To kick off the agenda, Alkami’s Senior Community Manager, Aaron White brought together community-minded leaders from across the country to connect, collaborate, and share what’s driving digital banking priorities in their regions. Financial institutions exchanged insights on how regional economic shifts are shaping lending and deposit strategies, how they’re balancing fintech innovation with high-touch service, and how they’re strengthening account holder trust through local partnerships and compliance readiness. A key takeaway across the board: digital transformation is a shared priority, but the path forward is regional. This session also introduced upcoming in-person user group meetups, reinforcing Alkami’s commitment to empowering banks and credit unions with localized connection, collaboration, and continuous learning.
This inspiring and energizing session led by Alkami’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Julie Hoagland, and VP of Revenue Operations, Ethan Lippman, encouraged financial institution professionals to view their personal and professional brand as a powerful lever for growth—both in their careers and within their institutions. Framing the conversation with the quote, “Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room,” the session explored how intentional, authentic branding is more than a résumé—it’s a reputation.
Julie and Ethan kicked off the discussion by reframing branding not as self-promotion, but as self-definition. A strong brand, they emphasized, stems from knowing your core strengths, your values, and the unique problems you solve. The session guided attendees through exercises around these questions and asked them to define the attributes they want to be known for—whether it’s strategic thinking, innovation, empathy, or industry expertise; helping attendees align their personal “why” with how they show up at work.
They broke down the difference between a personal and professional brand, then unpacked how the most influential leaders bring the two together. Trust, credibility, and visibility are the foundational pillars of a great brand, and those who lead with purpose naturally attract opportunity.
🔑 Your brand is your professional currency. When you lead with clarity, authenticity, and intention, you don’t just grow your career—you amplify your influence across your institution, your community, and the industry.
Born between 1997 and 2012, Generation Z (Gen Z) is the first generation to grow up fully online—and they’re bringing their scroll-speed expectations, values-driven mindsets, and digital-first behaviors straight into banking. They’re not just tech-savvy, they’re looking for transparency, personalization, and purpose from the institutions they choose to engage with. As they step into adulthood, careers, and financial independence, the question for banks and credit unions is no longer “Are you ready for Gen Z?”—it’s “Are you listening to them?”
This session tackled two critical growth opportunities for financial institutions:
Moderated by Jim Perry, Senior Strategist at Market Insights, and featuring insights from Amy Krasikov of Raiz Credit Union and Tyler Puckett of Walden Mutual Bank, the panel explored how Gen Z is actively shaping the present and future of banking. The group challenged common misconceptions—like Gen Z not using branches or being lazy employees—while sharing how institutions can authentically connect with this generation both digitally and in person.
Jim opened with demographic context: Gen Z now nears 30% of the workforce and is poised to inherit trillions through the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in U.S. history. Yet they hold the lowest level of trust in financial institutions. According to Amy and Tyler, trust with Gen Z is built through transparency, values alignment, and experience. Amy described Raiz’s blended strategy of offering 24/7 digital access while staffing branches with specialists for deeper, advisory conversations. Tyler, representing an all-digital bank, emphasized high-touch service via handwritten welcome notes, proactive follow-up calls, and personalized mission-aligned incentives—like $100 summer farmers market rewards. On the workforce side, both speakers pointed to Gen Z’s creativity, desire for purpose, and expectation of being heard and respected by their organization. At Raiz, investing in empathy training and authentic inclusion helped bridge generational gaps. At Walden, attracting Gen Z talent starts with language—in job descriptions and culture—that welcomes innovation and respectful disruption.
💡 Gen Z isn’t just the future of banking—they’re shaping it now. Financial institutions that listen, empower, and lead with purpose will earn their trust and loyalty as both account holders and employees.
At this year’s Co:lab, Alkami’s Women in Banking session brought together powerful voices from across the industry to reflect on the evolving role of women in financial services—past, present, and future. Hosted by Anna Davis and Molly Irelan from the Alkami team, the session featured insights from Monica Barker, AVP Digital Banking Product Owner at Mascoma Bank, and Dawn Brummett, EVP & Chief Information Officer at ORNL Federal Credit Union. Holly Hughes, representing ProSight Financial Association (previously BAI), helped set the tone by walking through key milestones in women’s advancement in banking and the United States at large —reminding the audience that it wasn’t until 1974 that women could legally obtain a credit card without a male co-signer. While women now make up over half of entry-level banking roles, representation at the executive level remains under 30%, underscoring the need for continued momentum.
The heart of the session centered around personal stories and candid advice. Monica detailed her journey from teller to digital leader, emphasizing the value of introspection, career development support, and the power of self-advocacy. She shared how Mascoma’s internal programs helped her discover a passion for system optimization and led her into digital transformation leadership. Dawn Brummett shared how her 33-year journey at ORNL Credit Union was defined by stepping outside her comfort zone and consistently delivering value, regardless of title. She advised future leaders to do the job they have better than anyone else and reminded the audience that grit earns a seat at the table. Both panelists highlighted the importance of organizational cultures that prioritize continuous development—at every stage of a career—and environments where women advocate for each other and themselves. The session concluded with an interactive reflection on what the next five to ten years might hold for women in banking, reinforcing the idea that the future is not just something to anticipate—it’s something we actively shape together.
🔑 Progress is ongoing—but real, sustainable change happens when institutions commit to fostering inclusive leadership, investing in development at every level, and empowering women to confidently take their place in every room.
Continuing the conversation from the Women in Banking session, this roundtable format gave attendees more opportunities to engage, network, and grow. The discussion was centered on the journey of women in banking over the years – past, present, and future. Honoring the progress that’s been made and having honest conversations about triumphs and lessons left attendees feeling like they had a space where they could share their experiences and perspectives. It’s not lost on us how special it is to host an event where people across the industry gather together and feel comfortable expressing themselves, knowing their voices are heard and valued.
