Seattle University Credit Union Initiative

The Seattle University Credit Union Initiative is in its start-up stages, which means our main focus is internal operations and structure. While many may hear “Credit Union”, and think that we are mostly, if not only, finance centered. The truth is that while we do have work in finance, financial analysis, and accounting, we have really so much more than that, where any student and major, undergrad or graduate would benefit and be able to contribute towards our initiative. Our initiative has various different departments, and builds on leadership and project management skills. Our current departments consist of Finance & Accounting, Financial Literacy, Marketing, Compliance & Legal, IT, HR and Pitch Teams. So theres something for everyone to learn!

On behalf of the Seattle University Credit Union Initiative, we’re excited to share a leadership update. As we progress toward becoming a credit union, succession is key to ensuring smooth operations and recognizing both past and present leadership. We’re pleased to announce Emma Nguyen as our new student CEO and look forward to her impact in this role. At the same time, we extend our deepest gratitude to Ana Giordano, our founding student CEO, whose dedication has been instrumental in shaping our initiative. From structuring our core departments to leading us to 1st place in the Harriet Stephenson Business Plan Competition and securing a $250K donation pledge, Ana’s leadership has been pivotal. Her contributions include obtaining our business license, initiating the chartering process, and forming key partnerships across campus. She connected students with top professionals, fostering mentorship, experiential learning, and financial literacy. Most importantly, she helped create opportunities for students to develop leadership and professional skills, strengthening their futures. "I am especially proud of the groundwork we laid—from structuring our organization and policies to setting the foundation for the financial products and services we aim to provide." – Ana Giordano As Ana prepares to graduate, she will continue working with our leadership team to ensure a smooth transition. We are deeply grateful for her impact and look forward to seeing the initiative grow under new leadership. #creditunioninitiative #seattleuniversity #studentorganization

We had the pleasure of hosting Patrick Callans, Executive Vice President of Administration at Costco Wholesale! Costco Wholesale, a global leader in wholesale retail, operates over 800 warehouses worldwide, providing high-quality products at unbeatable prices to its members. Known for its strong company culture, commitment to sustainability, and exceptional customer service, Costco continues to set the standard for excellence in the retail industry. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn from Pat about the many responsibilities he juggles in his executive role. His insights into leadership and organizational structure were invaluable, and gave us a fresh perspective on how we can structure our leadership roles within our own initiatives. A huge thank you to Pat for taking the time to share his knowledge and experiences with us. We look forward to staying connected and continuing to build our professional networks! #seattleuniversity #costco #studentinitiative #creditunions

Thank you to SU American Marketing Association at Seattle University for giving us the opportunity to speak to their students! AMA is a great club for students who are interested in marketing and want to be more involved on campus! Our CMO Emma Nguyen and Head of Marketing for Financial Literacy, Lynna Ov shared the benefits working within the initiative, and debunked the common misconception that we are all finance oriented. While we may be working towards building a financial institution, the bulk of the work done by students is actually oriented towards resume building skills such as public speaking/presentations, leadership, management and networking! Thank you again to AMA for letting us join your meeting! #creditunioninitiative #studentinvolvement #studentrun #seattleuniversity

Winter Recruitment is NOW OPEN! Scan the QR code or click the link to apply! https://lnkd.in/g4STc5Z5 We know landing an internship can be tough, and so we are actively looking for driven Seattle University students to join this internship-like opportunity working in a startup! This is a chance to gain real experience and learn alongside a supportive team. Benefits such as hands-on learning, networking with professionals, earning academic credit and enhancing your resume by developing professional skills are some of the many things to gain! If you’re a motivated student who’s looking to grow their network and resume, we’d love to hear from you! Want to learn more? Check out our Instagram and LinkedIn! #internshiplikeopportunity #seattleuniversity #openrecruitment #newstudents #entreprenuership #creditunioninitiative #startups

In the end of Fall quarter, we had the pleasure of having Jordan Grant, Assistant Provost for Student Financial Services at Seattle University, join us in class at Seattle University Credit Union Initiative! The Student Financial Services at Seattle University, located on the second floor of Vi Hilbert Hall, is a vital resource that offers assistance to students in topics such as tuition and fees, financial aid, scholarships and more! Our conversation was helpful for our Marketing and Financial Literacy departments in particular, as we got to discuss the resources that are available at the Student Financial Services at Seattle University, and identify the patterns and behaviors of students, and how we can cater our initiative towards them. Jordan’s support and insights mean so much to our students and community. We hope to collaborate in the future! #SeattleUniversity #CreditUnionInitiative #GuestSpeaker #Students #StudentRun

We had the pleasure of hosting guest speaker Ron Crawford, VP of Finance at BECU, who has had decades of experience in the finance field! It was a great learning session for our students, especially for our finance department, who got to learn about Ron’s background and share some of our current projects and accomplishments! Ron brought a wealth of knowledge from his extensive career in the credit union industry, providing feedback on our business plan and early financial projections. Through his thoughtful questions and expert advice, Ron challenged us to refine our models and think strategically about key aspects within our initiative. His insights sparked meaningful conversations and gave us a clearer understanding of how to strengthen our approach. The Seattle University Credit Union Initiative is passionate about equipping students with financial literacy and opportunities for students to develop critical skills. We are truly grateful for Ron’s time and expertise and look forward to collaborating with him again in the future! #finance #creditunions #seattleuniversity #studentinitiative

Last week, SUCUI hosted its very first “Friendsgiving” for our dedicated student interns, marking a special moment for the initiative! Organized by our thoughtful HR team, this event was designed as a small celebration for the hard work our student interns have put in, and as a chance for everyone to connect on a more personal level. Building a welcoming and positive company culture has been a key focus for our HR department. “At SUCUI, company culture is the foundation that drives innovation, collaboration, and a shared sense of purpose. A strong culture ensures that every team member is aligned with our mission, empowering us to tackle challenges and grow together in a fast-paced startup environment,” says Sarah Rauf, CPO. SUCUI is more than just an initiative—we’re a community. We’re committed to supporting not only our future members, but also the students who make this initiative possible. Here’s to creating meaningful connections and a culture of trust and collaboration! #creditunions #studentinitiative #companyculture #seattleuniversity

We had the privilege of hosting Joe Adamack, VP of Legislative Affairs for Go West Credit Union Association, as a guest speaker at a recent meeting! Joe shared valuable insights on the vital role credit unions play in advocating for better financial policies and the impact of legislation on the financial services industry. His expertise and thoughtful discussion provided our members with a deeper understanding of the intersection between advocacy, financial literacy, and policy-making. The Seattle University Credit Union Initiative is committed to educating students on the power of financial literacy and empowering them to become proactive participants in shaping their financial futures. Having leaders like Joe Adamack share their knowledge and experience with our initiative helps us move closer to our goal of fostering a financially literate and empowered community. A sincere thank you to Joe for taking the time to speak with us! #FinancialLiteracy #CUAdvocacy #GuestSpeaker #SeattleUniversity #CreditUnionInitiative #Leadership #Empowerment #Education