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Together We Thrive.
That wasn’t just a theme on the wall or a slogan on a slide, it was the heartbeat of Day 2 at the UWW Conference. As I took my seat among 80 Board Directors and Chairpersons from across the globe, I felt an overwhelming sense of unity, purpose, and momentum. We weren’t just participants, we were stewards of a global movement from every continent and time zone, we came together not just to witness change, but we were here to help shape its future.
The morning began with an energizing strategic leadership session co-chaired by our dynamic Global Board Chair, Yuri Fulmer, and our powerhouse CEO, Angela F. Williams. This wasn’t a ceremonial moment it was real leadership in motion. Yuri’s words cut through the room with clarity and challenge:“This conference is about transformation. But when you return home and your CEO says, ‘Are we transforming?’ ask yourself, are we evolving or are we merely wishing?” That question lingered in the air and in my heart.
He reminded us, United Way has been serving for 138 years and any organization with that kind of history must evolve or risk becoming irrelevant. “The only thing needed for hate to happen,” he said, “is for love to get lazy. Our communities need us. So don’t let your love get lazy, in any way.”
That line hit me hard. Because in TCI, we’ve had every reason to quit. We’re small. We’re young. We’ve weathered storms. But our love never got lazy. Our love kept showing up, for the children, for the parents, for the communities who count on us to believe in them even when the world doesn’t.
Our CEO Angela F. Williams took the stage and wrapped the room in strength. She challenged us to see United Way not just as a charitable name, but as the first call when something goes wrong.“Where there is a problem that needs a solution,” she said, “United Way must be the one who figures it out. We are agile. We are innovative. We are the answer.”
She painted a bold vision:“Imagine ten years from now, we’re not just surviving, we are the premier global nonprofit, growing our revenues, leading a thriving and agile network, the partner of choice, a trusted top-of-mind resource. We will be the leading developer of civil society talent.”
And when she said her special passion is young people I felt seen, and I knew then, that same passion runs deep in me. The children of TCI are why I sit at this global table. It’s what fuels our work at UWTCI. It’s why we rise even when resources are low, and the odds are steep.
I was honored to contribute to the strategic discussion, helping shape our 5-year plan focused on impact, infrastructure, relevance, and sustainability. We examined these pillars through real-world lenses. We asked tough questions. We dreamt aloud. And we challenged each other to live up to our shared mission: to empower 70M people globally through solutions and data that improve educational and economic outcomes.
