In recent months SW Graduate School of Banking (SWGSB) has launched a "virtual" continuing education series called "Mastering Leadership and Taking Charge Online." The popular series features SWGSB faculty and other industry experts discussing relevant topics in special Zoom presentations open to current SWGSB students at no charge. The courses are offered on Tuesdays, from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. (Central Daylight Time). Each "live" presentation is recorded for later viewing or re-watching.
Among the topics already presented are: "Seeing Across the Abyss: How to Get Your Bank to the other Side" (attorney Peter Weinstock); "Strategic Planning When Your Plans No Longer Work" (Philip Smith); "Asset Liability Management (ALM) in 2020: Being Prepared for the Unknown" (Jim Clarke); "Update on the Paycheck Protection Program" (Debbie Scanlon); "Creating Resilient Teams in Chaotic Times" (Dave Martin); and "Credit Risk Management for the Lingering Effects of COVID-19" (Merrill Reynolds). SWGSB has also moderated a regulatory panel and a panel of industry CEOs.
Participants can submit questions in advance for the speakers as well as "chat" during the Zoom presentation. Each presentation is also followed by an informal Q&A where students turn on their cameras and reacquaint themselves with their classmates while engaging with the speaker.
The feedback from participants has been enthusiastic and incredibly supportive. Here are just two of the many compliments for the series:
"Excellent meeting. If the other banks were like us, we had 4 bankers sitting in under one log in so you probably had a lot more than the 100ish you thought were watching. We are going to invite our directors for some of the applicable meetings. I appreciate everything your team does to help our banks."
Terri Thompson, President CEO
American Exchange Bank
Henryetta, Oklahoma
"Although I am now part of the alumni group I was able to attend today's Zoom session and found it very informative and definitely relevant. It prompted me to start focusing on the next steps we need to be taking and thinking about in our department and our bank. One of your seniors, Dana Hutcheson, shared the link with me and I hope to be able to sit in on some more of those in the future. What a great way to keep your classes together and another great example of how SWGSB is such a benefit to all of us, both old and new. I didn't realize how much I would miss it! Thanks for all your hard work keeping it rolling."
Darien Wells
Vice President/Loan Officer
Farmers & Merchants Bank/The Bank of Fayetteville
Fayetteville, Arkansas
To join this Virtual Learning initiative, current students simply log into their SWGSB account on the SWGSB website and click on "Mastering Leadership Online" for the Zoom link, course descriptions, faculty bios, presentation handouts, and videos of past presentations.