Luke Billeri of Member’s Choice Credit Union: The Art of Adaptive Communication

Luke Billeri of Member’s Choice Credit Union: The Art of Adaptive Communication

Author: Dr. Laura Sicola January 30, 2024 Duration: 31:39

On this week’s episode of ‘Speaking to Influence,’ Luke Billeri, president and CEO of Member’s Choice Credit Union tells Laura how he used ‘pre-suasion’ to gain key stakeholder buy-in before a critical decision.

 

In this episode you will learn:

  • How Luke learned the importance of adapting communication style based on the audience's competencies by modifying communication to be relevant to the audience
  • How in acknowledging personal strengths and weaknesses, Luke’s team was able to create a solid group dynamic where they supported each other.
  • How Luke asserted himself with his boss about a risk to the organization, and after a drip campaign of providing data and hints, his boss eventually agreed and Luke's concerns were validated.
  • Luke and Laura discussed the importance of persuasion and inspiration in leadership. Luke shared his experience of using ‘pre-suasion’ persuasion to gain support before important meetings, while also inspiring others by explaining the benefits and end goals of organizational change.
  • Why sincerity is key in expressing passion, regardless of one's personality type, and how it can make a candidate stand out

 

24 Hour Challenge:

The art of pre-suasion: we all need support on something. Go in advance of a presentation / meeting and talk to an individual who you might need their support. Your passions might be able to come out easier and any questions they have may come out easier and help build your rapport in advance of the bigger meeting.

 

About Luke:

Luke Billeri is the CEO of Members Choice Credit Union (MCCU), a full-service financial institution based in Houston, Texas. With over 20 years of experience in the credit union industry, he specializes in retail, lending, and strategic financial management.

Committed to strengthening community initiatives, Luke spearheaded the creation of the Members Choice Credit Union “Helping Heroes” Savings Program for individuals working in heroic professions such as education, law enforcement, first responders, and healthcare.

Having served the Credit Union Industry already for nearly two decades, he joined MCCU as chief lending officer in January 2020, was promoted to executive vice president in September 2022, and assumed the role of chief executive officer in January 2023. As a results-oriented and decisive leader, Luke ensures a member-centric focus and strategic sustainability for MCCU. Passionate about the supporting the various needs of members, he believes wholeheartedly in the credit union philosophy of “people helping people.” Luke enjoys outdoor activities with family and friends in his spare time, such as fishing, boating, and anything on the water.

 

You can connect with Luke in the following ways:

 

You can connect with Dr. Laura Sicola in the following ways:

  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola
  • LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/laurasicola-inc
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions
  • Facebook: Dr. Laura Sicola
  • Twitter: @LauraSicola
  • Instagram: @drlaurasicola
  • Website: https://laurasicola.com
  • Laura’s Online Course: virtualinfluence.today

Speaking to Influence features conversations about the tangible mechanics of leadership communication, moving beyond theory into practical application. Host Dr. Laura Sicola, an expert in linguistic influence, guides discussions that dissect how language, tone, and presence directly impact credibility and outcomes. Each episode brings a perspective from seasoned executives and industry figures who share their real-world experiences-not just their successes, but the nuanced moments where a single conversation changed a trajectory. The focus here is on the actionable: how to structure a message for a skeptical board, modulate your voice to convey authority without arrogance, and read a room to pivot your approach in real time. This isn't about generic public speaking tips; it's a deep exploration of the strategic choices behind influential speech. Listeners gain access to a toolkit for building confidence, commanding attention, and achieving specific professional results through more intentional communication. The podcast operates at the intersection of business strategy, personal development, and the often-overlooked technical art of persuasion, making it relevant for anyone whose role requires them to lead, sell, or inspire through spoken word. Dr. Sicola's background provides a unique lens, ensuring every conversation yields insights you can use immediately to refine your own impact.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Speaking to Influence
Podcast Episodes
Kurt Luidhardt, Co-Founder of the Prosper Group.  “Be Clear” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:36
This week Kurt Luidhardt shares how critical it is that you know who the decision makers are when you are working with a client. Kurt shared an example of when he and his team worked diligently on a pitch assuming that t…
Dave Scopinich of Audacy: Framing Your Pitch for Success [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:17
This week Dave Scopinich shares how radio reaches almost 90 percent of all Americans (he shared that the source was Nielsen) on a daily basis. That gives his team and clients the opportunity to create and deliver premium…
Yesi Morillo, Senior Vice President at Citibank: Stay Ready! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:01
This week, Yesi Morillo shares the importance of staying ready to take advantage of opportunities so that you are prepared for any moment to be able to discuss what you are working on. “The elevator is one of the most un…
Partnerships and Communication [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:07
This week Christine Ostrowski shares how an almost two hundred year old school is continually adapting to improve the lives of their students and team. By treating employees like clients to understand what they need to g…
Giving Back and Making a Difference [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:00
In this week’s episode, Retired FDNY Battalion Chief John LaBarbera of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation board shares with Laura the important work that the foundation is doing and the obstacles that they face including wi…
Humor and Executive Presence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:35
This week, Laura discusses the importance of humor and executive presence. Laura shares her tips for adding “fun” to your presentation while keeping it professional and engaging your audience. Here are a few things that…
How to Inspire in Uncertain Times Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:11
This week in the second part of a podcast episode discussing how to deal with uncertain times as both the leader who may be delivering a message as well as the person receiving it by Dr. Laura Sicola and Vocal Impact Pro…
How to Inspire in Uncertain Times Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:37
This week in the first part of a podcast episode discussing how to deal with uncertain times as both the leader who may be delivering a message as well as the person receiving it by Dr. Laura Sicola and Vocal Impact Prod…