In May 2025, the Canadian Credit Union Association (CCUA) announced a bold new initiative—one born from a challenge to spark change, transform credit union executive teams, and elevate female leaders.
CCUA partnered with renowned leadership strategist Erin Harris to create the Ascent CEO Accelerator Program, a purpose-built leadership development experience designed to advance Canada’s most exceptional C-suite women within the credit union sector into CEO roles.
Women have long earned their place at the decision-making table. This is the moment to accelerate that progress. Held annually, Ascent is more than a curriculum; it’s a transformational experience designed for a select group of high-potential women ready to step into the highest levels of leadership within credit unions. Grounded in extensive consultation with current and former credit union executives and informed by cutting-edge leadership practices, the program provides a unique lens on both the opportunities within the sector and the barriers females must overcome to reach top roles.
The 2025 cohort is underway and will combine mentorship, current leader expertise, and executive leadership best practices to elevate the inaugural group to new levels. Structured over nine months, the program features six high-impact modules designed to equip participants with the mindset, skills, and presence to be a high performing credit union CEO. The program is built around the following key focus areas:
- Direction Setting
- Organizational Alignment
- Mobilizing Leaders
- Board Engagement
- Stakeholder Connection
- Personal Effectiveness
Additional Program Features
Each participant also benefits from a range of powerful supports designed to accelerate their professional development:
- Monthly one-on-one leadership coaching to accelerate learning and overcome leadership roadblocks
- Peer mastermind and leadership workshops fostering collaboration and strategy
- ‘Superpower Hour’ workshops with insights from credit union leaders and experts
- A dedicated female credit union CEO mentor will be paired with each participant to offer guidance and support throughout the program
Nomination Process
2026 Nominations Open Fall 2025
Credit union CEOs will be invited to nominate exceptional women leaders who demonstrate a strong track record of leadership, readiness, and aspiration to move into a CEO role, and commitment to their professional advancement. The nomination and selection process runs from November to February, with the new cohort announced in early March. Each cohort kicks off in-person at the CCUA Conference in May and runs for approximately nine months.
Want to learn more about the barriers women face in reaching top leadership roles today? Hear insights on the internal and systemic challenges women encounter from current credit union leaders, and how this program aims to bridge the gap and foster true gender equity at the C-suite level.