Women in Technology: Origence’s Marlene Juarez

In the latest installment in our “Women in Technology” series, we visited with Origence’s Vice President of Professional Services and Training Marlene Juarez. 

By W.B. King

Learning about the bridge between lending and technology was among the lessons Marlene Juarez learned when she joined Origence as a credit union account manager in 2004.

“I worked closely with approximately 80 credit unions in the California market. In this role, I gained valuable insights into how our lending partners leveraged technology to address their unique needs,” she told Finopotamus. “This piqued my interest and a desire to explore how we could develop strategies to empower all credit union partners to maximize the effectiveness of their solutions.”

Marlene Juarez

Prior to this role, she worked as a branch sales manager at HSBC Bank and later a vice president of lending at Raincross Credit Union. Today, she serves as vice president of professional services and training at the Irvine, Calif.-based Origence. The fintech offers end-to-end lending solutions to over 1,1000 financial institutions, including credit unions. 

In the early days of her career, Juarez said technology departments were primarily focused on operational tasks, such as purchasing and maintaining hardware and software to support their financial institutions.

“Today, technology departments have transformed into highly sophisticated, strategic divisions within organizations. They no longer only support functions but are often the primary drivers and decision-makers behind the products and services,” she shared. “Their scope has expanded to encompass critical areas like security, proactively identifying vulnerabilities, and ensuring the integrity of data flow in and out of the organization’s systems.”

The focus on data, she added, has also changed. “Modern technology departments are deeply involved in analyzing and leveraging data to guide the financial decisions and overall strategic direction of the institution.”   

Believing in Potential

While Juarez told Finopotamus that technology remains predominantly a male-dominated profession, she has noticed a significant increase in the number of women working in the space. “There has been a strong emphasis on fostering gender diversity, with initiatives such as offering internships and tailoring entry-level recruitment programs specifically for women,” she said.

Throughout her career, she has benefited from mentorship. Among those she noted were Nanci Morrison, a former branch sales manager at HSBC Bank. “She exemplified what it means to be a hardworking female professional and became a role model for the dedication and professionalism I strive to emulate,” Juarez said.

Former Origence regional vice president Marci Francisco also made the list. “Now serving as chief experience officer at Premier America Credit Union, she encouraged me to step beyond my comfort zone and take on new challenges, fostering my confidence in tackling greater responsibilities,” Juarez noted. Yet another champion is Origence Executive Vice President David Adams. “He has always believed in my potential as a leader and provided me with the opportunities to demonstrate and develop my leadership skills.”

Juarez pays it forward in numerous ways, including actively participating in formal mentorship programs like Origence’s Women in Leadership Development employee resource group and the National Association of Latino Credit Unions and Professionals.

“I also make it a priority to create an open and welcoming environment where team members feel comfortable reaching out to me for guidance. I strive to be approachable, offering constructive help and feedback,” she said, noting that the company has 647 employees. “In addition, I take intentional steps to create opportunities for my team members to showcase their skill sets, both at an organizational level and to external partners. By doing so, I aim to empower others while contributing to their growth.”

A Credit Union Family Approach

Juarez is encouraged that more credit unions are adopting intelligent underwriting technologies because it allows them to harvest their data to underwrite loans and expand instant decision-making capabilities. “By tailoring their strategies to align with their members’ profiles, credit unions can better meet the unique needs of their communities while improving efficiency and the overall experience.”

By being deeply rooted in the “people helping people” movement, she said that credit unions have an edge against competitors when it comes to technology.

“This shapes every decision related to products and services, ensuring that the focus remains on meeting the needs of members, who are not just customers but an integral part of the credit union community,” she continued. “The challenge lies in staying relevant to members as both consumers and part of the credit union family, while providing seamless, user-friendly experiences.”

Credit unions, she added, are always focused on maintaining affordable options for all members.  “This balance of prioritizing people over profits, combined with leveraging technology to enhance member experiences, makes credit unions distinct in their approach,” she said, noting the importance of partnering with fintechs that supports these strategies.

“Credit unions that team up with like-minded fintechs demonstrate a commitment to long-term strategic planning, ensuring their growth aligns with providing services that complement their mission and objectives,” she told Finopotamus. “These partnerships are valuable because they actively incorporate feedback from credit unions to develop initiatives that directly support strategic growth. It’s a collaboration that ensures the credit union’s vision and its members’ needs remain front and center.”