Sara Hayes, MBA’s Post

"The only impossible journey is the one you never begin." — Tony Robbins What a ride it's been! I started at Whole Foods Market as an overnight water stocker just as the world was grappling with the onset of COVID-19. Amidst all the uncertainty, I not only found a job but embarked on a transformative journey. Over the last four years, I've actively climbed the ranks to become the Team Leader of our new e-commerce team, all while attending school full-time. Alongside these roles, I embraced the opportunity to serve as a Culture Ambassador, a position where I was dedicated to nurturing our team's spirit and aligning our daily operations with our core values. Juggling these demanding roles was a rollercoaster, filled with endless challenges and learning opportunities. One of the biggest lessons I've learned is the power of mentorship and personal connection. Training and trusting your team not only enhances their skills but also builds the entire team’s strength. I'm incredibly grateful for the mentorship from Dana M., my Store Team Leader. Dana, your guidance has been invaluable to me. The trust you placed in me to take the reins truly accelerated my growth. You didn’t just teach me; you gave me the space to step up and lead. The quote by John C. Maxwell you shared, "A Leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way," has been a guiding light in my leadership journey. The heartfelt notes from my team, as shown here, highlight the deep connections we've built. These words are more than just thanks; they reflect the shared journey of growth and the strong bonds we’ve forged. Thanks to everyone at Whole Foods for being a part of my incredible journey. I’m excited about the future and eager to continue exploring new challenges. If you’re passionate about growth and leadership, I’d love to connect and hear your stories! #CareerGrowth #WholeFoodsMarket #Gratitude #Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #InspirationalQuotes #CultureChampion

Kellogg MBA applicants Brainstorming for the new Kellogg Essay 1 - *FIRST focus more on challenges you’ve overcome and problems you’ve solved with a good outcome. THEN consider the multiple skills part - this will help you lock in the best idea.* Kellogg MBA Essay 1 Kellogg Leaders are primed to tackle today’s pressing concerns everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Tell us about a time in your life where you’ve needed a combination of skills to solve a problem or overcome a challenge. Which skills did you use? What did you accomplish? (450 words) #kelloggessaytips

Thrilled to reflect on my recent UK journey for the Executive Leadership Training program – immense gratitude for the stellar engagement of Deloitte, especially Wayne B. Nelson, Sabine Benz and Benjamin Finzi! This experience has reaffirmed my belief in the transformative power of lifelong learning and the boldness needed to embrace unlearning. With over twenty years in Business and Tech leadership, I approached this program eager to absorb new knowledge, keenly aware that yesterday’s achievements don’t dictate tomorrow’s success. The highlight was absorbing wisdom from esteemed CEOs, ex-CEOs, Advisors, and board members. Their compelling stories highlighted the essence of being #PurposeDriven, fostering a #PeopleCentric culture, and maintaining the flexibility to pivot rapidly in ever-evolving markets – truly enlightening and uplifting. Unlearning, I’ve realized, isn’t about discarding knowledge but about consciously releasing obsolete practices to adopt innovative, applicable strategies. It’s a process that demands humility but offers immense freedom. This journey transcends professional growth; it’s a personal evolution. To unlearn is to embrace change and transformation. This #Transformation recharges my drive and sharpens my focus for the future. I’m sharing these insights in hopes that they might encourage you to pursue #Learning and #Unlearning passionately. Consider how revisiting the ‘student’s bench’ can invigorate your path – not just to gain new skills but to critically evaluate and improve upon the knowledge you hold. Let’s all find the #Courage to persist in learning, to continually evolve, and to confidently face the future with a learned heart and an expansive mind. photo: Christopher Werrett

Embracing servant leadership has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my leadership journey. In my early career at Pepsi as a Sales Associate, I vividly recall stepping into a dynamic environment, working alongside seasoned sales reps in the Oklahoma market. Initially hesitant to voice my opinions as a recent college graduate, I overcame my fears by immersing myself in the field daily. Through hands-on collaboration and active participation in projects, I earned the respect of my team. As I transitioned into a managerial role, adopting a servant leadership style became a cornerstone. Leading by example, I made it a principle never to delegate tasks I wouldn't tackle myself. This not only fostered a culture of mutual respect but also instilled confidence in the team that I was committed to rolling up my sleeves when needed. In leadership, genuine care for others is a powerful force. When your team sees your willingness to dive into the trenches with them, it opens doors to trust, collaboration, and a shared sense of purpose. 🤝💼 #ServantLeadership #LeadershipJourney #TeamCollaboration

Walmart Young Professionals had a very energizing start to our week, thanks to James Cameron CBE! We heavily discussed the importance of initiative in leaders and what tools are needed to demonstrate the trait. What stuck with me was this simple yet powerful list... As employees, we need to possess: - Skill: knowledge, experience - Will: determination, insistence, persistence, or willfulness - Permission: creative freedom or consent from leadership As managers, we can lead our people to demonstrate initiative by: - Engaging: open communication & continuous feedback with our people will help them identify areas of development and improve their SKILLS - Enabling: treating our people like they are as capable as they are... I personally feel WILL comes naturally, but can be broken in a toxic environment - Empowering: this is very similar to enabling, embrace your people's creativity and empower them to solve problems by connecting them with the people/resources they need to succeed!

This morning, my various worlds collided! Those familiar with me are aware that I stumbled into teaching classes and becoming a guest speaker for the Combined BS/MS Dietetics Program, setting me on an unexpected yet thrilling journey. My objective in this course is to empower students to excel in team environments, become innovative leaders in their field, and master the art of personal or professional branding. I also support those considering unconventional career paths within this program. This year, my lecture took a unique turn as I fused my new role at Sodexo with insights from my ongoing EMBA program. Today's session explored how design thinking can elevate their future careers and how to apply it in their current educational setting. We delved into the key elements of event planning, the importance in choosing the right leader, pushing boundaries during the planning process, and executing plans effectively. I absolutely relish those moments when I witness students becoming actively engaged, their creative gears turning in their minds. One of the highlights today was a thought-provoking question: "What do you do when you propose an idea you believe in, but your team disagrees?" That is such a profound question which shows the adversities that the students already face in their program and their interest in understanding how to handle these confrontational situations better. I am eagerly looking forward to seeing how they apply the knowledge they gained today to their upcoming project. TCU College of Science and Engineering Samantha Powell Phillip Harty Sodexo USA Baylor University - Hankamer School of Business Baylor Executive MBA - Dallas #designthinking #tcu #marketing #creative #pushingboundries #leadership #innovation #dietetics #dietitians

How HKUST’s Digital MBA Inspired Jane’s Career Pivot 👩💻 🎓 Discover the Digital MBA at HKUST Business School, an adaptable online program that empowers professionals like Jane Tusing to harmonize business education with a demanding career. HKUST's comprehensive curriculum, global perspective, and practical approach have substantially broadened Jane's career prospects and prepared her for leadership roles. "This online format ensures that I don’t have to worry about missing lectures. All of the course materials are available online, which allows me to really easily review, read, and watch the lectures at my own time and pace." 💬 Read more about her experience and HKUST's Digital MBA👇 #HKUST #DigitalMBA #HKUSTBusinessSchool

It's hard to believe I am already at the end of the first year of my MBA program. The time has flown by incredibly fast! I've met so many incredible people and have the privilege to now call many of them friends. I've also learned more than I could have expected before starting this journey. Here are a few of the biggest lessons learned over the past four quarters: 1) You don't have to be an expert to become an expert. Learning is all about, well, learning. Push yourself through steep learning curves and struggle through the unknown until the picture starts to come into focus. 2) Participation makes all the difference in success. Section C managed to win the Darden Cup for the second year in a row driven largely by consistently high participation rates! Showing up is often half the battle. 3) Discouragement and FOMO are a natural part of life. Feeling that others are finding greater successes than you can be challenging. However, running your own race and only measuring your success against your past self brings tremendous satisfaction and fulfillment. 4) Set your priorities early and stick to them but recognize that this may require temporary adjustment at times. Where you need to focus your efforts today may not be the same as tomorrow. 5) Always stay humble. The most impressive people I've met at Darden are those who are wise beyond their years yet ready to learn, well known among their peers yet happy to kindly reach out to a stranger, and winning in their every pursuit yet more excited to celebrate when others succeed. #Darden #MBAjourney #secondyear #timeflies #sectionC

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to engage with senior leaders from various parts of the country and a few from around the world for a duration of 2 to 3 days. Most of them held positions such as CEOs, CFOs, Directors, among others, in their respective companies. When contemplating senior leadership, certain perceptions come to mind. Some of the assumptions I held included: - They possess a high opinion of themselves. - They may not be particularly interested in learning about others. - They enjoy discussing their own achievements. - They maintain a very formal demeanor and expect the same from others. - Their primary focus is on work. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I couldn't have been more mistaken, and in a positive manner: - Through spending time with them, I realized that they are just as human as the rest of us. - As one ascends higher in their career or life, they tend to become more grounded. - They displayed genuine interest in learning about us. - It's not a matter of "I am senior to you, therefore I demand respect," but rather, "Respect is given and received mutually." - They were not only willing to impart knowledge but also eager to learn from us. If I inadvertently overlooked any stereotypes, please feel free to mention them in the comments.