Greg Young
President & CEO
HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union
Greg Young is a Mentor Hawaii Cohort 11 mentor. Learn more about the program here.
About Greg
Greg Young is the President and Chief Executive Officer of HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union, one of Hawaii’s largest credit unions with over $2.6 billion in assets and a membership base of nearly 132,000 across four islands. Since assuming the role in 2021, Greg has led the organization with a focus on innovation, member experience, and financial wellness. With more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry—including Bank of Hawaii and American Savings Bank—he has championed data-driven strategies and technology adoption to advance the credit union’s mission.
Greg has guided HawaiiUSA toward a more innovative and competitive future while growing the organization’s impact on financial wellness. A strong advocate for financial literacy, HawaiiUSA’ s 30-year Student Operated Credit Union program continues to thrive in schools across Hawaii under Greg’s leadership. Greg has also deepened the credit union’s support of educator programs, including a key partnership with Chaminade University’s Economic Education Center of Excellence, which sponsors an annual summer workshop for K-12 teachers and empowers them to shape financially responsible keiki through curriculum.
Greg earned his MBA from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Washington. An alumnus of Iolani School, he continues to give back through board service with RESCO, Inc., the Hawaii Credit Union Service Organization (HiCUSO), the Hawaii HomeOwnership Center, and Chaminade University. Born and raised in Hawaii, he resides in Manoa with his wife Shannon, to whom he has been married for nearly 22 years. Together, they are proud parents of two daughters, Lauren (19) and Madison (17).
Question and Answer with Greg
What is your preferred communication style when mentoring (in-person, video conference, phone, informal check-ins, structured meetings, etc.)?
In-Person, Video Conference, Email, Phone Call, Text / SMS.
Why do you want to become a mentor in this program?
Most everyone that is navigating their career needs to have a mentor to help guide, coach, and support. It’s a long journey with lots of twists and turns and having a voice to help is important. If I can help a few people in their journey using what I’ve learned and gone through, then it would be worth being a mentor.
What specific skills, knowledge or experience can you share with your mentee?
My experiences, how to manage up (your boss), making sure they make time for themselves, etc. Whatever the mentee needs at the time.
What are your expectations for a mentor-mentee relationship?
Open honest communication, engaged effort, open minded. I can learn as much from my mentee as he/she/they learn from me.
How do you approach problem-solving and conflict resolution?
I personally need to know the facts or data to solve problems. I am also one that is going to think strategically about the problem and solution, all the intersections, all the unintended consequences, and decide.
As for conflict resolution, it depends on the conflict. But if it’s work related and then similar to the answer above, find out the facts with no perception of favoring one side, and understand what is causing the conflict. A lot of times, it’s a misunderstanding and both people mean well.
How do you envision success for your mentee, and how will you measure it during the program?
Someone that can overcome their own perceived weaknesses, and learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable but also being successful in what they are working on whether that’s personal goals or professional goals. Also having a strong mental health outlook. All too often our younger professionals put too much pressure on themselves especially with social media. People usually are exactly where they are supposed to be in personal and professional growth, they need to be ok with that.