Hometown: Benton, Arkansas
Description of Role:
In my current role I have the unique opportunity to work with some of the most brilliant minds in the world. I am responsible for the design and execution of developing Walmart’s high potential / future officer population - equipping them with enabling mindsets for the future. I love my job because I have a passion for learning, a keen focus on innovation, and I am not afraid to challenge the status quo to ensure the necessary leadership behaviors are embedded into our associate development journey!
Prior to serving on the Leadership Initiatives team, I was a Sr. Manager in Global Business Solution’s Finance Program Delivery organization where I served as a consultative partner by supporting strategic operational initiatives for Walmart North America and Walmart Canada. I placed thoughtful emphasis on the budgetary impact gained through streamlining operational efficiencies and by appropriately implementing processes, leveraging tools and sourcing technology to optimize efficiencies gained. I partnered with the WMT Canada CFO to lead the end-to-end international migration of WMT Canada Finance to join North America in a centralized model. I also had the opportunity to solve financial operational efficiency gaps within Walmart’s Mergers and Acquisitions space, all resulting in extensive cost savings for the company.
Before GBS, I had the unique opportunity to lead Walmart’s diversity acquisition efforts as Diversity PM within the Talent Acquisition space. In this function, I supported the TA function of WMT while addressing uniquely diverse talent gaps across the enterprise and finding resolution through strategic external partnerships. I helped play an integral role in the creation of Program Padrinos and COMPASS, as recognized in Doug McMillon’s year-end review in 2016. While serving on the Talent Outreach team, I had the pleasure to lead the company to our most successful diversity acquisition initiative in Walmart history!
During my 8 years with the company, I have served in numerous capacities – from recruiting for each business segment across both the Walmart Home Office, and Sam’s Club Corporate, to serving as an HR manager, contract recruiter, Program Manager, Sr. Manager in Finance, and now my work in leadership initiatives. Walmart is an awesome place to allow for such diversity in career opportunities and I am a testament to the fact that here, anything can happen!
Q: Is what you’re doing now what you always pictured you would do?
I never in my wildest dreams thought I would have such a nonlinear career path through multiple business functions. Throughout my career I have been presented with new and exciting opportunities in varying capacities, many of which landed me in areas where I was not necessarily the expert in the room. I am so fortunate to work for a company that values fresh and new perspectives with several things remaining constant: demonstrate that you can lead others, think strategically, and show that you have the capacity to expand and take on greater responsibility and opportunities will begin to present themselves (regardless of your degree of area of study). I’m really thankful to work in an environment that sees movement and diversity of thought as a positive!
Q: What do you see as the greatest challenges for women in your chosen industry? What are the greatest opportunities?
What I see as being a huge challenge for women in business and across industries is the ability to advocate and own success with the same confidence as our male counterparts - truly empowering not only our own journey, but also one another. I believe our greatest challenge and our greatest opportunities lie at an intersection with one another, and it’s difficult to mitigate how we outwardly project empowerment when we naturally can lack the same grace for ourselves. How can ever we learn to empower others when we struggle to empower ourselves?
I once found myself being offered a job in an area I had little experience. On top of that, I was asked to lead a really large international initiative within this space. I wanted to get the thoughts of someone more senior that I knew and trusted, so I reached out to Ben Hasan, Walmart’s Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. After a really insightful discussion, I concluded the meeting, and apologized for taking up so much of his time. He then told me to sit down again, and we had an entirely separate conversation. He explained to me that I was the only female on his calendar discussing my career progression. He informed me that men are lined up to talk about their career moves, and I was the first female who had reached out in a long time.
I left realizing I should never apologize for advocating for myself or seeking counsel and guidance. As a female in the workplace, we hear a lot about empowering others, and rightfully so. But I believe that true empowerment starts within ourselves. Within our own journey. There’s such beauty in the cyclical concept that “empowered women empower other women” and we need to find a way to tap into and channel this notion.
Q: Who has inspired you in your life/career?
There is no one more inspirational than my grandmother, Brenda Burton. I grew up living with my grandparents, observing firsthand just how hard she worked as she clocked in for countless hours at the hospital as a nurse in surgery. She worked day and nights, even taking call to get extra hours here and there - but it wasn’t the amount of hard work she did that inspired me, it was how she approached each person she came in contact with. She lit up every room with happiness and joy as she treated every single person that she met with such dignity and respect. If you meet her, you understand how precious she believes every person’s life to be, no matter your background you are truly valued in her eyes. You really feel that by how she treats you.
Her work ethic combined with her genuine and compassionate heart paved the way for me to seek that same style with how I lead my own life both in and outside of work. At Walmart we have associates in the stores, clubs, distribution centers, and our corporate office all working towards the common goal of taking care of our customers and communities. I am reminded each day just how much she has influenced me as I interact with colleagues from around the world. The lessons she taught me were humble, but they are evergreen and stand the test of time, culture, religion, class, race and creed. I’m forever grateful for her positive influence over my life and can say with confidence that because of her I try to live my life differently (better) each and every day with every person I come into contact with.
Q: What advice would you give to an aspiring professional?
The advice I would give to an aspiring professional is to embrace the journey and identify your “why.” Whatever role you are in, make sure it’s aligning to your values, and something you truly believe in. For me, Walmart is a place where the mission is so easy to get behind. Our mission to save people money so they can live better lives is something I believe in with all of my heart. We employ associates all over the world who are dedicated to this goal, and we put so much focus on taking care of our customers, and one another within the Walmart family. If I could give an aspiring young professional any advice I would say - find your “why.” Avoid pursuing a career or accepting a role with a company when you don’t believe in the mission. You’re going to have moments where you fail, where your team dynamics may not be ideal, or the project you’re working on just seems too overwhelming. Those things will happen! However if you remember your “why” that is bigger than all of the trivial elements. Having a job where you truly believe and are invested in the mission gives you a North Star and allows you to stay the course during your journey.
Q: What’s been your secret to success?
I’m not sure I have the secret to success completely figured out yet, however my secret to being personally successful is to trust in myself. It sounds silly, but having trust in yourself means you have confidence that no matter what goes on around you, you will remember who you are and that you are capable of handling it. Trusting yourself allows you to understand your strength, to tap into the limits of your resiliency, and even to know when you need to slow down and ask for help along the way. Self-doubt creeps in slowly, that’s natural for everyone, but I have found that I am the best version of me when I can fully be myself, and trust that I am enough for any situation!