Education is key to advancing credit union women in leadership by providing them with the opportunity and resources to make a measurable difference in their own life, the lives of their credit union members, and their communities. The PA Sister Society’s education committee is dedicated to providing meaningful and impactful content, speakers and networking that will help to enhance the lives of our PA Sister Society members of the GWLN, so that they leave each meeting with something that will help to enrich their career and personal lives.

Join us at an upcoming meeting:

In-Person Event

October 11, 2023

9:30 a.m. – 1:30 a.m.
Suits and Skirts: Game On! The battle for corporate power.

Join in on this lively discussion which will confirm unequivocally that there is a corporate problem of inequality – even if you don’t think so. The research is crystal clear: Elevating women into corporate leadership is good for business. Freeborn will show just how women are consciously or unconsciously held back from positions of senior decision making and most importantly, demonstrate how to change this corporate culture. Freeborn’s remarks are based on her best-selling book “Suits and Skirts: Game On!” which focuses on recognizing the situation we are in and strategizing how to effect meaningful, quantifiable change.

Give Back: Donate personal hygiene items to support women and girls in need. Items will be distributed across the state!

Contact pasistersociety@vfccu.org for event details and registration.

Past educational opportunities:

August 15, 2023

1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Sister Society Ted Talks Tuesday

We will be watching the Ted Talks together and doing small breakout sessions to discuss. This session topic will be Adam Galinsky – How to Speak Up for Yourself. Feel free to watch the video ahead of the session. Adam Galinsky teaches people all over the world how to inspire others, speak up effectively, lead teams and negotiate successfully. Speaking up is hard to do, even when you know you should. Learn how to assert yourself, navigate tricky social situations and expand your personal power with sage guidance from social psychologist Adam Galinsky.

Adam Galinsky – How to Speak Up for Yourself – Ted Talk Video

May 16, 2023

1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Sister Society Ted Talks Tuesday

This Ted Talk session topic focused on Alison Ledgerwood’s – Getting Stuck in the Negatives? Alison Ledgerwood is interested in understanding how people think, and how they can think better. Her research, which is funded by the National Science Foundation, investigates how certain ways of thinking about an issue tend to stick in people's heads. Her classes on social psychology focus on understanding the way people think and behave in social situations, and how to harness that knowledge to potentially improve the social world in which we all live.

Alison Ledgerwood – Getting Stuck in the Negatives – Ted Talk Video

February 21, 2023

1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Sister Society Ted Talks Tuesday

This Ted Talk session topic focused on Renee Marino - Happiness is Not Where You're Looking. Renée Marino explains how the true and everlasting happiness we seek is not found by escaping our thoughts, feelings, and circumstances through digital technology.

Renee Marino – Happiness is Not Where You're Looking - Ted Talk Video

November 15, 2022

1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Sister Society Ted Talks Tuesday

This Ted Talk session topic focused on Wendy Suzuki - Brain Changing Effects of Exercise. "What's the most transformative thing you can do for your brain today? Exercise!" says neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki. Get inspired to go to the gym as Suzuki discusses the science of how working out boosts your mood and memory - and protects your brain against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

Wendy Suzuki - Brain Changing Effects of Exercise - Ted Talk Video

October 16, 2022

10:00 a.m - 12:00 p.m.
Speaker: Denise Gabel
Topic: The Can-Do-Mindset

This education session featured the International Bestseller, The Can-Do Mindset: How to Make Things Happen...With Enthusiasm. Denise's hand is stretched out, inviting you to stand in your authentic power, generate your own happiness, and create a vibe that attracts Can-doers. The Can-Do mindset will:

• Empower you to act, even during times when it's hard to realize that "can" is still in your vocabulary. Trust me. It never left.
• Uncover how the greatest power that you have isn't in a gym... it is built from within. There is power in choice- more power than you know.
• Give you permission to focus on accomplishing the right things, despite the circumstances.

Denise's book can be purchased at Amazon.com.

August 23, 2022

1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Sister Society Ted Talks Tuesday

This Ted Talk session topic focused on Robin Hauser – Likability For Women Leaders. When women lead, bias often follows. Documentarian Robin Hauser dives into the dilemma between competence and likability faced by women in leadership roles, detangling the unconscious beliefs and gendered thinking that distort what it means to be a good leader.

Robin Hauser – Likability For Women Leaders - Ted Talk Video

May 17, 2022

1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Sister Society Ted Talks Tuesday

This Ted Talk session topic focused on Andy Puddicombe – All it takes is 10 mindful minutes. When is the last time you did absolutely nothing for 10 whole minutes? Not texting, talking or even thinking? Mindfulness expert Andy Puddicombe describes the transformative power of doing just that: Refreshing your mind for 10 minutes a day, simply by being mindful and experiencing the present moment. (No need for incense or sitting in strange positions.)

Andy Puddicombe – All It Takes is 10 Mindful Minutes - Ted Talk Video

March 15, 2022

1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Sister Society Ted Talks Tuesday

This Ted Talk session topic focused on Lizzie Velasquez - How do you define yourself? In a time when beauty is defined by supermodels, success is defined by wealth, and fame is defined by now many followers you have on social media, Lizze Velasquez asks the question, "How do you define yourself?" Once labeled, "The Worlds Ugliest Women," Lizzie decided to turn things around and create her own definitions of what she defines as beauty and happiness.

Lizzie Velasquez - How do you define yourself? Ted Talk Video

November 16, 2021

1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Sister Society Ted Talks Tuesday

This Ted Talk session topic focused on Melinda Briana Epler – 3 Ways to be a Better Ally in the Workplace. "We're taught to believe that hard work and dedication will lead to success, but that's not always the case. Gender, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation are among the many factors that affect our chances," says writer and advocate Melinda Briana Epler, "and it's up to each of us to be allies for those who face discrimination."

Melinda Briana Epler – 3 Ways to be a Better Ally in the Workplace Ted Talk Video

September 21, 2021

1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Sister Society Ted Talks Tuesday

This Ted Talk session topic focused on Dr. Brene' Brown – Shame and Empathy. In an excerpt from her new psychoeducational shame-resilience curriculum, University of Houston researcher and educator Brené Brown discusses the destructive nature of shame and the healing power of empathy.

Dr. Brene Brown – Shame and Empathy Ted Talk Video

April 27, 2021

1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Sister Society Ted Talks Tuesday

This Ted Talk session topic focused on Margaret Heffernan - Dare to Disagree. Most people instinctively avoid conflict, but as Margaret Heffernan shows us, good disagreement is central to progress. She illustrates (sometimes counterintuitively) how the best partners aren't echo chambers -- and how great research teams, relationships and businesses allow people to deeply disagree.

Margaret Heffernan - Dare to Disagree Conversation Starter Ted Talk Video