CFTEA: The KEY to Your Next Step

About CFTEA: The KEY to Your Next Step

Hosted by CFTEA Executive Director, Andrew Lederer, this podcast is for anyone ready to grow, at work and in life. Through real conversations on career development, personal finance, leadership, and everyday decision-making, each episode helps you build confidence, understand the bigger picture, and keep moving forward. Because one of the best projects you will ever work on is yourself, and you don’t have to do it alone.

Publisher

Andrew Lederer

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 May 2026

Latest episode

1 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

10 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   1 Oct 2026

   Flexible Learning Doesn't Always Mean Self-Paced

   Most people don't need another goal. They need something that actually fits into their life. Tammy has spent 23 years at CFTEA watching adults try to learn while working full time, raising kids, and taking care of aging parents, and she knows the difference between a course someone signed up for and the one they actually needed. In this conversation we get into what "flexible" really means, why self-paced and guided learning aren't the same thing, and what happens behind the screen after you hit submit on an enrollment form. She also explains why she sometimes tells an organization that we don't want their money right now. If you've been putting off the next course because the timing never seems right, this one is for you. Visit cftea.org to find a course that fits your role and take the first step. CFTEA COURSES MENTIONED Principles of Banking — the three credit foundation. If a diploma is the goal, this is usually where to start. Banking Today — a shorter introduction to how banks operate and where your role fits. Modern Supervisor Certificate — ten short courses. Take the whole program, or take it in parts as your schedule allows. Introduction to Analyzing Financial Statements — balance sheet, income statement, cash flow, and how to read them. Money and Banking — heavy on economic formulas. Tammy's standing offer: send her the quiz set before you submit it.

2. 

   15 Sept 2026

   Do Your Job: The Career Skill Nobody Teaches You

   Accountability at work isn't about punishment. It's the career skill nobody teaches. In this episode, Andrew talks with Jessica Bollotta, Corporate Project Manager at Achieva Credit Union and longtime CFTEA instructor, about what it actually takes to do your job well AND hold others accountable when they don't do theirs, without making enemies. Fresh data from Gallup's 2026 State of the Global Workplace report frames why this skill matters more right now than at any point in the last five years. Jessica offers the reframe most people never get: accountability isn't the end of a rope, it's the beginning of trust. If you've ever felt stuck between covering for a coworker and calling out the pattern, this one is for you. Verified references●      Gallup 2026 State of the Global Workplace report:global employee engagement at 20%, manager engagement at 22% (down from 27% in 2025), total productivity cost of low engagement at approximately $10 trillion globally in 2025, equal to roughly 9% of global GDP. ●      Gallup 2025 State of the Global Workplace report: the2024 disengagement cost of $438 billion, engagement peaked at 23% in 2022-2023 before beginning the current decline. ●      Gallup Q2 2025 U.S. engagement measurement: only 47% of employees strongly agree they know what is expected of them at work. Down from approximately 55% pre-pandemic. Cross-generational; applies to entire workforce. ●      PMI 2024 Pulse of the Profession: organizations withformal accountability frameworks report 72% of projects meeting original scope and timeline; those without struggle with delays in 63% of projects. ●      American Psychological Association Work in America 2024 report: psychological safety and accountability are complementary, not opposed. Safety enables the honest feedback that accountability requires. ●      PwC 2024 Trust Survey: 22% of employees say they haveleft a company because of trust issues; 61% report that a perceived lack of trust from leadership affects their ability to do their jobs well. ●      Toxic workplace cost estimate: U.S. employers lostroughly $223 billion over five years due to toxic workplace culture (SHRM, cited in workplace research 2024-2025).

3. 

   1 Sept 2026

   Are These "Productivity Myths" Quietly Slowing You Down?

   Ever feel like you’re doing all the “right” things… and still falling behind? Wake up earlier. Do more. Set bigger goals. Stay busy. It all sounds great… until it doesn’t. In this episode, Andrew Lederer breaks down five common productivity myths that look good on paper but often work against you in real life. From the pressure of the 5am routine to chasing big goals that burn out fast, this conversation cuts through the noise and gets back to what actually works. Backed by research and real experience, you’ll hear why: Your wake-up time doesn’t determine your success Copying successful people rarely works the way you think Big goals can sometimes hold you back Visualization alone can reduce motivation Staying busy isn’t the same as moving forward This isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what works for you. If you’re ready for a more grounded approach to productivity, and want to build habits that actually stick, this episode will meet you where you are. 🎯 Plus, learn how CFTEA’s Productive Work Habits (https://cftea.org/product/productive-work-habits-2/)course helps you build real skills that carry into your day-to-day work, not just a curated version of success. Listen in, share it with someone who needs it, and take the next step forward, one decision at a time.

4. 

   15 Aug 2026

   The Map You Don't Have

   Eighty-six percent of new hires decide how long they will stay with a company within their first six months. Not their first six years. Six months. In this special conversation dropped in the middle of fall onboarding season, Andrew sits down with Jessi Jaquish of Union Bank of Vermont and New Hampshire, a CFTEA board member and the head of a two-person training department, about starting with no map, the one person who changed everything, and what it means to build the training you wish you'd had. They talk about career cushioning, why it goes in two directions, and what fellow employees and managers can do this week for somebody quietly deciding whether to stay. This one goes gently and lands somewhere honest. The map you don't have. Nobody walks in fully formed. Staying is often a decision you make before anybody else believes you should. And it usually isn't made alone. The person who hands you one. Careers turn on somebody who quietly decided to invest before you'd earned it. That person is sometimes a manager. Often a peer. Being that person for somebody else, once you know the difference it made, is the work. The map you build. The people who didn't have a training program are often the ones who end up building one. That isn't an accident. That's the shape leadership takes in a community bank. KEY DATA POINTS REFERENCED Enboarder 2025 HR Leader Survey: 86% of new hires decide how long they will stay with a company within their first six months, and 19.5% of HR leaders name lack of connection with team or culture as the second most common reason new hires leave early. SHRM turnover data: 20% of turnover happens within the first 45 days of employment. Robert Walters survey (cited by Workable, 2024): 68% of American workers are engaging in career cushioning. Fortune (November 2022) and Forbes (May 2026): coverage of the career cushioning trend and its shift from a fringe behavior to a mainstream coping strategy. One Small Thing You Can Do Today Think of one person on your team who is in their first ninety days. Not the person who's already thriving. The quieter one. The one who might be counting the polite ways to step away. Text them. Ask how you can support them. Give them one thing this week they can succeed at. Foundations in Banking Certificate: The 2026 anchor offer for people new to banking or new to a role, and the natural entry point for anybody in their first ninety days. ABA Principles of Banking: The foundation course that opens the door for people coming into banking from outside the industry. Frontline Fundamentals: A free transfer credit offering for community banks and credit unions onboarding new frontline employees this fall. Engaging Adult Learners: For the person tasked with training new hires and building the guides that didn't exist before. Guest Information Jessi Jaquish is a member of the CFTEA Board of Directors and works at Union Bank of Vermont and New Hampshire, where she leads a two-person training department serving the bank's employees across Vermont and New Hampshire. Her onboarding materials, including three separate guides of over two hundred pages each, a three-week new-hire plan, and a three-day orientation, are used across the institution. Jessi started her banking career as a Float Teller. Visit cftea.org to find a course that fits your role and take the first step.

5. 

   1 Aug 2026

   Cost vs Value - Is Learning from CFTEA Worth the Investment?

   What makes professional development truly worth it? In a world filled with nonstop webinar invites and training emails, it can be difficult to separate cost from real value. In this episode of The KEY to Your Next Step, CFTEA Executive Director Andrew Lederer explores an important question facing employees, managers, community banks, credit unions, and organizations everywhere: Is learning from CFTEA worth the investment? This conversation goes beyond pricing and digs into what meaningful workplace learning actually looks like. Andrew discusses the balance of cost vs. value and why support from employers matters more than many people realize. Using real student stories from community banks and credit unions, this episode explores: Cost vs. value in professional development Employee training fatigue and learning overload Why affordable education does not mean lower quality How community banks and credit unions support workforce growth The importance of flexibility, mentorship, and practical learning Why confidence changes careers and supports value How organizations build stronger teams through education Whether you are exploring banking education, leadership skills, workplace learning, career development, or professional certifications, this episode offers a thoughtful and practical conversation about what truly helps people grow. Because the true value of education is not simply what it costs. It is what it helps people become. Resources 3 Ways to Boost Retention Through Professional Development (Harvard Business Review) (https://hbr.org/2022/04/3-ways-to-boost-retention-through-professional-development)

6. 

   15 Jul 2026

   Stop Waiting for the Tap | Asking for Development at Work

   You've bookmarked the course. You've thought about the certification. You've watched a colleague get sent to a conference you would have killed to attend. And the conversation with your manager... still hasn't happened. In this episodeof The KEY to Your Next Step, Andrew Lederer goes into the ask most professionals never make, and the one their managers are actually hoping they'll bring. This isn't a "just ask for what you want" pep talk. Andrew tells the story from a manufacturing plant where he heard no for years, and from the other side of the desk as a VP of Learning and Development inside a community bank. He brings inthe 2023 Crowe Bank Compensation and Benefits Survey finding that lack of career development is now the number one reason employees leave banking jobs, ahead of pay. He gives you three ways to reframe the ask so your manager hears it as a return, not an expense. And he goes into the harder truth nobody else covers: what to do when you ask the right way and still get a no. Whether you're early in your career or deep in the middle of it, this one is for the person who's been waiting longer than they should have been. **Key topics in this episode:** - Why the "tap on the shoulder" you've been waiting for rarely comes - The manufacturing plant story that taught Andrew the no wasn't always about him - The 2023 Crowe Bank Compensation and Benefits Survey on career development and turnover - The LinkedIn finding that 94% of employees would stay longer for development - Three ways to frame an ask your manager will hear as a return - How to acknowledge cost out loud and position yourself like a leader - The difference between a budget no and a culture no, and why it matters - The short email that makes your next yes ten times easier - The role-read every professional needs to develop about their own environment **Referenced in this episode:** - 2023 Crowe Bank Compensation and Benefits Survey, Crowe LLP - LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report - CFTEA courses, certificates, and college-aligned diplomas (cftea.org) **Connect with CFTEA:** cftea.org **Follow CFTEA on LinkedIn** for upcoming courses, programs, and resources for financial services professionals.

7. 

   1 Jul 2026

   Dealing with Difficult People

   Ever walk away from a conversation and wonder why it stuck with you all day? Not a big argument. Just… draining. In this episode, Center for Financial Training and Education Alliance Executive Director Andrew Lederer and workplace communication expert Trevor break down how to deal with difficult people without losing your energy or focus. From chronic complainers to know-it-alls and subtle bullies, these behaviors show up everywhere. The goal is not to fix them, it is to handle the interaction and still move forward. You will learn how to: Recognize common difficult behaviors Understand why certain interactions linger Set boundaries and protect your time Stay focused when conversations shift Because you cannot control how others show up, but you can control how much they take with them when they leave. If you have ever replayed a conversation hours later, this one is for you. FURTHER RESOURCES: CFTEA Global Workplace Skills Library Working Effectively with Co-Workers

8. 

   1 Jun 2026

   The Connections That Change Careers

   What if one of the biggest factors shaping your career… isn’t your talent, but the relationships around you? In this episode, Andrew explores the real meaning of networking inside organizations and why authentic workplace relationships matter more than most people realize. Through personal stories, humor, research, and practical advice, Andrew breaks down why networking is not about using people for advancement, but about building trust, visibility, and genuine human connection over time. Drawing from the course Networking Within the Company and research featured in Harvard Business Review (https://hbr.org/2026/05/why-effective-leaders-get-branded-as-problems), this conversation covers: Why many professionals avoid networking at work How outdated workplace perceptions can quietly impact promotions The importance of visibility, trust, and relationship-building Common networking mistakes professionals make How to build meaningful connections without feeling fake or political Why professionalism, kindness, and consistency still matter in modern workplaces The hidden career value of listening, follow-through, and staying connected Andrew also shares a deeply personal story about an HR leader who helped shape the direction of his career, encouraged him to start college, helped secure company-paid tuition for his first Accounting course, and ultimately helped him see value in himself before he fully saw it on his own. If you’ve ever struggled with networking, felt overlooked professionally, or wondered how real workplace relationships impact career growth, this episode is for you. For more conversations around leadership, workplace communication, professional growth, and career development, explore CFTEA’s Global Workplace Skills Library. (https://cftea.org/product/cftea-global-workplace-skills-audio-library/) If this episode resonated with you, leave a comment, subscribe, and join the conversation. We’d love to keep it going.

9. 

   15 May 2026

   Breaking the Debt Cycle, Strategies for Financial Freedom

   What does it actually take to break out of the cycle of debt… and start moving toward financial freedom? In this episode, Andrew tackles a challenge that millions of people face every day, balancing the pressure to pay off debt while trying to build savings at the same time. With over 64% of credit card holders carrying balances month to month, this isn’t just a financial issue, it’s a real-life struggle that impacts stress, confidence, and long-term stability. Let's break it down in a way that feels clear and doable. In this conversation, you’ll hear: Why high-interest debt can quietly hold you back, and how to start tackling it? How to balance paying off debt while still building a safety net? The difference between the snowball and avalanche methods, and how to choose what works for you? Simple ways to take control of spending without feeling overwhelmed? Why consistency matters more than perfection when it comes to financial progress? This episode is a reminder that you don’t have to fix everything overnight. You just have to start. Because financial progress, just like personal growth, happens one step at a time. www.cftea.org

10. 

    1 May 2026

    The Power Behind the First Step

    What if the next step in your career isn’t about having all the answers, but simply being willing to take one step forward? In this first episode, Andrew kicks things off with a real conversation about growth, confidence, and what it actually takes to move forward, especially when you’re not sure you’re ready. Andrew shares his personal journey, from a rural upbringing to working full-time while going to school, and the moment a manager chose to invest in him when he needed it most. That single decision didn’t just build skills, it built belief. Together, he unpacks one of the biggest questions organizations and leaders face: Is training really worth it? They take a closer look at: Why support and opportunity can change the trajectory of someone’s career The real return behind investing in people How development builds confidence, performance, and long-term commitment Why the bigger risk isn’t training someone and losing them, but not training them at all This episode is a reminder that growth doesn’t happen all at once. It happens one step at a time, with the right support along the way. Because one of the best projects you will ever work on is yourself. And you don’t have to do it alone. www.cftea.org

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