One Saskatchewan Young Leader’s Story – Todd MacMurchy

As Retail Manager of Raymore Credit Union, Saskatchewan Young Leader, Todd MacMurchy, shares his story of success as a leader in the credit union system.

Vince Lombardi once wrote “Leaders aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that’s the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.”  Todd MacMurchy is no stranger to this tale as he worked his way to Retail Manager, one of four executive management positions, at Raymore Credit Union.

As Retail Manager, Todd is responsible for the day to day operations of his credit union. He leads his team by example, but more importantly he gives his employees empowerment. “Giving employees the opportunity to provide their input into decisions gives them a great sense of buy-in and the feeling of empowerment as they are also contributing to the success of the credit union. We make a lot of decisions together which in turn forms a great team.”

There are many qualities that make a very valuable and effective leader. When we asked Todd what the most important quality of a leader is, his answer – “Confidence”.

“This quality can make you or break you as a leader. You must remember you have been selected as a leader in your organization, and a good leader must be confident in order to make decisions that people will follow. You must ensure that the people you lead have respect and confidence in you. Whether it’s a major decision in your organization, or socializing with your peers, make sure that your confidence always shows.”

We asked Todd for any tips on what emerging young leaders can do on their pathway to success. They are:

1. Continually develop on a professional and personal level – Surround yourself with leaders in the CU system. Introduce yourself, have the courage and confidence to talk to the leaders of other organizations. You’ll find it to be most beneficial and will pay off in the future. Attend as many personal development sessions as you can (Leadership, Coaching, etc.), and continue your development for the future leader that you will become.
2. Ensure that your voice is heard – Don’t be afraid to talk to your supervisor / manager. Have that conversation with your CEO. Let your voice be heard, and be confident in yourself and what you have to say.

“Every day is not an easy day. Leaders of an organization must always be on top of issues and strategies to ensure the success of their organization. But great responsibility comes great reward. In order to succeed, you have to have the ability to lead. Be confident in yourself and your abilities. And you have to have passion – if you love coming to work and enjoy what you do every day, you will succeed.”

Todd has had a lot of people influence his life in the ways of development and leadership. “We live in a smaller community and it shows when you walk through the front door of Raymore Credit Union. We know our members, and we know our co-workers. We are a tight knit family here and we do a lot together. I surround myself with great people. In addition to the great people I know in the CU system and my Master’s Degree in Business, I would have to say that success and leadership was first instilled in me and was forever cultured in my life from my father. He is a great coach and leader. I thank him for everything he has taught me. I have used many of his teachings in my life and feel I am a better person and leader because of it.”

“Experience tells you what to do; confidence allows you to do it.” – Stan Smith

Todd MacMurchy
Raymore Credit Union, Retail Manager