Episode 174: Making Development Popular with Desert Financial Credit Union

The 90th Percentile: An Unconventional Leadership Podcast

Published: September 24, 2025

Details

In this episode of The 90th Percentile, we sit down with Kathleen Crenshaw and Christopher Bisgrove from Desert Financial Credit Union to explore how they are rethinking leadership development and investing in people. From building programs that reach leaders earlier in their careers to making learning opportunities more accessible, Desert Financial shares the principles and practices behind their growth. Their story highlights what it looks like when a financial institution prioritizes people as much as performance.

Key Points

  1. Early investment in leaders pays off – Developing leadership skills at the start of a career builds confidence and sets a foundation for long-term success.
  2. Accessibility drives engagement – Leadership development should not be reserved for executives; broad access creates a stronger leadership pipeline.
  3. Culture of learning sustains growth – Embedding leadership development into the culture ensures learning continues beyond formal programs.
  4. Practical experiences matter – Rotations, projects, and hands-on opportunities accelerate growth more effectively than classroom training alone.
  5. People-first strategies strengthen organizations – By putting leadership growth at the center, Desert Financial connects employee development with business results.

Webinar

Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman and join in a conversation about their latest research in leadership development. Find out more information and register here.