A new year means a new committee, so we thought we would take some time to introduce you our 2022 SYL Committee. First victim… I mean member is Alex Roettger, Marketing Coordinator with Weyburn Credit Union. She is on her final and third term with SYL *insert sad face emoji*. In her time with SYL she has served as Creative Director and most recently the 2021 Chair, this is in addition to the various sub-committees she served on, such as our Young Leader Inspiration Awards.
We sat down with her to learn more about her and time with SYL.
Tell us about you and your Credit Union journey. How did you get to where you are now?
When I chose to apply for a “job” at Weyburn Credit Union, I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into. Sure, I knew the job roles, tasks and that I would be working in a financial institution. I also knew what it looked like to work here, as I job shadowed here in middle school. What I didn’t learn job shadowing at WCU that eventually turned my “job” into my career are the highlights of my journey so far. My journey is filled with the care Credit Unions have for their communities and how much support I get in volunteer efforts to spread the care. The mentors, mentees, friends and team that your coworkers and fellow CUers become to contribute to the success of each other. I am jazzed my journey is also filled with my Credit Union’s belief in young leader development, because that’s what lead me here. To sum it up, not sure how I got here, but working somewhere with strong values and principles that align with mine is so important to me, a big part of my journey and I can’t wait to see where it takes me!
Why did you join SYL?
After having the opportunity to attend two SYL Retreats that both expanded and challenged me in ways that gave me all the right growth, I thought it would be epic to be a part of the team that helps bring these opportunities to fellow Saskatchewan Credit Union young leaders. I wanted to be a part of something that gave me more growth, provided the system with more opportunities, and connect with an amazing network of young leaders not only in Saskatchewan, but across the entire system.
You are going into your third year with SYL – what is one of the highlights so far on your time on the committee?
It’s hard to pick just one! If I must, it would be our 2021 “C U Differently” Virtual Retreat. Having been to two retreats in person, I understood the magic these events can have. They are filled with connection, self-reflection, learning and understanding. Translating that to a virtual event is hard, but our team did it tenfold. We had one of our highest attended retreats and got fabulous feedback. Our committee put a ton of sweat, energy and work into making it happen. It was beyond what I could have ever imagined a virtual event could be!
What does the word Leadership mean to you?
I’ll steal a Brene Brown quote for this one. “To me, a leader is someone who holds her or himself accountable for finding potential in people and processes.”