Filene Fill-In Ep. 70: A New Filene i3 for a New World

Filene Research Institute

So much has turned uncertain about our world this year – one thing that helps in times of uncertainty is to stay focused in the realm of what we can control. And while we can’t control the future, there is a trick that does give us a bit of control over the shape the future will be in. When we act in good faith to the question of “How can I become a good ancestor?” we start to behave in a way that helps us set the stage for the best future for those who will exist in that future. And in that way, we realize we do have control over what the future will be. We have a lot of opportunities before us, personally and professionally, to be part of that stage setting. One opportunity that we’ll be focusing on in today’s podcast is through Filene’s i3 program. In case you’re not familiar with it, Filene i3 is a two-year innovation leadership program and community equipping top credit union professionals with the mindset, tools and network to lead and shape the future. Through this cohort-based program, participants work in cross-functional teams to explore and address many of credit unions' most pressing challenges. This is a tremendous leadership development opportunity for senior leaders to connect with others, make their ideas bigger and advance their innovation mindsets. Every year Filene opens up the application process to find the next i3 team. Applications are now open, and we are here to talk about what it takes, and what you get when you become part of Filene i3. We are lucky today to be joined by not only the program’s leader, Brent Dixon, but also two experienced program participants -- Kathy Chicas, who is the Chief Operating Officer for Farmers Insurance Group Federal Credit Union, and Mark Volz, Relationship Development Officer, at Corporate Central Credit Union. In many ways, just like it did for many other things, the COVID pandemic forever changed the way we view credit union innovation, and the role of creativity and urgency in the concepts and locally specific focus of the i3er’s projects. As you’ll soon learn from Kathy and Mark, if you have an insatiable need to make good change in the world, i3 will give you all the tools you could need. I invite you to drift away with us over the next hour to this island of misfit toys and peer into the minds of these brilliant weirdos. Chances are you’ll realize you’ve been there with them all along.