Michael Kadel

Speaker

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Bio

Michael Kadel, a dedicated C-level executive and board director, exemplifies servant leadership, prioritizing people and fostering strong relationships. His commitment to driving change, passion for nurturing talent, and unwavering dedication to leader engagement have consistently delivered high-growth, performance-driven cultures under his guidance.

Expertise:
Michael boasts extensive expertise in the financial services industry, spanning Retail, Business, and Digital Banking to Private, Commercial, and Wealth Management, as well as Corporate Marketing and Communications. His entrepreneurial spirit, willingness to make informed decisions and empowerment of others have consistently delivered exceptional client experiences. Michael has also played a pivotal role in seven successful mergers and acquisitions, offering invaluable insights to small and medium-sized businesses in areas such as Human Resources, Finance/Accounting, Culture Transformation, and Organizational Development.

Strategy & Execution:
Michael has led large retail experience teams in credit unions and community banks and has orchestrated successful loan and deposit growth strategies, resulting in multiple "President's Club" awards for his teams. His leadership has driven impactful re-branding initiatives, including developing a culture-focused M&A playbook, ensuring a seamless integration of cultures in mergers and acquisitions, and achieving a remarkable 95% employee retention rate.

Team & Talent Development:
Michael has fostered achievement-oriented cultures rooted in accountability, recognition, engagement, and innovation throughout his career. He has championed diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies, which have resulted in a 5% improvement in workforce diversity across organizations.

Board-Level Advisory:
Michael actively contributes to various boards, including Working Solutions, the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, Marin Economic Forum, and Marin Literacy. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board of By The Bay Health, the largest provider of end-of-life care in the San Francisco Bay Area. His board roles have encompassed various committee leadership positions in Governance, Finance, and Compensation, focused on mission-critical subjects such as strategic planning, M&A, and C-Suite and board succession.

Technology Transformation:
Michael has spearheaded numerous projects to enhance customer experiences, including a significant core conversion project for a San Francisco-based credit union. This project led to substantial membership growth and streamlined product launches, reducing the time required to open online memberships from days to minutes. The technology overhaul eliminated over 500 legacy programs, aligning processes with cutting-edge solutions. Michael has also served as a key executive for a Fintech company focused on training and developing technology leaders to provide state-of-the-art technology for financial institutions.

Education and Personal Interests:
Michael holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University and is a Pacific Coast Banking School graduate. He now serves as an executive teaching assistant for a DEI-focused course, sharing insights from his diverse and unique experiences. In his personal life, he resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he enjoys hiking, traveling, and being an avid reader.

Speaking Topics

Succession Planning Reimagined
With only 1% of companies, especially financial institutions, claiming excellence in their succession planning, there is a clear need for organizations to embrace this practice. In Michael's keynote, he talks about the "how" and the "why" of Succession Planning as a deliberate and forward-thinking process that embraces the continuous development of all employees, equipping them to take on future challenges and leadership roles. Unlike "replacement planning," it’s not about filling positions but fostering growth across the organization—an ongoing journey focused on building bench strength. Michael's work provides a path forward for organizations that produce a more engaged workforce, greater continuity and stability, better retention of top talent, fewer vacancies in leadership roles, a revitalized culture, strategic alignment, and improved overall performance.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Michael has established himself as a leading advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the financial sector, emphasizing that DEI is not just a "nice to have" but a critical component for organizations striving for an achievement-oriented culture. His keynotes highlight embracing and celebrating diverse perspectives and backgrounds to drive success.

Michael’s work includes designing comprehensive DEI roadmaps for financial institutions, facilitating DEI working groups, and serving as a teaching assistant at Pacific Coast Banking School, where he focuses on building a culture of belonging centered around Culture, Connections, and Community. Michael helps organizations embed DEI principles into their core values through these efforts, fostering sustainable growth and a more inclusive workforce.

Effective Leadership
Michael has delivered keynotes to Bay Area Universities on what today's organizations seek in top talent. In his remarks, Michael discusses the qualities successful organizations seek in their future workforce, including servant leadership and individuals who are lifelong learners, agile, and able to solve tough challenges. Michael advises, counsels, and coaches many young professionals through this work, inspiring them to achieve their most significant potential.