Crayola’s Post

Today, I celebrate my 6th year with Williams Sonoma! I shared 5 years ago why I love Williams Sonoma and nothing has changed! I heart WSI! I CELEBRATE a company that I am humbly proud to be a part of! Here are 10 reasons why I love working for Williams-Sonoma INC! 1. Talent - Partnering directly or indirectly with people and teams who create and sustain high performance culture! 2. People First Culture - Valuing Service and Customer Experiences. 3. Leadership - Motivates, Elevates and Inspires. 4. Civic Responsibility in diversity, equality and equity. 5. Contribution to the Community - No Kids Hungry, St Judes, etc. 6. Simple Kindness - Commitment to all associates well being. 7. Relevancy - 10 Brands that focus on bringing forth the best product. 8. Commitment to Sustainability now and beyond. 9. Working for passionate leaders who believe in internal growth. 10. Doing what I love! #WSILOVE #WSIHEART #LOVEWHATYOUDO

Today marks my third year anniversary with Turn 14 Distribution, Inc.! Reflecting on the past three years, It's hard to believe how fast the time has gone; most days I walk in feeling like I just started yesterday. When I first came here, I thought I knew a lot more about - well, everything - than I actually did. In looking back at all the things I've learned and accomplished, I can only attribute these successes to the support from all of the lovely people here (not just in the HR department) and the culture that Turn 14 Distribution has built. Usually in interviews, I describe this as a 'learning' environment; a culture defined not by shaming mistakes, but by using them as opportunities to improve and reach higher. It's also an environment that takes the time to do and build things the right way, not frivolously jumping into things to say we do them. Ultimately though, it's the entrepreneurial spirit that makes this such a special place to be. From entry-level to senior leadership, it's a culture of innovators looking to build the best experience/product/process that they can so every team and business partner can benefit. Here's looking forward to the next few years!

💪 "Your Best Is Enough. Trust Me." – Wolverine 🦸♂️ I enjoyed sketching this and recalled the quote/dialogue by Wolverine mentioned above. In the relentless pursuit of excellence, we often push ourselves to the brink, constantly chasing perfection. But sometimes, it's important to remember that our best effort is more than enough. Wolverine's words resonate deeply, reminding us to trust in our capabilities and the value we bring to the table. Let us – 🌟 Embrace our efforts - Our dedication, hard work, and commitment are valuable contributions. 🌟 Celebrate small wins - Every step forward, no matter how small, is progress; celebrate it. 🌟 Trust the process - Trusting ourselves and our abilities is key. 🌟 Support each other - Create an environment where everyone feels valued for their efforts Let's keep Wolverine's advice close to our hearts. Let's trust that our best is enough and continue striving for excellence without losing sight of our own worth. #MotivationEveryday #SelfBelief #CareerGrowth #TeamWork #Inspiration

Y’all. A few months ago, I met a new MA Specialist by the name of Bradley. We talked about how LPP helps everyone WIN and he committed to doing his best, despite foot traffic in the store being a bit light. Well, y’all know me and my memory…I remembered that conversation. 🤓 So, I decided to check in on his progress! I’m proud to say he hasn’t let the light foot traffic discourage him. He’s putting forth effort and moving the needle in the right direction so I had to give him a small token of my appreciation. One of the most important aspects of sales is effort. And, if you give your best effort, 9 times out of 10, you’ll do better than you expected. Once you see what you’re capable of, that’s when the real work begins because that’s when you’ll start to hone your craft. 😎 So, thank you to Bradley and all the Specialists who show up so they can show out! Keep pushing so you can reach the stars! 💪🏽⭐️ Onward and Upward 📈 #lowes #loweslife #region5 #partnership #progress #passion #success #successmindset #service #servantleadership #support #learning #development #coaching #growing #teaching #movetheneedle #recognition #recognitionmatters #onwardandupward Chad Alberda Jesse Krug Andrew Bradt Jennifer Clark Jeff Morgan Brian Deal Danny Gates Brian Murray Chris Grimley Jessica Chalk

Every time I sign a contract for Atana Inc (which is daily) I think of this moment, 17 years ago… I was in a rock band formed while in college, and we had hit it BIG (for us, at the time). We had been asked to be an opening band for a 10,000 person concert at the Iowa Speedway (shout out to Penske Automotive Group for providing killer food and drinks for all the bands). To prep for the scale of this concert, my tiny band had to sign 1,000+ massive posters for our merch table. My lovely mother had taught me to sign my name in cursive from a young age, but after 382 (give or take) posters my hand was KILLING ME. So my signature became a shell of its former glory, resulting in a quick scribble to “just get this over with.” It’s never been the same again. No real reason for this post. Just wanted to share this fun little memory since its end of quarter and I’m signing a million contracts as we bring on a bunch of new customers every day. P.S. If you know you have leadership soft skills or compliance training needs (e.g., harassment or workplace violence prevention), I’d love to show you how we can guarantee ROI for our customers (something L&D has been begging for FOREVER). —— #compliancetraining #workplaceviolenceprevention #leadershiptraining

What do you think Laura Alber and Marta Benson studied in college? Which degree do you think these powerful CEOs have? If you guessed Business, you'd be wrong. When departing Cleveland State University, my professor asked if my sociology degree would be taken seriously in the business world. Truthfully, I didn't think they would. It didn't matter. If you look up the definition of a sociology degree, you'll get varied answers but it all boils down to people. Learning about people. How they interact. Why they interact that way. What influences their decisions. Culture. Race. Social Class. History. The list goes on. Thank you, Laura Alber and Marta Benson, for being such an inspiration. To the world, don't dismiss a candidate for their sociology, psychology or philosophy degree. The better you understand people, the easier it is to collaborate with them. Collaboration is the key to success in any business.

I'll be honest, I'm not seeing a ton of corporate Black History Month action yet this year and I am hoping that changes. With that said, everyone keeps looking for the ACCOUNTABILITY, so this year I want to discuss these campaigns more critically and constructively. Starbucks: Kudos for: ⚖️ Not backing down in light of racial justice attacks 🎨 Leaning into the BHM theme by enlisting Seattle artist Damon Brown. 💵 Donating to racial justice causes that help change policy Questions: 💰 How much are you committing to Black-centered nonprofits? How/when is that amount determined? 🧾 Do the proceeds from the cups go towards something equitable? Opportunities: I would love to see a BHM program that's more integrated into your business operations. A BHM kickoff that extends beyond February would be amazing. A couple of thought-starters: 1️⃣: Donate to nonprofits that directly benefit your industry and supply chain, such as Black farmer initiatives or a Black trade association. 2️⃣: I would personally love to see smaller Black-owned brands like Hella Tea Oakland and Brooklyn Tea get some sort of spotlight, partnership, or support from a big brand like Starbucks. I look forward to seeing how much goes to racial justice organizations and what stories you uplift during the remainder of the month. Sincerely, Kelle, a Racial Justice Advocate

Incredible idea! ♥ GAP's latest campaign has truly stolen the hearts of many, including mine. Building a campaign on the unique characteristic features of Jungle and Tyla, who have recently made significant waves across various audiences, is nothing short of a marketing masterpiece. This approach, coupled with a fresh take on GAP's iconic dance commercials, has created a campaign that resonates deeply with all the different audiences, especially with Gen-Z, whom everyone tries to reach through various methods. This is a prime example of a lesson we always share with brands looking to make a mark in the music industry: "Don't just insert an artist into your campaign; tailor the campaign to the artist". Seeing this concept executed so flawlessly without any forceful elements, just by rightly blending and reimagining what already exists and integrating it into GAP's values, fills me with joy. ✨ When done right, music marketing can be a powerful tool. Huge congratulations to everyone involved and, of course, to Gap! #marketing #musicbusiness #musicmarketing

I really try to utilize my Linked In platform to connect professionally and highlight my teams accomplishments. However, in light of Black History month I’d be remiss not to shed light on a recent experience I had shopping as a person of color. It’s disheartening how all of my achievements as a career Retail leader, college graduate and entrepreneur are taken from me the moment I’m profiled for shopping while Black. My husband and I had the worst and most upsetting experience shopping a few weeks ago when we were racially profiled, followed and blatantly watched while shopping at a huge retailer. Even worse is that when I attempted to speak with the General manager and explain how we were treated there was absolutely no understanding or empathy. Instead of an apology he led by explaining his teams behavior on the fact that the store has a lot of theft and that they watch everyone who enters with a bag. Ironically, I managed the DSW location in that exact mall adjacent from his store, so I am well aware of the challenges of the market. However, it doesn’t excuse his teams actions, and his blatant lack of concern for our experience. The fact that this is still happening in 2024 is beyond infuriating. Even worse is knowing that an organization employs leaders who encourages biased profiling. Burlington Stores, Inc. you’ve lost me as a customer, and I refuse to not have my voice heard. #inclusionanddiversity #blackhistorymonth I guess we looked like thieves?

As #BlackHistoryMonth starts, #IMS is honoring Kristin Weeden, M.S., SHRM-SCP, Chief Talent Officer of Penske Entertainment. Learn more about Kristin and what Black History Month means to her ⬇️