The year 2023 was an unexpectedly challenging year in the wake of the end of the pandemic as financial institutions faced the headwinds of significantly higher interest rates, tight liquidity and much higher customer expectations, said Jeff Meshey. He learned primarily that team members crave authenticity and vulnerability from their leaders more than ever before.
“In the past year, I’ve personally had some enriching experiences with vulnerability that have enhanced my communication style,” said the two-time Titan 100. “Ultimately, being vulnerable creates trust, which is a commodity that we are in desperate need of as we lead people through tumultuous times.”
Trust is at the forefront of his leadership style as the president and chief executive officer of Desert Financial Credit Union, an organization in the financial services industry that focuses on relationships to drive success. The organization shares its success because it’s the right thing to do – for its members, its community and its team.
“At Desert Financial, we believe in sharing success, and support community organizations through direct funds, which allows for more communities to be served and gives more opportunities for volunteers to join causes they care about,” said Meshey. The organization is the primary sponsor of the 1 Darn Cool School which continues patients’ education while they undergo treatment at Phoenix Children’s, and the organization’s team has donated over $625,000 to nine local nonprofits across Arizona with its 2024 Employee Giving Campaign.
In addition to these accomplishments for the community, Desert Financial Credit Union won an RFP against several banks to become the official retail banking partner of Arizona State University under Meshey’s leadership. This partnership plays a significant role in improving access to higher education for the organization’s employees as Desert Financial Credit Union becomes the exclusive provider of ASU-branded debit and credit cards while managing all on-campus bank branches and ATMs.
As a 30-year employee of the credit union, Meshey said the most important attributes of successful leaders today are strategic agility and the ability to lead through change. “Given the speed at which the world of work is evolving since the pandemic, it’s critical that leaders pay close attention to the trends and new demands of customers and staff,” he said.
Fostering his team is also critical to Meshey, who leads monthly leadership meetings inspired by the book “Drive” by Daniel Pink. “My secret superpower is being able to make critical decisions in a timely fashion and drive the organization forward,” he said. “These decisions and many more have solidified my role as a driving force in our organization.”
