For Wanda Armstrong, giving back is more than a passion. It’s a promise she made many years ago.
A Navy veteran, Armstrong has worked as a customer service analyst at Mutual of Omaha for 11 years. She strives to bring empathy to every customer interaction, along with a deep commitment to serving others.
Whether she’s helping customers, volunteering at New Visions Homeless Services or serving on Mutual of Omaha’s Veteran Employee Resource Board (VERB), she leads with compassion and purpose.
Before joining Mutual of Omaha, Armstrong would often pass the company’s headquarters and imagine working there someday. She started as a temporary employee and worked her way into Customer Service. Today, Armstrong continues to make a difference to the people she serves.
“I can just put myself in a customer’s shoes whenever and whatever they’re going through,” Armstrong said. “I’m proud to work for a company that has a positive impact on customers and cares about people in the community as well.”
A promise to pay it forward
Armstrong’s dedication to service was shaped by personal experience. After leaving the Navy as a young mother, she found herself experiencing homelessness with her daughter. A Salvation Army case manager helped Armstrong get back on her feet.
“She helped me get an apartment. And she told me, ‘Whatever you do, make sure you pay it forward,’” Armstrong said. “I made God a promise. I said, ‘If you ever help me get off the street, I’ll always serve you and always give back. And I’ll show others how to overcome in their times of need.’”
Twenty years of service
For nearly two decades, Armstrong has volunteered with New Visions Homeless Services, serving meals, building relationships and offering encouragement to individuals experiencing homelessness.
She recently joined the organization’s board of directors, helping advance its mission. While the organization provides food, shelter, clothing and recovery support, Armstrong believes the human connection is just as important.
One person served by the organization made a lasting impression on Armstrong. She recalled a man who spent years around the shelter and often challenged her about why she took the time to talk with him.
“Because you matter to me,” Armstrong would tell him.
Over time, he transformed his life and eventually became a volunteer and overnight manager at the shelter.
Volunteering has also become a family tradition. Armstrong brings her grandchildren along to serve, helping them understand the importance of giving back.
Serving community and country
Having served in the Navy, Armstrong’s commitment to service extends beyond volunteerism. Today, she’s an active member of VERB, where she supports fellow veterans and participates in community service activities.
“It’s wonderful to work for a company that cares about the community — and gives associates the flexibility to volunteer,” she said.
Living her purpose
If you ask Armstrong what she wants people to know about her, her answer is characteristically humble.
“I’m just Wanda. I’m just me,” she said. And her advice to anyone considering volunteering is simple. “Just get involved.”
Through her work, military service and decades of volunteerism, Armstrong exemplifies what it means to live with purpose.