WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP
n WOMEN IN HEALTH
SAFE Credit Union
A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION GENUINELY COMMITTED TO SERVING OTHERS
S
AFE Credit Union is different from banks
because they put members above profits, and
“
has 25 years of experience in financial services. Faye From our
vibrant culture
and amazing
products, to the
way we serve
the community,
we are
committed to
doing the right
things for the
right reasons.
says her position is traditionally held by men, and — FAYE NABHANI
acknowledges that the support she has received as a Executive VP &
Chief Credit Officer
different from most credit unions because
they embrace a commitment to provide only the best
banking solutions.
Faye Nabhani, executive vice president and chief credit
officer for SAFE, says the company’s culture is rooted
in being true to that philosophy. “At SAFE, there is a
genuine belief in serving our members, employees and
the community. This principal isn’t just something we
talk about — we practice it every day.”
Nabhani has worked for SAFE the last three years, but
female leader is another example of SAFE’s core values.
“In order to be successful in leadership, trust within
the organization must exist,” Nabhani continues.
“Mutual trust is the basis to ensure we hold ourselves
accountable, perform our job and then share in
”
successes. I am fortunate to work for a credit union
that has entrusted me with great responsibility, and
champions female empowerment.”
Russell Nichols is a freelance writer who
focuses on technology, culture and men-
tal health. His work has appeared in The
Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe,
Governing Magazine and Government
Technology. On Twitter @russellnichols.
With 21 branches and 700 employees, SAFE is well
known for its community involvement. “Whether
supporting local nonprofits, or providing financial
literacy programs in schools, we are proud to serve
the ambitious consumers and businesses of our
2295 Iron Point Road, Suite 100
Folsom, CA 95630
region,” Nabhani says.
CLIENT PROFILE
84
comstocksmag.com | March 2019
ry contributor to low birth weight, can
be lifesaving.
By engaging women of color in their
own communities — and not in for-
mal systems where they have often felt
marginalized — mothers can feel safer
and connected, Porteus says. A nurtur-
ing environment with culturally similar
staff, he adds, helps their babies to be
born healthy.
This vital emphasis on customizing
patient care also inspired Sadovniko-
va to diversify her lactation simulators.
When developing the vests, she found
a disproportionate emphasis on white
breasts in all the images, textbooks and
learning tools.
“Our patients are not equally sup-
ported by physicians and nursing staffs,”
she says. “If the health professionals do
get breastfeeding education, they only
see pictures of white breasts. How can
they support diverse breastfeeding fam-
ilies if they never get practice doing that?”
Sadovnikova’s vests come in four
different skin tones so patients can wear
simulators that match their own bodies.
Her training tools also feature a variety
of skin colors, and she’s working on de-
veloping teaching scenarios to highlight
cultural differences that impact how pa-
tients view nursing. Understanding cul-
tural nuances will help health profession-
als provide “culturally competent care”
that make mothers feel cared for, which
Cofer calls a critical piece in the matura-
tion of maternal health.
“Prenatal care is one piece of the
wheel. Same thing for postpartum care,”
Cofer says. “Of course, the goal is not to
have unhealthy people in the first place,
so care is not the linchpin on whether
they live or die.” n
www.www.safecu.org