Sponsored Executives Learn Leadership Skills at United Way

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The Indo-Canadian Telegram, February, 2009
Reproduced with permission.

'It was a great way for me to get involved in my community and help raise money for a really great organization.'
- TEJI BRAR, FINANCIAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT TD CANADA TRUST

Teji Brar and about 40 other Sponsored Executives played a major role in the campaign's success. Their employers loaned their services to United Way for 14 weeks, allowing them to gain valuable experience while helping the charitable organization.

Brar, a financial service representative at TD Canada Trust, was among a few Indo-Canadians who participated in the Leadership Development Program, certified by University of Manitoba.

"It was a great way for me to get involved in my community and help raise money for a really great organization," said Brar, who earned a business degree from U of W last June.

She worked for United Way from August to December, providing support to workplace campaigns at major corporations within the city.

"It really helped me with my time management skills," she said. "It was a unique opportunity where I was able to work for not-for-profit... It helped with leadership skills. I was representing United Way, so I had to be a confident person in the way I spoke of United Way."

She conducted training sessions, speaking to as many as 45 people at a time. "You meet a wide variety of people and it gave me a chance to hone my interpersonal skills," she said.

Other skills that Sponsored Executives learn include sales and negotiation, customer service techniques, strategic thinking, analysis of information, plan development, identification of opportunities, and goal setting and achievement.

"They bring those skills right back to their organization," said Kara Frain of United Way, who manages the program.

While the employer benefits by having a more skilled employee, United Way benefits by having a bigger campaign staff.

"They essentially double our staff," Frain said. "To get the reach, to be out there in all the workplaces … we would never be able to do that on our own."

The Leadership Development Program has been certified by U of M since 2006. "We're actually the only United Way in Canada (whose leadership program) is recognized by a post-secondary institution," Frain said.

What you can do

For more information about the Sponsored Executives program, go here.

You may also call Kara Frain at 477-5360 or send an email to kfrain[at]UnitedWayWinnipeg.mb.ca