The Voices of MDT is a short series featuring our associates, partners, and clients helping credit unions move forward. In episode two, we sit down with MDT’s Chief Financial Officer, Emily Szymczak, to discuss growth, connection, and building the foundation that keeps innovation sustainable.
Emily’s story starts with change. After more than twenty years in Chicago’s advertising industry, she was ready for something different—something lasting. “Coming from advertising, people turn over roughly every two years,” she reflects. “So shifting gears into fintech—and into a place where people had been here fifteen plus years—just sounded amazing.”
That sense of longevity drew her in, but her purpose runs deeper. Emily has spent her career helping high-growth organizations build scalable infrastructure— the kind of foundation that allows innovation to thrive. “Everything’s great right now,” she said. “But my job is to make sure we’re positioned to be scalable for the next phase.”
Scaling with Purpose
Growth isn’t just about getting bigger—it’s about building stronger systems that let people do their best work. Emily sees scalability as giving teams the tools and structure to respond faster, work smarter, and serve credit unions more effectively.
As MDT grows, this foundation enables credit unions to evolve with us —equipped to deliver better, quicker member experiences. “I just see so much opportunity,” Emily said. “Talking to clients, even here (MDT E3 Conference), where they need help figuring out how to implement things, how to change things, how to project manage things. Our team is awesome at that.”
Leadership through Connection
Emily’s leadership style starts with people. Within her first weeks, she met one-on-one with every member of her team—top to bottom. That commitment to connection builds trust, strengthens collaboration, and makes problem-solving a shared effort.
“I love having relationships in and outside of work with everybody I work with,” she said. “Because then we can solve problems together.”
It’s a mindset that blends financial strategy with human connection—one that drives MDT’s mission forward with precision and heart.
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