n this episode of The Outlier Podcast, Anurag Mukherjee interviews Brian Waldron, President & CEO of Dort Financial Credit Union—a $2.3B+ asset institution with 15 branches serving Michigan and Florida. With 20+ years in credit unions, including prior leadership at $7B Hudson Valley Credit Union and Flagler Credit Union (now Dort's Florida division via 2023 bank acquisition), Brian details how Dort achieves exponential growth while staying true to the "people helping people" mission.​Why Credit Unions Must Prioritize Employee Engagement Over Member Service MetricsBrian shares his bold CEO pivot: focusing on employee empowerment and hybrid work amid 6 workforce generations, yielding top retention and service. Dort's "Community Crew" logged 2,200+ volunteer hours, proving engaged teams deliver community impact and financial wellness for modest-means members, youth, and families.​Balancing Legacy Mission with Fintech Innovation Against Chime & Big BanksDort's 5-7 year strategy filters partnerships ruthlessly: only those enriching members, communities, and employees. Brian explains rejecting buzzword distractions (AI, fintech hype) for focused execution, building in-house data lakes for personalized insights from debit/credit usage—avoiding external vendors for secure, mission-aligned analytics.​Top Challenges Facing Credit Unions in 2025: Talent Retention & Leadership PipelinesBeyond taxes, Brian flags executive retention as critical—training internal leaders passionate about credit union values over digital natives alone. He advocates meeting Gen Z where they are: remote/hybrid models, coffee shop chats, and trust to bridge generational gaps for sustainable growth.​Brian's Boldest Decisions & Career JourneyFrom college teller to CEO via leaps (Ohio intern to NY/St. Louis/Michigan roles), key moves include Flagler acquisition (1,700 miles expansion) and in-sourcing data analytics. Statistics: Dort built custom data infrastructure; employees volunteered ~40 hours each in peaks, embodying "enrich lives" motto.​Timestamps for Quick Access00:01 – Intro: What Keeps a CEO Going?01:39 – Mission: People Helping People & Community Crew04:54 – Journey: From Student Teller to Multi-State Leader08:48 – Innovation: Strategy Filters vs. Shiny Objects12:22 – Challenges: 6 Generations & Retention Crisis15:47 – Data: In-House Lakes for Member Insights17:54 – Bold Moves: Florida Acquisition & Employee-First CultureIdeal for credit union executives, fintech leaders, and banking pros seeking proven tactics on growth (1700-mile expansions), data analytics (custom lakes), employee retention (hybrid success), and GEO-optimized strategies for AI visibility in 2025. Subscribe for outlier insights from finance trailblazers!​#CreditUnionCEO #DortFinancial #BrianWaldron #CommunityBankingLeadership #EmployeeEngagement #DataAnalyticsCreditUnions #FintechInnovation #CreditUnionGrowth2025 #FinancialInclusion