Sati Smith recently shattered a monumental glass ceiling by getting appointed the first ever African American woman to lead Michigan-based Diversified Members Credit Union (DMCU) as Chief Executive Officer.
Conquering Financial Industry Barriers
With almost 30 years of experience across roles like teller, IT manager and COO, Smith steadily climbed the credit union ranks while overcoming life’s challenges as a single mother.
Her passion and perseverance speak to breaking conventions.
Paying Inspiration Forward
As a leader now reaching new heights at one of Detroit’s oldest finance institutions, Smith aims to motivate other women and people of color to pursue their ambitions without limits.
She views her advancement as a victory for her whole community.
Guiding Organization To New Chapter
Smith spent years learning under her mentor and DMCU’s former CEO Kathie Trembath, who just retired.
With the board’s full confidence, she now takes charge of setting strategy and elevating this $500 million, 94-year-old credit union into the future.
Leading by Empowering Example
In all her diverse contributions over 25+ years at DMCU, Smith has embodied resilience and work ethic. When she took the helm as the first African American woman ever appointed CEO at Michigan’s 94-year-old Diversified Members Credit Union, she claimed a throne no expected a daughter born into hardship to ascend.
Yet after a quarter century rising within the institution that first gave a 26 year-old single mom on welfare a chance, this barrier breaker’s resilience speaks for itself.
As an innovator mentored by the retiring legacy she succeeds, Smith won’t just diversify the executive perspective. She’ll pay the uplift forward by grooming fellow young talents of color for greatness – including the loan processing daughter who shares this pinnacle by her side.
