Workforce Engagement Leader
2023
Senior Vice President,
INTERNATIONAL
AWARD
Drinal Foster, SHRM-CP, PHR
What I know for sure … the impact of robust mentors and sponsors is career changing
Education: BA, Organizational Leadership and Communication, Metropolitan State University Company Name: Wells Fargo Industry: Financial Services Company CEO: Charlie Scharf Company Headquarters Location: San Francisco, CA Number of Employees: 238,000 Your Location: Minneapolis, MN Words you live by: The beautiful and brilliant Dr. Maya Angelou once said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” She also shared, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better”. Who is your personal hero? My late grandmother – she was a daily inspiration and a raving fan! What book are you reading? Empowering Yourself – The Best Kept Secret in Organizational America by Harvey J. Coleman; Atomic Habits by James Clear. What was your first job? An office aide summer internship at the age of 13 in my hometown of Seattle, WA Favorite charity: Anything centered around youth and youth development Interests/Hobbies: World traveler, amateur photographer, blogger, lover of music and a sport enthusiast
80
2023 Fourth Quarter
I’m the daughter of two loving humans – Thomas, a celebrated military veteran and Patricia, a strong, Black woman who worked as a bank janitor earlier in her career. I share the origins of my beginnings as a way to provide context and background on my journey at one of America’s iconic brands. My career in financial services has been a deliberate dance across roles, functions and geographies. I started out as a teenager, learning the ropes as a bank teller, then honed my skills in human resources for years, all while keeping my eyes on the bigger picture. Each cross-functional move, each relocation, brought me closer to my ultimate goal: shaping the employee experience and driving engagement. Today, as a workforce engagement leader, I leverage the diverse tapestry of my experiences to ignite passion and purpose among our teams; a triumph my blue-collar upbringing could only have dreamed of. I’m very fortunate to have had the experience of knowing the profound effects of healthy mentoring relationships and senior leader sponsorship. My team poured into me and then doubled down because they recognized my potential. They witnessed the quality of my work and the impact that I created in the various work spaces.They invested greatly in me and furthered their steps and utilized their influence and social capital for me. This special collection of people – my dream team, made my impossible, possible, and here are some lessons that have stuck with me: 1. Be Masterful with Relationships – Serve as a loyal relationship manager and vigorously foster your relationships. Your network is your net worth. Commit to making deposits in others before requesting a withdrawal. Relationships are key to getting business done on any stage. 2. Maintain Intellectual Curiosity – Turn up your curiosity and commit to being a life-long learner. Show interest in other’s work and know their priorities. Serve as a resource and a supporter to others and amplify their work. Consume knowledge and digest it wisely. 3. Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable – Embrace ambiguity and learn to flex your style adapting to the environment that you are part of. Take calculated risks, try new experiences, accept new assignments that will challenge you to operate outside of your box. Say yes more than you say no. 4. Pursue Excellence – Be exceptional in your current role and your work will get noticed. Have a spirit of developing others, share your knowledge and help upskill others’ abilities. Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation. Stay relevant. 5. The Give Back – For whom much is given, much is required. We have the responsibility of lifting others up as we climb. Help to fill other’s “toolboxes” and help to navigate unchartered territory. With deep appreciation and admiration, I thank my team!
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