Member Spotlight: Sean McDonald

CMBDC
March 2, 2009 | COMMENTS

Sean McDonald is director of business development and marketing for Liberty Savings Federal Credit Union in Jersey City, New Jersey. Born and raised in New Jersey, Sean has worked in sales and marketing his entire career. 

“I started out on Wall Street and have worked in brokerage, insurance, call center operations, and ultimately sales/marketing with an emphasis on SEG acquisition, financial literacy training, and member development,” he says. 

Sean has worked at Liberty Savings Federal Credit Union for almost five years and lives in Bloomfield with his wife Susan and their eight-week old daughter. He received the CMDBC Business Development Professional of the Year Award in 2008. 

Biggest challenge

Rising above the current mistrust that people have for financial institutions. In some ways, credit unions are being unfairly "lumped in" with all of the financial institutions that were mismanaged and are now either out of business or hurting in some other way. We pride ourselves in the fact that we keep our members' best interests FIRST, but communicating that has been a challenge.

Best advice

Do what you think is right first. Then, ask for permission. It is a lot easier to ask for forgiveness if you screw up than to ask for permission before you even take action. I'm NOT advocating breaking any rules or endangering your career, but as Wayne Gretzky once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take!"

Greatest benefit of Council membership

Being able to share ideas with my colleagues. I have met some wonderful business development and marketing professionals through this Council. These are sincere and hard-working people who want to make a difference. It's encouraging!

Best part of my job

When I get in front of an audience and talk about the benefits of credit union membership. It energizes me and keeps me going.

Hardest part of my job

Working within the confines of a small budget. We're not a multi-national bank and, therefore, cannot implement some of the advertising and advocacy ideas that would be beneficial.

Recent success story

I just published my first book - Stop Complaining! Start Growing! Lessons on Growing Your Business and Career. I am honored by the response the book has received so far. I wrote it because I wanted to share the things that I thought to be most important and that have worked for me. 

Biggest misconception people have about my job

That when I'm not in the office, I'm not working. I'm always working! Most of my job happens outside the credit union.

Hobbies and interests

Reading, writing, and spending quality time with my wife and daughter. They mean everything to me.

Recent book

Divine Justice by David Baldacci.

Something that makes me laugh

When people take themselves too seriously. Lighten up! You'll live longer.

Favorite quote

"There will be a time when you believe everything is finished. Yet that will be the beginning.” (Louis L'Amour)

If I could spend a day with anyone . . .

Nelson Mandela. His story is heartbreaking, redemptive, uplifting, and inspirational. I'd love to get some advice from him on some things.

How I would explain the credit union difference to a prospective new member

Five minutes is really all it takes. If I'm talking to a business owner about the possibility of providing credit union membership to his/her employees, I take the opportunity to remind them that this is a benefit that doesn't cost the company one cent. It's free and it will make the business owner look like a hero to the employees. I often say that I have the easiest sales job in the world because what I sell doesn't cost anything!