2026 ABA Emerging Leaders Forum – In Review

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Becoming superhuman with AI: Practical strategies for unlocking peak performance – Lucas Miller
Lucas Miller shared practical strategies for leveraging AI to enhance productivity in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. By understanding the brain’s strengths and limitations, bankers can use AI tools to streamline routine tasks and focus more on high-value work. Access the slide deck for more details.

Top Three Takeaways

• The most common mistakes of using AI: search bar mindset, "auto-accept syndrome," and offloading too early.
• Prompting essentials: you can build effective prompts by combining 2-6 of the following building blocks: task description, context, role, specific requirements, boundaries, and resources.
• Instead of asking a question or drafting prompts yourself, provide AI with context and let it generate an effective prompt for you.

ABA Spotlight: 2026 ABA Emerging Leader Awards – Margi Fleming
Margi Fleming highlighted the ABA Emerging Leader Awards program, which recognizes rising professionals making meaningful contributions to their banks, communities and the broader industry. Apply or nominate a colleague today. Applications are due Friday, June 26.

Leading across generations: Leading today, preparing for tomorrow – Ryan Coaxum, Kenneth Kelly, Rob Nichols
ABA President and CEO Rob Nichols moderated a conversation with ABA Chair Kenneth Kelly and ABA Emerging Leaders Council Chair Ryan Coaxum on leadership across generations. The discussion explored mentorship, career growth, and how leaders at different stages are navigating changes in the banking industry today and in the future.

Top Three Takeaways

• Kenneth emphasized that strong leadership begins with self-awareness. Leaders must understand their strengths, tendencies, and leadership style through honest self-assessment.
• Ryan highlighted that progress comes from doing the work and taking calculated risks. Growth is shaped by effort, courage, and learning from experience.
• Ryan reinforced the importance of mentorship, sharing how his relationship with Kenneth continues to provide guidance, perspective, and professional growth. In turn, Kenneth shared that mentorship often forms organically through trusted relationships. Leaders should seek mentors they can confide in and learn from recognizing that different stages of life and career, changing seasons, may require different mentors.

Inside Washington: A political insider’s look at 2026 – Carl Hulse, Laena Fallon
Chief Washington Correspondent for The New York Times, Carl Hulse, joined ABA Chief of Staff Laena Fallon for a discussion on the political landscape heading into the 2026 midterm elections, sharing insights on the balance of power in Washington and the policy issues shaping the election cycle.

Top Three Takeaways

• Carl explained that outcomes are driven by narrow margins and complex political calculations. 
• Carl highlighted competitive races, redistricting challenges, and the influence of campaign resources, noting how financial dynamics increasingly shape political momentum and decision-making.
• Carl emphasized the importance of framing issues around constituent impact and public benefit. He noted that policymakers respond most strongly to clear, relatable outcomes.

ABA Spotlight: Grassroots Advocacy – Noel Hansen
Noel Hansen highlighted ABA’s grassroots advocacy strategy and the Secure American Opportunity website, which provides tools to help bankers engage with policymakers. Additional emerging leader specific resources include an interactive grassroots guide for new advocates (PDF available) and four introductory advocacy videos.

Shaping the agenda: Voice, strategy and influence – Allison Behuniak, Charla Ouertatani, Kirsten Sutton
In a bipartisan discussion moderated by Kirsten Sutton, senior House Financial Services Committee staff Allison Behuniak (R) and Charla Ouertatani (D) shared insights on how legislative priorities develop and how banker engagement can help inform and shape policy outcomes.

Top Three Takeaways

• Charla shared insights on navigating leadership as a woman in senior roles. She discussed addressing assumptions in professional settings. Her experience underscored the value of advocating for clarity, visibility, and mutual respect. Her message to emerging leaders: remain confident, focused, and committed to the value of your work.
• Allison reflected on early career challenges, noting that being the most junior voice required extra preparation. By consistently coming to the table over-prepared and anticipating questions, she strengthened her credibility and leadership impact over time.
• Both panelists emphasized the importance of consistent, proactive engagement, including: meeting with regularly with congressional offices, clearly communicating issues and priorities, inviting members to visit districts, sharing real-world stories from local communities, providing clear, factual documentation to support advocacy efforts.

ABA Spotlight: BankPAC – Brian Robinson
Brian Robinson shared how BankPAC supports the banking industry’s advocacy efforts by strengthening its voice in Washington. Learn more about BankPAC.

Strategic communications: Asking the right questions to facilitate problem-solving – Vernon Roberts
Vernon Roberts shared practical communication strategies to help emerging leaders navigate difficult conversations and guide discussions toward problem-solving. Access the slide deck for more details.

Top Three Takeaways

• Ask questions of your audience before stating your position to foster trust and engagement.
• Awareness of the ladder of inference (subconsciously selecting information, assigning meaning and forming stories that guide our decisions) helps leaders slow down assumptions and improve decision-making.
• Inquiry and listening first creates influence by opening dialogue rather than defending positions.

Closing keynote: One mission, one goal, one team – Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour
Drawing on her experiences as a Marine combat helicopter pilot, Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour shared lessons on leadership, resilience and teamwork, encouraging attendees to lead with confidence and purpose.

Top Three Takeaways

• Vernice stressed the importance of having a clear “flight plan” while remaining flexible. Leaders must be prepared to adapt, re-engage, and implement contingency plans to ensure outcomes remain aligned with mission objectives, especially when serving communities in moments that matter most.
• Vernice reminded the audience that hesitation leads to missed opportunities. Leaders must perform under pressure, even when outcomes are uncertain and others are watching.
• The mission is in delivering what we need, in the time of need, in the times when we need it.

Additional Resources and Dates to Know

Sign up for the Emerging Leaders Exchange!
Join peers from across the country to share ideas, ask questions, and continue the conversation beyond the Forum. You’ll also receive the quarterly Emerging Leaders newsletter and have opportunities to participate in virtual leadership roundtables throughout the year.

Apply or Nominate a Colleague for the Emerging Leader Awards!
Developing future bank leaders is critical for our industry. Entry period ends June 26.

Save the Date: ABA Annual Convention
Join us in Salt Lake City, Utah, from October 25-27, featuring emerging leader specific knowledge sessions.