CCAP Spotlight 

Q&A with Jillian Peat Hamilton

We're pleased to introduce you to CCAP member, Jillian Peat Hamilton. Jillian is the Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at TIAA. Read on to learn about Jillian and her journey to the community affairs profession. 
 

Tell me a little bit about your background/career path and what led you to your current job?

I think my career in CSR probably started in high school where I volunteered 500 hours during my senior year just to receive a special distinction during graduation. While my reason for starting on that journey was not the most altruistic, I experienced a lot during that time, and it was the start of my passion for community work. While most of my career has been in Human Resources, I continued to hone my personal and professional views on volunteerism and philanthropy until I joined the CSR team at TIAA in 2018.

What does your job entail at TIAA and what is your favorite aspect of the job?

My job is the best! TIAA is a 100-year-old company that has prioritized giving back to those that help others, and I am excited to be a part of that. My primary role is to establish the strategy and direction for volunteerism and giving in Charlotte. I work with 12 leaders that form a TIAA leadership council and serve on nonprofit boards across Charlotte and a 45-person volunteer council that coordinates volunteer activities for all of our associates. I love learning about our local nonprofit organizations and the many ways they serve our community.

Outside of that, I have appreciated the overlap of my role at TIAA and the opportunity to support areas of personal interest: Sustainability and Inclusion, Diversity & Equity. I helped establish our Sustainability Action Team, which worked to identify our carbon footprint and put a plan in place to get to net zero. I also work closely with members on our Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Team to measure Inclusion and Equity at TIAA and create programs like the Race Against Racism.

What are you passionate about in the community?

With over 500,000 people in Charlotte and the surrounding areas living below the poverty line and recognizing the issues around social mobility, the children of Charlotte have been a major focus for me. Whether it is making sure that children are fed, that they have fun and interesting educational opportunities, that they have all of their school supplies, and that their teachers are refreshed and prepared to teach, I try to support children and address the issues they face from multiple angles.

Tell us more about you and your family. What do you like to do in your free time?

The Ham Fam is comprised of my husband (Jason), my 10-year old daughter (Jacey), and our Goldendoodle (Java). Right now, I spend a lot of my free time driving Jacey around to gymnastics practice or competitions. When my time is my own, I love Broadway musicals, and am happy to sing any song from Wicked, Rent, or Hamilton (of course!). I can also be talked into any kind of sporting activity or adventure including snowmobiling, whitewater rafting, rappelling, scuba diving, dragon boat racing, running marathons and Spartan races. Sign me up for anything! Finally, I love travelling. My favorite places are Maldives, Iceland and China for very different reasons.

What do you like about CCAP?

This is my first role in CSR and CCAP has served a critical role in my development. It has been nice to learn from so many of you on a variety of topics over the past couple of years. I also truly appreciate the way that we have come together during the pandemic to address big issues in Charlotte. It is great to be a part of this group.