Date of Award
8-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Executive Leadership
First Supervisor
Guillermo Montes, PhD
Second Supervisor
Erika McBride, CPA, EdD
Abstract
U.S. credit unions hold a unique opportunity to improve the negative relationship between increasing asset size and female representation in the role of president and CEO. Credit unions under $20 million in assets have a 72.3% representation of women in the CEO role, while credit unions over $1 billion in assets have a 19.6% representation of women in the CEO role. This study gathered perceptions of credit union leadership and gender from six participants who were women holding CEO roles at U.S. credit unions over $500 million in assets. This study focused on the representation of women in the CEO role at credit unions relative to asset size. The study resulted in a theory pointing to the interplay of multiple challenges that are keeping women from holding a higher percentage of the large credit union CEO roles. The study resulted in recommendations to relieve the undue burden of the challenges as well as amplify supports. Recommendations to the industry include providing opportunities for training outside of a CEO candidate’s credit union, expanding scholarship opportunities, and enhanced guidance for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Recommendations to boards of directors include leading efforts to encourage DEI and journey mapping the path to the CEO role. Recommendations to current CEOs include assessing the current organizational structure, preparing multiple potential successors, and prioritizing industry exposure for high- potential individuals. Recommendations for women seeking CEO roles include gathering broad experience and credentials, building a professional network, and setting and vocalizing career goals.
Recommended Citation
Watkins, Paige Elizabeth-Rose, "Women in Credit Union Leadership: A Grounded Theory Study of Chief Executive Officers" (2024). Education Doctoral. Paper 609.
https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/education_etd/609
Please note that the Recommended Citation provides general citation information and may not be appropriate for your discipline. To receive help in creating a citation based on your discipline, please visit http://libguides.sjfc.edu/citations.