In what is a recurring feature, Finopotamus spotlights innovative women who are positively impacting technology applications in the credit union industry, and beyond. For this issue, we visited with Sarah Schedler, executive vice president of talent at the Phoenix-based Kinective.
By W.B. King
Beginning her career in 2007 in recruiting and human resources, Sarah Schedler’s professional trajectory took an interesting turn in 2010 when she joined MRI Software. Here her interest in technology gained serious momentum.
“As a human resources professional, I wanted to be in an industry that was constantly evolving and attracting top talent. While tech wasn’t my initial target, I quickly realized it offered the challenges and opportunities I craved,” Schedler told Finopotamus. She held several positions at MRI Software, including human resources manager, director of talent management and senior vice president of global talent management and facilities.
“Now, more than a decade later, I’m still learning and continually inspired by the incredible talent I work with and the fast-paced nature of this industry,” she said, noting that she became Kinective’s executive vice president of talent in 2023.
Inclusive Business Practices
Over the past 14 years, she believes there have been several significant changes in the workplace, especially relating to diversity.
“Diversity means different things to different people, but in tech, diversity of thought and talent is particularly crucial,” she shared. “By hiring candidates with diverse skill sets and backgrounds, companies can significantly enhance their workplace culture while also having a positive impact on innovation.”
Executives in many organizations, she explained, have embraced diversity practices to attract top talent because job seekers want to work for organizations that align with these values and goals.
“Leadership has recognized the importance of retaining talented employees by fostering an inclusive workplace,” she said. “In human resources, our role is to hire individuals who strive for excellence, while considering the human element of our decisions and their broader impact on the organization.”
These inclusive business practices have also resulted in more women being welcomed in the tech space, Schedler said, but added that there is still room for improvement.
“More women are realizing the benefits of working in tech and more employers are investing in the resources to make a career in tech more appealing,” she continued. “Since I started my career, there are certainly more women in the industry but still not enough. Tech companies are creating workplaces where women can thrive, prioritizing flexibility and work life balance.”
Among challenges professional women face is striking a work-life balance, which requires employers to be more understanding, she noted.
“In many cases, women have responsibilities outside of work like managing homes and families. Flexibility has become the industry standard, allowing more women to balance their personal and professional lives while still achieving career success,” she said. “I believe we’ll see even more women entering the tech sector as they realize they can elevate their careers and still enjoy well-rounded lives.”
Schedler noted a previous senior leader, a mentor, who was always eager to champion women at work. This gentleman had two daughters and understood the value of women in the workplace and investing in their success, she noted.
“He has shared so much about how to work in technology, elevate yourself through leadership and be a successful role model to others,” she said. “Learning from him has given me the confidence and business acumen to make it as far as I have in my career.”
To pay it forward, she thrives on coaching and mentoring people at Kinective. “When my team is successful, I am successful, so investing time and energy into making sure they are reaching their goals is a win for all of us,” she continued. “Everyone wants to be in a workplace where they feel like they can make a difference and have a true impact on the organization. I always strive to instill this confidence in my colleagues.”
Empowering Credit Unions
With its motto “Connect to the future of banking,” Kinective (a merger of CFM, IMM/eSign and NXTsoft), which recently acquired Nexus Software, offers Our Banking Ops Platform solution.
This suite of connectivity and automation solutions is designed to bridge legacy financial systems and modern digital banking services.
Counting credit unions as clients, Schedler said the company’s 272 employees all work toward a common goal: accelerate transformation that enables financial institutions to compete in respective markets by delivering “superior customer experiences and banking services.”
Credit unions, she said, have a long, celebrated history of providing the best possible experience to members and their communities. “As member expectations and desires evolve, credit unions are of course racing to adapt to those needs, and fintechs are a crucial aspect of making this possible,” she noted, adding that importance of connecting with like-minded partners.
“I believe that in prior years, many fintechs didn’t fully understand the unique mission and corresponding requirements of credit unions,” she said. “Now more than ever, fintechs are understanding that they have a symbiotic relationship with credit unions, where one can’t necessarily exist without the other.”
In this post-pandemic era, she also said that many members seek personal banking experiences and crave authentic interactions. “Credit unions truly value their members’ financial health and success and bring that important human aspect to all interactions,” she noted. “With the help of fintechs, credit union cores and services are only beginning to improve to fulfill their mission.”
Moving forward, she said that it’s vital to the longevity of the industry that credit unions partner with fintechs, ensuring that all preferred aspects of the member banking experience, from in-branch to digital, are factored into the strategy.
“Regional and local credit unions support their communities and provide opportunities to a broader net of people,” she said. “Fintechs support this by empowering credit unions with access to innovative technologies that allow them to keep up with competition and truly serve their members with care.”