CFTEA is stepping into something new, and for Executive Director Andrew Lederer, it started with a challenge.
When CFTEA Board Member Nicole Haggerty encouraged Andrew to create a podcast for CFTEA, the idea came with a mix of excitement and nerves. Even for someone who has spent years teaching, presenting, and supporting professionals across the industry, there is something very different about sitting behind a microphone and sharing conversations in a more personal way.
But growth often starts just outside our comfort zone.
That idea sits at the center of CFTEA’s new podcast, “The Key to Your Next Step.”
The podcast was created to bring honest, relatable conversations to professionals working in banking, leadership, career development, and learning. Not overly polished scripts or corporate buzzwords. Just meaningful discussions about growth, challenges, opportunities, and the experiences that shape careers over time.
That approach reflects what many people already know about Andrew and CFTEA. The focus has never simply been education for the sake of education. It has always been about helping people move forward with more confidence, stronger skills, and a clearer understanding of where they want to go next.
Some episodes will focus on career growth and leadership.
Some will highlight professionals and organizations making a difference.
Others will explore workplace communication, confidence, personal development, and the reality of adapting in changing industries.
And like any new journey, this one starts with a first step.
The podcast will release monthly on Spotify, creating another way for CFTEA to support professionals wherever they are, during a commute, on a walk, between meetings, or in those quiet moments where people finally have time to think.
A special thank you goes to Nicole Haggerty and the CFTEA Communication Committee for encouraging the idea and helping bring it to life. Sometimes people see potential before we fully see it ourselves, and that kind of support matters.
The first episode of “The Key to Your Next Step” is now live on Spotify.
🎙️ Listen here:
The Key to Your Next Step Podcast on Spotify
This is just the beginning.