Az Business and AZRE magazines announced the publications’ lists of the Most Influential Women in Arizona of 2021, including Sandra Sagehorn-Elliott, president and CEO of Vantage West Credit Union. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Most Influential Women program, azbigmedia.com is profiling one of the Most Influential Women of 2021 each day leading up to the Most Influential Women of 2021 dinner and reception.

READ ALSO: The Most Influential Women in Arizona Business for 2021

The Most Influential Women for 2021 will be honored at a reception on August 26 at Chateau Luxe in Phoenix. For sponsorship information, email Amy.Lindsey@azbigmedia.com. For information about the event honoring the Most Influential Women, email Lynette.Carrington@azbigmedia.com or click here.

To buy copies of the Most Influential Women in Arizona issue, click here.

Today’s spotlight: Sandra Sagehorn-Elliott

President and CEO

Vantage West Credit Union

Sagehorn-Elliott is CEO of Vantage West Credit Union, which has 20 branches statewide, $2.5 billion in assets, and a track record of community involvement. She assumed leadership in 2020 with a charge to propel the credit union’s 65+ year legacy forward. Sandra’s professional philosophy aligns with Vantage West’s purpose: “Investing in people today to achieve a more prosperous tomorrow.” She has infused this principle into teams she has led for the past 25 years, spanning broad disciplines from operations to marketing and digital services to business lending. Sandra is committed to ensuring this Arizona-based credit union stays true to its members.

Lesson learned in 2020: “I learned we are capable of more than we give ourselves credit for. When we had to move all of our non-branch employees to a work-from-home model in order to keep the business running, we did it in under two weeks. Our team’s ability to adapt was truly impressive.”

Road to leadership: “I didn’t set out to be a leader, but discovered when I got my first opportunity to step into a leadership role, that I loved it. Coaching and developing others and then watching them achieve great things is one of the most rewarding things a person can do.

Surprising fact: “I attended a 2-room country school from kindergarten to 6th grade.”