Empowering Impact
Empowering Impact is The Foundation’s podcast highlighting the impact of the credit union system on people’s financial lives. Here we’ll talk with credit union leaders who are and have made an outstanding impact on the credit union system. These stories of impact are available because of supporters like you who believe in the work of The Foundation and our mission to improve people’s financial lives! Together we make all the difference.
Empowering Impact
Nanci Wilson
In this episode, Jenni sits down with Nanci Wilson, Vice President at Luminate and a 2015 Development Education (DE) alum, to explore her powerful and deeply personal journey through the credit union system.
Nanci shares how her career began not with a dream of working in finance, but with a simple ask for help. As a new mother facing a medical crisis and struggling financially, she was denied a small loan at a traditional bank. But when she turned to a local credit union, she was met with empathy and dignity. That moment sparked her desire to be part of a movement that prioritizes people over profit. Starting as a teller, Nanci quickly rose through the ranks, fueled by her passion for service and the belief that small acts of kindness can create life-changing impact.
Her experience in the DE program became a defining turning point. What began as a nervous leap into an unfamiliar environment turned into a profound realization: that she didn’t need to water down who she was to belong. DE affirmed her compassion, her empathy, and her drive to serve others and ultimately inspired her to lead with authenticity. Today, she credits that experience as the moment that solidified her commitment to the credit union mission.
Nanci also reflects on her first DE project, “Seeds to Save,” a youth program teaching kids about gardening, entrepreneurship, and saving for the future. Though she jokes about her own lack of gardening skills, the project taught lasting lessons about resilience, financial literacy, and community impact.
She speaks candidly about what drives her: the belief that if you “see a need, fill a need,” and that creating space for people to feel seen, heard, and supported -whether in a branch, a classroom, or a community garden - is the essence of the credit union difference.
Nanci encourages professionals at every stage of their career to experience DE, noting its power to both ignite new passion and rekindle long-standing purpose. Whether you're new to the movement or a seasoned credit union leader, her story is a powerful reminder that growth often begins with discomfort and that empathy and authenticity are the keys to lasting impact.
Tune in for a joyful, inspiring conversation that celebrates resilience, connection, and the enduring heart of the credit union philosophy.
Together, we can make all the difference. Until next time, your National Credit Union Foundation.
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