Automation Knowledge Sharing Credit Unions

NextFutureToday - Episode 28: Wide Open Future

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Hi Next Future Today listeners,

We’re excited to bring you the latest episode, where our host Dan Keldsen, Chief Innovation Officer of Infocap, sits down with Dr. Lamont Black, founder of Wide Open Ventures and a research fellow with the Filene Research Institute—a think tank devoted to the evolving world of credit unions.

Here’s a quick dive into the key takeaways:

1. The Filene Research Institute & the Credit Union of the Future
Dr. Black explains Filene’s unique approach to research: pragmatic, experiment-focused, and built by and for credit unions. Unlike traditional banks, credit unions are cooperatives—owned by members, not investors—which creates a distinctive culture and set of opportunities for innovation.

2. Storytelling & Innovation Mindset
Bringing research to life, Dr. Black recounted how storytelling—like his “A Credit Union Carol”—can unlock new ways for leaders and teams to think about change. Innovation isn’t just about the latest technology; it’s about mindset shifts at every level, from leadership to frontline staff. As Dr. Black puts it: “Credit unions are full of innovative people, but you have to unlock that potential.”

3. Technology, Legacy Systems, and AI
Legacy core banking systems remain a big challenge, but the credit union space is ripe for building new data layers—think data lakes and warehouses—on top of the systems you already have. Dr. Black predicts that generative AI and self-service analytics will empower staff to serve members more personally and efficiently.

4. The People-First Mission Still Matters
Despite all the tech talk, credit unions are still about people helping people. The challenge? Translating that heart and mission into digital experiences, using data and AI to give members individualized service—wherever they are.

5. Lean Innovation & Resourcefulness
Credit unions may not have infinite resources, but Dr. Black encourages embracing a lean, experimental mindset: try, iterate, learn, and grow. Automation and AI shouldn’t be seen as threats to jobs, but as tools to free staff for higher-value, more meaningful work.

As always, thanks for listening. If you find these episodes useful, hit reply and tell us what topics you want us to dive into next—or share this email with someone who could use a new perspective on the Wide Open Future of Credit Unions and *any* organization shifting from Tradition to Transformation.

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The NextFutureToday Team at infocap.ai - the Human-Centric Automation Company

P.S. Put your future into action today—not someday!

 

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