a bonus round. The trip home was anything but smooth. Delays, cancelations, and an unexpected overnight layover turned it into a full-blown travel adventure. I ended up meeting some great people who were also trying to get back to Connecticut, including a woman who lives just two towns over from me. We’re already planning to grab coffee soon. We were all slightly delusional from exhaustion, laughing just so we wouldn’t cry. We shared snacks, tracked flights and kept each other going. We just wanted to get home to our families and into our own beds.

Thank you again to CUBFI for giving me the chance to do something that truly changed my life, and to Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union, especially Greg Angelillo, for believing in me and supporting me in achieving this amazing designation.

Brandi Byrne, CUDE

Financial Education Program Manager

Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union