James Lawrence - the Iron Cowboy - is the only person to complete 50 Ironmans in 50 days across all 50 states - and then raise the bar again with 100 Ironmans in 100 consecutive days.

But this keynote isn’t just about breaking records - it’s about setting new standards.

Through raw storytelling, behind-the-scenes insights, and a high-energy, multimedia experience, James challenges audiences to rethink what they believe is possible - not just physically, but mentally, professionally, and personally. He equips them to win the internal battle, push through self-doubt, and reset under pressure - especially when everything in them wants to quit.

Because when you change your internal narrative, you don’t just break limits - you redefine them.

If your team is navigating change, chasing big goals, or feeling stuck, James won’t just inspire them. He’ll equip them with a blueprint to unlock untapped performance and turn the impossible into the next milestone.

Because the finish line isn’t out there somewhere - it starts with one step, one promise, one “Here we go.”

This session will focus on building an understanding of current and next generation vulnerabilities and provide you with key considerations for strengthening your risk posture across the entire organization.

This dynamic panel brings together experienced executives and emerging leaders to explore the essential skills tomorrow’s credit union professionals need to thrive in an evolving financial landscape.

We’ll talk openly about how to move beyond risk aversion, strengthen board alignment around strategy, and give leadership teams some helpful tools to move forward.

This session introduces Narrative Intelligence as a powerful leadership tool for credit union executives.

Credit union leaders are navigating unprecedented change - AI adoption is inevitable, but so are the risks. Dr. Waller reveals how the most successful leaders in finance are turning anxiety into a competitive advantage by building strong personal brands that create member trust even as technology evolves.

Through practical exercises and live AI demonstrations, discover how to position yourself as the trusted guide your members need while enhancing operational efficiency. Learn to manage both AI tools and your leadership presence strategically, because when technology changes everything, your professional credibility, network and trust becomes your institution’s most valuable asset.

This session will clarify the mystery of what user experience is, and how to incorporate UX into Agile and Sprints within a financial institution.

 

This session is your intervention and your roadmap. We’ll tackle the habits that quietly kill morale, stall performance and drive your best people away, all under the guise of being “helpful.” You’ll learn how to lead with clarity, give feedback that actually works and build trust without letting go of high standards.

This presentation delves into the emergence of deepfake technology as an imminent threat to credit unions. Attendees will also get effective strategies to better identify, prevent, and combat these threats to protect your members and ensure the organization’s overall resilience.

Drawing from decades of experience with complex organizations, Bill will show how to embed innovation into everyday operations so your credit union anticipates change instead of reacting to it. 

GWLN and Bridging the Gender Gap. Why are we still talking

Constant challenges are abundant in today’s world, and the power of self-leadership has never been more vital to success. Burnout levels are rising. Changes in business are happening at lightning speed. And employee engagement is plummeting.

It’s time for a U-turn. Learn how to redirect your leadership strategies, energy, and mindset to love your work and life.

Based on real-life experiences, case studies and interviews, and backed with psychological and behavioral science, this keynote will have you thinking, laughing, and opening your mind to new strategies for self-leadership, happiness, and success.

This panel discussion will explore how credit unions can take a more intentional, strategic approach to evaluating their tech stack, moving beyond being a passive customer to becoming a true partner in innovation.

 

In this forward-thinking session, Julie explores how agile and adaptable leadership models are reshaping today’s workplaces.

This session explores how organizations can bridge the gap between strategic planning and real-world results by focusing on effective execution and resource alignment.

This is a ticketed event. 

When a group of prominent researchers first set out to discover how effective leaders behave, they found those individuals consistently engaged in a series of exemplary daily practices. 

They also concluded they scored 110% higher on measures of overall leadership effectiveness; were ranked 140% higher than those who didn’t demonstrate the same practices; and scored 135% higher on measures of trust by the people who worked for them. 

In this presentation, Drew Dudley teaches audiences an actionable process to model these exemplary practices and achieve the same measured results. Targeted at “culture creators and enablers” within an organization, audiences will gain a clearer picture of how to use values and action-driving questions to make normally unconscious behaviors a more consistent part of their lives and careers. In doing so, they will be better equipped to engage with their lives and work in a more positive, meaningful, and impactful manner. 

Honest, engaging, and above all useful, audiences will leave this presentation having gained clarity on how to lead with purpose and move the leadership narrative away from power and influence towards a more inclusive form centered upon who they are and how they behave.