GSBC is proud to share the growing impact of its Committed to Lead Micro-Credential, a first-of-its-kind program at GSBC. Launched in 2023, the micro-credential was created to expand GSBC’s long tradition of combining technical banking knowledge with leadership development. Unlike a required course, the micro-credential is a supplementary elective; a program that students opt into because they want to push themselves further and prepare for leadership at the highest level.

Rapid Growth Since Launch

Momentum has been strong since the program’s debut. In just three years, nearly 200 students — more than 4 out of every 10 across the GSBC student body — have chosen to participate in Committed to Lead. The numbers paint a clear picture: this micro-credential has quickly become a defining part of the GSBC experience.

Seventy-seven GSBC students earned the Committed to Lead Micro-Credential in 2025, carrying bold leadership skills back to their banks and communities.

 

Preparing Leaders for What’s Next

What sets Committed to Lead apart is that it rewards ambition. Students participate in CEO Perspectives interviews that provide unfiltered insight from executives who have faced the demands of leadership. They also complete the Development Needs of New CEOs presentation and workbook, which blends an online presentation with reflection prompts and guides them through building a personal development plan — a concrete, customized roadmap for growth.

One graduate described their biggest takeaway simply: “Real leadership means balancing strategy with doing what’s right for the people we serve.”

These are not assignments required of every student; they are commitments taken on by those who want to go beyond GSBC’s rigorous core curriculum. When they leave Boulder, Committed to Lead graduates carry more than a credential. They carry a distinction that marks them as leaders who were willing to put in the extra work — and they bring with them a plan to strengthen teams, drive strategy and create impact in their organizations and communities. From rural towns to metropolitan markets, these students are already shaping the future of community banking.

“Committed to Lead represents what GSBC does best – pushing beyond traditional banking education to prepare leaders who can think strategically, act decisively and shape the future of their institutions,” said Michael Stevens, GSBC President & CEO.

A Bolder Banking® Initiative

Committed to Lead is also a key initiative for GSBC’s Bolder Banking® campaign, which highlights the school’s commitment to equipping community bankers with the skills, mindset and connections to thrive in a rapidly changing financial landscape. By challenging students to go beyond the core curriculum, the program embodies the essence of Bolder Banking: developing leaders who are willing to balance managing risk while identifying opportunities for innovation and growth. It reflects GSBC’s belief that the future of community banking depends not only on technical expertise, but also on bold, values-driven leadership that extends beyond banking as usual to help customers and local economies thrive.