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I help Credit Union C-suites stop wasting time and energy putting out fires and install a system that builds self-sufficient, high-performing leaders who can weather any storm.
I help Credit Union C-suites switch from constant “put out fires” mode, to a system that builds self-sufficient, high-performing leaders who can weather any storm.
I help Credit Union C-suites switch from a place of constant “putting out fires”, to a simple system that builds self-sufficient, high-performing leaders who can weather any storm.
I've Been Honored To Work With These Amazing Businesses
Here's How I Do It:
The Leadership Mastery System
(It's time to implement a proven, elite framework you and your teams can use to grow your people and profits!)
1. ASSESS
The process we use to understand where your people really are, identify the best levers to make measurable change, and develop (together) the best plan to move forward.
2. BUILD
Execute the plan in each of the big five areas (Culture, Service, Growth, Financials, and Systems), so you have sustainable and measurable growth quarter after quarter.
3. CULTIVATE
Establish lasting accountability, frameworks, and principles throughout your organization so each quarter builds on the momentum of the last, and the commitment to the plan and process deepens and grows.
This Work Often Includes:
Strategic Planning: Turn your plan from a document no one reads into a roadmap everyone drives forward.
Leadership Team Development: Get your leaders on the same page so meetings move faster and results follow.
Executive Team Building: Build trust at the top so your credit union moves with clarity and confidence.
Executive Coaching: Lead with less stress and more direction through simple, proven coaching that works.
Leadership Training: Practical tools your leaders actually use to motivate, guide, and grow their teams.
Succession Planning: Prepare your next generation of leaders now so you’re never caught off guard later.
Culture Assessment & Building: Find out what’s really happening inside your culture and turn it into your biggest advantage.
YOUR FREE LEADERSHIP STARTER KIT
The Leadership Snapshot asks you 21 simple questions to help you know how to energize, build, and sustain business teams that keep on winning.
You'll:
- Uncover hidden gaps in your team’s performance
- Measure your strengths in 3 critical areas (Assess, Build and Cultivate)
- Gain critical next steps to get your team building momentum in the ABC Method Masterclass
Get your snapshot in less than 2 minutes by clicking the button below!
Transform your Leadership with the ABC Framework!
In Catalyst, leadership expert Michael Wolsten distills two decades of coaching wisdom from working with giants like Starbucks and top credit unions into a game-changing system: the ABC Framework. This isn’t another leadership theory—it’s a proven, repeatable roadmap that delivers measurable results in just 90 days.
Assess: Uncover the hidden truths about your team’s strengths, gaps, and untapped potential.
Build: Create rock-solid systems—culture, service, growth, finances—that turn your vision into reality.
Cultivate: Establish rhythms that sustain momentum, even when chaos strikes.
Backed by hard data: teams using the ABC Framework see up to 35% profit growth and 25% higher engagement. Stop firefighting. Start leading with clarity and purpose.
Hey there, I'm Michael
I help credit unions build world-class teams that strengthen both their front line and their bottom line. My purpose is to equip and empower leaders to lead with clarity, grow engagement, and build cultures people want to be part of — without wasting time on cookie-cutter training or generic programs.
Over the past 17 years, I’ve had the privilege of coaching and developing hundreds of credit union leaders to create award-winning cultures, drive member growth, and become known for personal, intentional service in the communities they serve.
What Other Leaders Are Saying
He has the persistence and consistent dedication it takes
I have known Michael for many years. He has the persistence and consistent dedication it takes to help you stay on top of your goals and make real changes in your life!
Colin Hunter
The lessons I learned from Michael have helped me tremendously throughout my career
I had the opportunity to work for Michael for some time. The lessons I learned from Michael have helped me tremendously throughout my career. I would recommend anyone to Michael! He is one in a million!
Jeffery Christensen
Always inspiring listening to Michael Wolsten talking about Leadership
Always inspiring listening to Michael Wolsten talking about Leadership, personal branding, and company culture. The key take-away was “the quality of your relationships depends on the quality of the questions you ask.”
Jim Miller
I have loved Michael since the first time we talked.
I have loved Michael since the first time we talked. There is a genuine spirit that borders magic emanating from him. He is that person who lights up any room he walks into. I had high hopes upon attending his training, and I wasn’t disappointed!
Nels Jensen
Michael’s life lessons are priceless
Life lessons that took me years to acquire are encompassed within Michael’s guide to finding purpose and meaning in life and in work.
Doug Nielsen
He helped me build better relationships with my employees
I have had the pleasure of working with Michael for roughly 5 years. This relationship is the reason I changed my entire approach to management. I first began in leadership with a heavy focus on numbers and growth. It wasn’t until I began mentorship by Michael that I discovered a better way. He helped me build better relationships with my employees which empowered me to lead with my heart. Not only did I find lasting purpose but I helped my employees find their own unique value and ownership in accomplishing our goals as a team. Now when difficult conversations arise I find that they are extremely effective because I have been able to build a foundation of love and trust with my teams. The outcome has been tremendous and I have had top-performing teams wherever I go for the last 4 years in a row with my company.
Shawn Meyers
Michael has a good grasp for the needs of employees
Michael has a good grasp for the needs of employees and the responsibility managers have to Inspire, Train and Transition them to their fullest potential.
Jack Rudd
Working with Michael Wolsten Consulting has been a welcomed breath of fresh air
Working with Michael Wolsten Consulting has been a welcomed breath of fresh air. Michael’s approach focuses on internal recognition, a humanistic attitude, and seeing your team as individuals.
He supportively walks you thru the process of identifying your strengths, weaknesses, and goals, along with ways to grow each of them. I have thoroughly enjoyed Michael’s perspective of seeing and treating your team as individuals, identifying their needs and unique forms of communicating, and treating them as humans. His healthy dose of kindness needs to spread like wildfire in the current workplace culture.
Melissa Weitz
Michael has the ability to quickly understand workplace culture
Through the last 8 years since starting to work with Michael, my team culture scores have risen to above the company average. My location has produced multiple top performers who have been promoted into higher-level positions with the company. The location itself has achieved multiple top-tier awards and it has grown faster and larger than the company projected. Customer satisfaction scores have consistently risen as the happiness and contentment of the team members have risen.
Michael has the ability to quickly understand workplace culture and identify the areas that can be improved upon. He knows that love is a word used too little in most company cultures but that the power of that can change companies. Michael individualizes his approach to each manager/leader that he works with and truly cares about seeing them succeed.
Darin Herzoff
From this time together we were energized to use our newfound superpowers
We had the pleasure of working with Michael Wolsten at our annual strategic planning meeting, to build up our Credit Union knowledge.
His conversational style kept us engaged the entire time, sparking ideas and interactions among the group.
From this time together we were energized to use our newfound superpowers, to support each other in our mission of helping our members live their best financial life.
Tim Barthel
What we received was much more valuable than I had ever expected
Michael came highly recommended to our company to help with growing our staff, retaining quality employees, improving communications between partners and preparing for the future.
I was a little skeptical at first (after being self-employed for 30+ years) as I was trying to put an R.O.I. together to justify the added costs.
What we received was much more valuable than I had ever expected. Michael brought new ideas and spirituality with him every day and even was able to keep calm during a few very challenging conversations.
I highly recommend Michael Wolsten Consulting for all of your business consulting needs.
Steve Bishop
The past few months have been very rewarding for me and my team!
We are super excited to have Michael Wolsten be our Executive Coach and work with us on delegation, accountability, and much more. The past few months have been very rewarding for me and my team!
Michael has brought something so unique to the table. He has challenged our way of thinking, connected the dots to help us utilize each other’s strengths to be the best team we can be, and worked with us individually to discuss any challenging issues that may arise.
I highly recommend Michael to be a part of your leadership journey!
Joumana Mcdad
Hank Hubbard, CEO One Detroit Credit Union
Lucy Butler, CEO Simply Effective Coaching
Brad Shaw, Owner of FirexCDA and Wine Vault
Katie Roll, Branch Manager Independent FCU
Eric Ladwig, Executive Director Hospice of North Idaho
Leadership Snapshot
Get clear on how your team’s really doing. Take the Leadership Snapshot and see where you’re strong, where you’re stuck, and what to do next.