Crystal Wilson
Crystal Wilson is a strong relationship builder who over the course of her 22-year career has had the opportunity to leverage her skill sets of motivating, inspiring, and aligning. She is a native of Flint, Michigan, earning her B.A. in communication studies from the University of Michigan (Ann-Arbor) and her M.B.A. from Winston-Salem State University.
Crystal’s professional background is largely grounded in insurance for 20 years; however, throughout her career she has always been active with her true passion: nonprofit organizations. She has served as the chief outreach officer of the United Way of the Greater Triangle since 2023, creating and driving strategic vision for her team and the organization, including hiring and onboarding top talent. She is inspired each day by the mission to invest in community-driven solutions that advance racial and economic justice.
Crystal is also a part of the nationally recognized organization, Jack and Jill of America Incorporated, a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing future African American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving, and civic duty. She has been a member of the local Burlington-Graham Chapter for five years and served in numerous leadership capacities. She is also president of its local chapter and is excited about leading this amazing group of mothers along with creating and executing its strategic vision.
What Drew Me to UWGT?
In 2013, I started volunteering my time to local nonprofits through her United Way Campaign at Nationwide Insurance. After getting a few hours under my belt, I signed up for more. And more. This was an organization that was doing truly great work, and there were so many opportunities to give back. Yet I still wanted to do more. So I began co-chairing committees and eventually was asked to chair the campaign for two years. That coincided with donating. And then more donating, until I’d reached the Tocqueville Society level ($10,000+). My commitment to UWGT’s mission, along with decades of experience in the corporate world, led to an invitation to join their Board of Directors, where I served for two years.
What led me to shift careers to work full-time for UWGT? All of it. Every minute volunteering, every dollar donated, every campaign coordinated, and every Board meeting attended. Few things are more satisfying than dedicating one’s life to a cause that matters.
Top 5 Strengths, per the CliftonStrengths Assessment:
- Positivity — Inclined to be upbeat, with an ability to get others excited about what they are going to do
- Connectedness — Believes there are few coincidences and that almost every event has meaning
- Developer — Committed to recognizing and cultivating the potential in others
- Empathy — Skilled at sensing other people’s feelings by imagining themselves in others’ lives or situations
- Belief — Possessing certain unchanging core values, from which emerges a defined purpose for their life