Tag Archive for: Society of Bank Executives

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Executive Letter: The Value of Your Network

From the Desk of Rose Oswald Poels

By Rose Oswald Poels

The value of the network of other bankers whom you surround yourself with is priceless. We hear it time and time again from the membership: the need for time on conference agendas to allow for peer networking. As we turn the page to 2025, I wanted to share some information about powerful networking opportunities that are available to you and your teams through your WBA membership.

Wisconsin CEOnly and CFOnly Network 

This annual membership network is open to all CEOs and CFOs currently employed at a Wisconsin-chartered bank. The group, which focuses on networking and idea sharing related to Wisconsin’s banking industry, provides bankers with the platform to anonymously ask questions and receive compiled responses via email as well as connect with peers at up to three in-person networking events. More than 100 Wisconsin bankers participate in this network and find great value in both the email services as well as getting together for the in-person meetings hosted in three different locations around the state each year.

Learn More About the Network

National Society of Bank Executives 

Founded in 2022 by WBA and 15 other state bankers’ associations, the Society was formed to provide a space for c-level bankers to connect across state borders to learn together and build a network. Each year the Society selects one key focus area, with the 2025 topic being Leading Change. Members will be connected with other c-level bankers from across the country for virtual peer groups, participate in two webinars focused on Leading Change, and participate in the October 22–-24 in-person summit in Miami, bringing together members in person for networking, learning sessions, roundtable discussions, professional and personal development activities, and more!

Learn More About the Society of Bank Executives

As a way to spread awareness for the Society, the February 2025 virtual forums will be complimentary for all WBA members to experience! These virtual forums will be professionally facilitated, interactive online sessions that allow senior bank executives to connect with peers outside of their competitive market, learn new perspectives, gain insights from others, expand their knowledge base, and focus on topics important to them. Here’s the information and registration links for the first round of sessions scheduled for February 2025:

  • February 6, 2025 – Chief Human Resource Officer Peer Group, facilitated by Greg Beckwith, AI Mastery – Register here
  • February 13, 2025 – Chief Financial Officer Peer Group, facilitated by Dale Sheller, The Baker Group – Register here
  • February 20, 2025 – Chief Operations Officer Peer Group, facilitated by Tom McGill, Profit Resources, Inc. – Register here
  • February 27, 2025 – Chief Executive Officer Peer Group, facilitated by Sean Payant, Ph.D., Haberfeld – Register here

All virtual events will be held via Zoom at 12:30 p.m. CT. The Zoom link will be emailed to attendees prior to the event.

WBA Connect Peer Groups 

The WBA Connect Peer Groups are an excellent way for your staff members to develop their networks as well!

WBA Connect is a collection of banker-only peer communities designed to keep bankers connected and help one another grow. Membership in each WBA Connect group comes with access to that group’s exclusive online peer-to-peer email, set up using Google Groups. Certain groups will also coordinate in-person networking meetings as desired by the group’s membership.

The following WBA Connect Peer Groups are available:

  • Allies for DEI in Banking
  • Bank Trainers
  • Commercial Lending
  • Enterprise Risk Management
  • Human Resources & Organizational Development
  • Marketing
  • Retail Banking
  • Small Business Bankers
  • Technology & Operations
  • Treasury/Cash Management

Start Connecting!

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Executive Letter: Enhance Your Leadership and Grow Your Network

By Rose Oswald Poels

As first announced last year, the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) has partnered with several banking trade associations throughout the U.S. to present the Society of Bank Executives. Now wrapping up its inaugural year, the Society has already welcomed more than 125 bank leaders from 13 states — including Wisconsin — into its fold. With evolution touching every aspect of the banking industry, and strong leadership needed now more than ever before, I encourage all bank executive teams in the state to consider the invaluable opportunities offered by the Society of Bank Executives.

The Society, facilitated by Dr. Paul Godfrey of the Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business, aims to provide bank leaders with invaluable professional development opportunities. With two, four-month sessions held each spring and fall, the Society focuses on aiding bank leaders in honing critical leadership competencies and skills as well as connecting members with their peers in a non-competitive setting.

Unlike many other leadership seminars, the Society of Bank Executives is designed with bank leadership teams in mind. The experts leading the Society realize that bank management teams are uniquely positioned within their organization and as such ensure the programing is flexible and applicable to all leaders.

Prior to the start of each session, members are recommended a book to help establish key concepts and ideas for the events ahead. Throughout the four-month session, three 60–90-minute online seminars will aid bankers in building on these takeaways and consider elements related to shareholders, regulators, customers, and communities. These sessions are specifically designed to engage C-level bankers in study, analysis, and application of the “art” of leading a bank.

Additionally, new and returning members alike will benefit from self-paced elements and an expansive online library, which includes access to a number of past sessions and materials related to strategic risk management and trust & team building. Each bank member is also assigned to a peer group with bankers in other states. These peer groups determine additional dates/times to meet virtually to follow up on the facilitated sessions and further share in a banker-only group.

During the third month of each session, members take part in a two-day networking retreat. Last week, the Society hosted its fall 2023 Action Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona. Focused on connecting members with their banking peers from across the country, the Society’s Action Summits build time into the event for networking, facilitated sessions with Dr. Godfrey and other industry thought leaders, and table peer group discussions. Before returning to the bank, attendees also have the chance to develop an action plan.

Of course, networking is not only about building relationships. Again and again, I am reminded of how important it is that bankers of all levels invest in their professional growth and leverage the collective knowledge and opportunities within their network to advance their bank’s success. The Society does just that. I’ve heard from several Society members who have, in just one year, found the program to be beneficial in enhancing their soft skills to effectively lead in an evolving landscape and develop strong bonds with bankers from across the country. I encourage all bank leaders in Wisconsin to utilize this unique opportunity to guide new professional and organizational growth and foster non-competitive partnerships.

With new technology, regulatory updates, and shifting customer expectations emerging each day, the spring 2024 session will focus on change management. As this year’s sessions come to a close, now is the perfect opportunity for bank leaders in Wisconsin to sign on by January 2024 as individual members or as a team to enhance their organization’s ability to implement new strategies and drive the industry forward.

Join the Society
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Executive Letter: Staying Ahead of Industry Challenges with the Society of Bank Executives

Rose Oswald PoelsBy Rose Oswald Poels

The Society of Bank Executives — which officially launched earlier this year after a pre-launch session last fall — provides C-suite bankers with accelerated professional development and networking opportunities. As an original partner in the nationwide program, the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) is committed to ensuring bankers in Wisconsin have access to education and resources that allow them to enhance their skills, expand their knowledge, and foster growth and development throughout their bank.

As bankers are well aware, our industry is facing new challenges daily. It is critical, for the continued success of banks throughout the U.S., that all leaders have the ability to identify and proactively respond to various types of risk. As such, the Society has identified Strategic Risk as the topic of the fall 2023 session.

The Society provides its members with a unique opportunity to enhance their own professional development — often alongside members of their executive team — while learning from national experts on the designated topics. In the last year, several Wisconsin bankers have joined the Society and found it to be very valuable to their own professional growth as a leader while meeting peers from around the country.

Membership of the Society includes two six-month, self-paced professional development programs a year. These sessions are focused specifically on assisting bank executives in developing and mastering the “art” of leading a bank. So far, more than 125 bank leaders from 57 banks in 13 states have already joined the Society’s distinctive, peer-driven program.

During the fall event, the Society will host three virtual webinars, with related readings and resources, and one in-person summit. Bankers will hone important leadership skills and be able to network with other leaders from around the country on many strategic topics.

The first Society event for the upcoming fall session will be held via Zoom in August, so now is the perfect time for bank executives in Wisconsin to sign on as individual members or as a team and make the most of the upcoming session. Additionally, new members will gain access to a substantive online library featuring previous sessions and resources related to Trust & Team Building and Culture.

To learn more about the Society, and to join as a member, please visit executives.bank/home.

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Executive Letter: A Sneak Peek at the Society of Bank Executives

Rose Oswald PoelsBy Rose Oswald Poels

The Society of Bank Executives, a nationwide organization for building new connections and accessing accelerated programing related to leadership, is looking ahead to the official launch in January 2023. Currently, the Society is comprised of over 120 executives from 15 states, including several from Wisconsin, and these bankers are participating in the pre-launch cohort this fall.

As I have announced in previous publications, the Society was established by several banking trade groups across the country — including WBA — to promote individual professional development. The initiative focuses specifically on granting C-suite bankers the opportunity to network among peers, attend relevant and flexible education seminars by experts, and enhance critical leadership competencies and skills.

As we all work to navigate within our ever-evolving industry, I encourage you to consider the importance of taking part in opportunities such as the Society of Bank Executives. Unlike other leadership seminars, the program offers bankers not just the education, but the relationships and soft skills necessary to masterfully lead our banks. In addition to studying, analyzing, and applying knowledge learned during the four-month program, bank executives will form invaluable networks among peers outside of our markets.

Although the pre-launch session is in full swing, Wisconsin bankers are invited to join the Society during its third meeting in Sun Valley, Idaho. The three-day event focuses specifically on the power of peer groups, and will kick off on October 19. I encourage bank executives who have not already registered for Society membership to consider utilizing this opportunity to garner a sneak peek of what’s in store for programing as the initiative formally launches in January.

Thank you to those Wisconsin bankers who have already registered as a member the Society. If you would like to learn more about the Society and how its program could impact your bank, please visit executives.bank/home. Additionally, if you are interested in taking part in the Society’s upcoming in-person educational event in Sun Valley, please click here for details on how to register.

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Development Session: Trust and Team Building

The Society of Bank Executives offers opportunities for professional development

As the deadline to sign up for the Society of Bank Executives pre-launch session quickly approaches on July 30, c-suite bankers and executive team members are reminded to use this opportunity to invest in their own professional development for the benefit of their entire team.

The Society of Bank Executive, officially launching in January 2023, is offering Wisconsin bankers the ability to participate in the Society’s pre-launch session starting this August. Bankers receive a 25% discount for two years when they sign up before July 30, 2022.

The pre-launch session will focus on honing the skills of trust and team building of bank executives from around the country. During the four-month session, bankers will have the opportunity to hear from Doug Faber, consultant at Franklin Covey during a virtual presentation on “the speed of trust” as well as Casey Thompson, principal consultant at The Table Group during a virtual presentation on “trust and the dysfunctions of a team”. All virtual presentations will also be available on demand for 30 days after the live event.

In addition to learning from experts — Wisconsin bankers are also invited to join bank executives from around the country in Sun Valley, Idaho for a two-day networking event. Not only does this event offer bankers the ability to expand their networks outside of their typical markets, bankers will also be able to share tips from their experience and ask questions of their peers.

The pre-launch session will wrap up in November with a virtual refection moderated by Dr. Paul Godfrey, Society of Bank Executive’s academic advisor. In this final meeting, bankers will reflect on the previous meetings and how they will be able to implement their personal strategy to leverage the power of trust.

Learn more about the Society of Bank Executive by visiting www.executives.bank/home.

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Pens, papers, and clipboards laid out on conference table
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Getting Involved With the Society of Bank Executives

Rose Oswald PoelsBy Rose Oswald Poels

Earlier this year, the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) board approved WBA’s participation as a partner in the newly created Society of Bank Executives. This initiative, first brought forth by the Utah Bankers Association, includes several partner trade associations throughout the U.S. aiming to provide bank leaders with opportunities to network and further develop the skills necessary for staying ahead of our ever-changing industry.

As the banking landscape continues to rapidly evolve, it remains ever so important that banking leaders continue to develop professionally and personally. These opportunities include engaging with peers outside of our markets and ongoing programs relating to shareholders, regulators, customers, and communities.

The Society, directed by Dr. Paul Godfrey — the William and Roceil Low Professor of Business Strategy at the Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business, will officially launch in January 2023. However, the application period for the pre-launch session opens May 1, 2022. I encourage all C-suite bank executives and bank executive teams from across Wisconsin to take advantage of this unique opportunity to not only become a founding member, but to further develop important skills regarding bank operation alongside bankers from across the country. A two-year discount is available through July 30, 2022.

The annual sessions, split into two four-month programs, feature three 60–90-minute online presentations/virtual meetings that incorporate self-paced elements and one, two-day, in-person meeting aimed at expanding bankers’ networks beyond their markets. The pre-launch session, scheduled for August through November 2022, will focus bank executives on the challenge of “Trust and Team Building.”

As recent events have proved, peer networks are critical to the success of our industry. The Society hopes to assist bank leaders in establishing and utilizing networks among bankers beyond state boundaries. The two-day, in-person meeting each session is designed as a networking-focused event at which bankers around the country are able to share information, ask questions, and give (or receive) advice around strategic decision-making. These conversations may or may not be related to the specific session focus.

The Society’s program — involving study, analysis, application, and interaction with peers — is unlike any other leadership seminar. Created with bank executives in mind, the Society of Bank Executives offers opportunities to acquire and develop skills and master the “art” of leading a bank. Again, I invite every Wisconsin bank C-suite leader to take advantage of the opportunities created by the Society of Bank Executives when the application period opens May 1, 2022.

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questions@wisbank.com

608-441-1200

4721 S Biltmore Ln.
Madison, WI 53718

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