Technology as an Enabler of Responsible and Purposeful Growth
When leaders from across the credit union movement gathered in Dallas for Dedapulse US 2025, the goal was clear- move from conversation to action. Over three packed days, the event under the theme “accelerate your business” brought together credit union leaders, thought leaders, innovators, and partners from across the industry to tackle the real-world challenges shaping financial services today, including growth, digital acceleration, and keeping purpose at the center of it all.
Deda Sphere- A New Era in Collaboration
This year’s conference was especially significant as it marked the inauguration of Deda Sphere, a new entity resulting from the merger of VisiFI and Share One, effective October 1, 2025. For the first time, clients and stakeholders across the nation convened under a single brand to share insights and shape the future of financial services together.
The agenda aligned with Deda Group’s vision of utilizing technology as a force multiplier for integrity and impact. Every session, ranging from the evolving regulatory landscape to the intersection of culture and technology, was designed to assist credit unions in modernization while remaining true to their core missions. Marcello De Angelis, the newly appointed CEO of Deda Sphere, called the move “scale with soul to strengthen without losing our spirit.” Our goal,” he said, “is to help our clients be at the center of their members’ financial lives. We’re here to reduce risk today and accelerate growth for tomorrow. Being a service company isn’t a department,” De Angelis emphasized. “It’s a mindset.”
Leadership Perspectives on Technology’s Impact
Marco Podini, CEO and Executive President of Deda Group, articulated the phenomenal potential of technology. “At Deda Group, we believe technology creates lasting impact when it connects people, communities, and ideas,” he said. This perspective laid the foundation for Deda Sphere’s mission of helping credit unions grow with resilience and innovation through combined industry expertise and advanced digital capabilities.
Lorena Zivelonghi, Chief Marketing Officer of Dedagroup, explained that the rebranding was much more than a name change. “It was a strategic evolution to align purpose and innovation,” she shared. “Our mission is simple, to empower credit unions to stay true to their purpose, serving members, strengthening communities, and driving financial well- being.”
Innovation That Serves a Purpose
Throughout Dedapulse, innovation was never discussed in isolation; it was always connected to human outcomes. Chandra Subramanian, CEO of Deda AI North America, captured that perfectly: “AI reveals the invisible patterns and insights that have never been seen before. The future belongs to credit unions that turn data into direction.”
In sessions led by the group’s other companies, Deda Tech and Quod Orbis, Cybersecurity and infrastructure were the focus, highlighting resilience. “Continuous controls transform cybersecurity from hardening to heartbeat,” said Yamandù Correa of Deda Tech Italy.
Anwen Haynes, Head of Marketing, Quod Orbis emphasized that credit unions can move from traditional, periodic compliance checks to continuous, data-driven visibility across systems to detect risks earlier and respond faster, among other things.
De Angelis, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that modernization must originate from a purposeful standpoint. “Technology should simplify operations, remove friction, and let credit unions concentrate on what truly matters, their members, security, and communities,” he stated, underscoring Deda Sphere’s commitment to creating a strategic ecosystem that harmonizes innovation with institutional identity.
Finding Your Why
One of the most inspiring sessions came from the “Finding Your Why” panel featuring credit union leaders Bret Fisher (Achieve CU), Linda Carter (MembersOwn CU), and Patricia Curtin (County Excellence FCU). The panel explored how culture, technology, and purpose come together to transform organizations.
“Finding ways to say yes, that’s how technology becomes a catalyst for culture change,” said Carter. For Curtin, technology was “the spark that ignited our transformation,” while Fisher reminded the audience that “culture change isn’t for the faint of heart. Leadership means staying focused when the road gets tough.”
Together, their stories reflected the deeper meaning of Deda Sphere’s new tagline, “Powering your Why”, a call to action for credit unions to lead with purpose and empower their members through every interaction.
Financial Inclusion- Mission Meets Margin
The closing panel on financial inclusion was a powerful reminder that growth and mission go hand in hand. Moderated by Pablo DeFilippi of Inclusiv, the conversation with Blanche Jackson (Stepping Stones Community Federal Credit Union) and Martin Eakes (Self-Help Credit Union) redefined what success looks like for modern credit unions.
“Financial inclusion isn’t charity, it’s strategy,” DeFilippi said. “Serving underserved communities isn’t just the right thing, it’s the smart thing for long-term growth.” Eakes echoed that sentiment: “Mission and margin can coexist, and when you serve the community, growth follows.”
Their message was clear, the future of credit unions depends on their ability to stay relevant, equitable, and connected to the people they serve.
Economic and Regulatory Outlook: Staying Agile in a Shifting Landscape
In one of the most anticipated sessions, Marilyn Barker, Head of Compliance at America’s Credit Unions, and Dawit Kebede, Senior Economist at the organization, helped attendees unpack the regulatory and economic realities shaping 2025 and beyond.
Barker outlined the implications of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Rule 1033 on personal financial data rights, a key component of the Open Banking framework. She cautioned that while the regulation opens new opportunities for data access, it also raises complex challenges around cost, liability, and security.
“Open banking brings opportunity, but also new responsibilities for data, privacy, and trust,” Barker said. “Transparency shouldn’t come at the cost of security. We must find the balance.”
She emphasized the need for credit unions to evaluate their data infrastructure and compliance readiness. “Companies should be reviewing their data collection, usage, and retention policies now,” she advised. “The goal is to protect members’ rights while preserving the operational integrity of financial institutions.”
Kebede expressed a pragmatic optimism about the economic outlook, stating, “The economy is showing resilience, but credit unions must stay agile.” He highlighted persistent inflation, a strong labor market, and the Federal Reserve’s cautious approach as key growth factors. He emphasized the need for evolving strategies, urging credit unions to focus on balance sheet resilience and prudent lending in an uncertain, opportunity-rich environment.
The Road Ahead- Dedication in Motion
The technology roadmap sessions centered on three priorities: advancing core banking systems i-POWER and NewSolutions, delivering seamless digital experiences, and leveraging AI and data intelligence to drive smarter, faster decisions.
“Our focus is on stability, scalability, and evolution,” said De Angelis. “By 2030, when the industry looks for examples of innovative, member-centric, and growing credit unions, we want them to be looking at those served by Deda Sphere.” These initiatives aim to support and sustain growth through resilience, innovation, and clear execution.
That vision came to life through two key roadmap sessions, Digital Banking and Core Evolution, both showcasing how the company is aligning technology with the needs of credit unions and their members.
In the Digital Banking “Perfect Lap” session, VP Jami Jennings discussed a roadmap focusing on speed, personalization, and integration. Future releases will enhance self-service, onboarding, and digital account opening to provide a human-centered experience. Jennings stated, “Digital banking is the new connection point between members and credit unions.”
Meanwhile, the Core Banking roadmap led by VP, Core Solutions Katie Brackett and Randy Mims, VP Product Market Leader, emphasized modernization and agility, with updates to streamline operations and improve automation. Mims noted that user feedback directly influences these priorities.
CTO Roberto Endrizzi and Senior Director IT, Shawn Ashley, highlighted ongoing investments in reliability, infrastructure, and cybersecurity, with Ashley sharing, “Cybersecurity begins with people; awareness is the first firewall.”
Celebrating Dedication
The conference concluded with the Dedapulse Awards, recognizing credit unions that exemplify innovation, collaboration, and purpose in action. Congratulations to these credit unions:
- Digital Trailblazer Award: Legacy Community Federal Credit Union
- Collaboration Award: Public Service Credit Union, Peach State Federal Credit Union, PAHO/WHO Federal Credit Union, Sharefax Credit Union, Trademark Federal Credit Union
- People-First Award: Achieve Credit Union
- Community Champion Award: Public Service Credit Union and Northern Communities Credit Union
- Rising Star Award: Guadalupe Credit Union
Accelerating Together
As the final sessions wrapped and the conversations continued, one message resonated across every room: technology alone doesn’t transform industries, people do. The leaders, innovators, and credit unions gathered at Dedapulse US aren’t just keeping pace with change; they’re setting the rhythm.
Or as De Angelis summed up, “Our success is directly tied to the success of credit unions. We can get there together, innovating side by side as strategic partners.”