Influential Woman · Nonprofit

Aaleia Freeman

Director of Marketing and Resource Development, River Region United Way

Montgomery, AL

4Awards received

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Bachelor's in Business Management with concentration in Marketing Degree Auburn University at Montgomery Degree 2022

Her Story

About Aaleia

I got into my career very early as a college student at Auburn University at Montgomery, studying business marketing. During my senior year, I completed a strategic marketing plan project for a nonprofit, inspired by my mom's stories about a place for little girls that taught them about being a woman and served as a safe haven. I was the only person in my class who chose a nonprofit for the project. My professor, who was serving on a nonprofit board at the time, recognized my passion and brought in community members to see our presentations. Four months after graduation, I received a call from River Region United Way and landed my first job as a manager for marketing and resource development. I've been with the organization for almost four years now, and I've been promoted to director of marketing and resource development. Our United Way covers five counties, and I've been very involved with the community throughout my time here. I want to continue to expand my impact and see how far my reach can go beyond this area, possibly across the state. I'm grateful for everyone who has poured into me and helped me get to where I am today, because it's not just about the resume and degrees, it's about the people who believed in me and, of course, God.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Aaleia

01What do you attribute your success to?

I truly believe it's not just about the resume and the degrees, though that definitely helps 100%. If it wasn't for the people who poured into me and were there for me, I wouldn't be where I am today. My professor believed in my nonprofit project and connected me with the industry, even though nobody came to my presentation day. She told me my project was really good and that someone should call me, and four months later, I got the call that changed my life. I'm very grateful for everyone who has been on my journey and helped me get to where I am now. And of course, God has been central to everything. Sometimes you just have to follow and believe in yourself, because God has different plans for everyone. I got into my career very early and have been blessed with this path I've been put on and the impact I've been able to make.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I want to show young women my age that it is possible, and that you don't have to wait and set out goals to be like, oh, I want to get this by the time I'm a certain age or something like that. The fact that I am 25, I want to show them that these things are possible now, and go for it now. Don't try to sit back and wait. You don't have to wait and say, like, oh, I want to reach this later. If you work now, you can get it now, you don't have to necessarily wait for it. I want to show people, especially younger girls that see me, that this is a career path and that I did it, and you can do it too. A lot of people are like, oh, you work for a nonprofit? Like, why did you choose nonprofit? I want to show them that this is a real career path and that it's possible.

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