When Cameron Foster joined United Way of Central Alabama (UWCA) in 2018 as a Relationship Manager, one of her first experiences took her far beyond the United Way office.
Call it a crash course. Cameron became a participant in United Way’s Loaned Executive program. In that role, she spent 13 weeks (including training) calling on, and working with, companies throughout the Birmingham area.
She met all kinds of people across different industries and had interactive discussions about United Way’s role in our community and the many vital needs the organization addresses.
The experience would prove to be instrumental in shaping her career. Eight years later, Cameron now serves as UWCA’s Vice President of Corporate Relations.
“I saw growth and confidence after I finished the program, and now I’m seeing it with other Loaned Executives,” Cameron said.
Learning by Doing
The Loaned Executive program brings together people of different ages, backgrounds and stages of their careers for professional development and hands-on experience that directly supports UWCA’s annual campaign.
“The first two weeks, you get an incredible amount of professional development training — everything from sales and presentation training and Myers-Briggs assessments to working on a team, you name it,” Cameron said. “Then you’re the boots on the ground raising money for the annual campaign.”
For Cameron, that meant working alongside local companies to support their internal workplace United Way campaigns, where employers appeal to their own staff to support United Way through payroll deduction. Loaned Executives build relationships with campaign coordinators and committees and often meet with groups of employees about the impact of United Way’s work in the community.
“One day you might be at a law firm or a bank, and the next you could be on manufacturing floor or in a classroom,” Cameron said. “That kind of experience is unmatched.”
Growth at Every Career Stage
Just as Cameron Foster brought her own experiences to the program, each Loaned Executive arrives with a different perspective. Some are employees loaned by local companies, while others are recent college graduates, retirees or professionals exploring a career transition. Cameron believes that variety is part of what makes the experience valuable.
“It’s an incredible professional development opportunity to learn about yourself, the needs of the community and also make an impact in those communities,” she said.
As this year’s Loaned Executives visit companies, meet employees and share United Way’s work throughout Central Alabama, they are helping strengthen the relationships that fuel UWCA’s annual campaign and enable the organization to address major community issues and provide vital health and human services.
Loaned Executives are developing skills, building connections and gaining an understanding of Central Alabama that can stay with them long after the 13-week program ends. For Cameron, those experiences became part of a career at United Way.
Click here to explore all current career opportunities at United Way of Central Alabama.
This blog originally appeared in Bham Now’s “Apply now for a local program that grows your leadership skills, confidence + love of Birmingham.”