From left to right: Judith Nzioka, Coastal Community Branch Manager Andrew Crosby, and Gladys Bichanga meet at Coastal Community’s Southgate Community Branch in Nanaimo
VANCOUVER ISLAND – Credit union leaders Judith Nzioka and Gladys Bichanga are spending 10 days learning the ins and outs of Coastal Community Credit Union. Coastal Community is hosting the Kenyan women from October 13 to 21 through the Women’s Mentorship Program, developed by the Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada. The annual international co-operative mentoring program is a mutual learning opportunity for both Canadian credit unions and female managers of overseas financial co-operatives.
Judith Nzioka comes to the program from the Kenya National Police Savings and Credit Co-operative (SACCO) Society Ltd. and works as a branch manager. Gladys Bichanga is a Banking Services Manager with Ukulima SACCO Society Ltd., which is headquartered in Nairobi. Both women will spend the week immersed in the activities of every department of the largest credit union based on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Their job-shadow includes loan portfolios, reducing loan delinquency, credit union leadership, marketing, governance, and human resource management.
Judith is particularly looking forward to learning how Coastal Community enhances business planning and growth while keeping an eye on effectiveness and efficiency. Another area of interest is understanding more about the organization’s internal control systems.
Gladys would like to know more about the way Coastal Community reduces loan delinquency, mitigates credit union risks like cybercrime, and grows employee leadership skills. Both women will pass on what they’ve learned to their respective organizations when they return home.
Coastal Community is a longstanding supporter of the mentorship program. “The Women’s Mentorship Program is an absolute gift for us,” says Karla Rhode, Talent Acquisition Manager with the credit union. “While we offer advice, guidance and tools for consideration and implementation in mentees’ home credit unions, the learning goes both ways. We gain considerable knowledge from the women’s rich questions, shared areas of concern and their diverse cultures, family and life experiences.”
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