What is the first thing you do when you wake up?

Check sales from the previous day. I normally look at them every hour, so a lot has happened since I went to sleep.

What books do you highly recommend?

I am right in the middle of reading Extreme Ownership. So far it is a great read, and shares some simple yet powerful concepts on how to lead and make a personal difference. I also love the book Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times. It is a look at the principles that Lincoln followed and how they apply to current business challenges.

What app do you use the most?

The Walmart app, of course. We are adding new capabilities every month to make shopping easier and faster for customers both in-store and online. Online assortment keeps expanding with new brands, store maps are rolling out soon to help you find items, and OGP (online grocery pickup) is expanding to more than 2,200 stores this year. The app is becoming a must-have shopping tool for Walmart customers.

What’s on your playlist?

My playlist is broad and a bit unfocused. You can find lots of classic rock (Springsteen is #1), modern country, heavy metal, and even a bit of rap (my youngest son’s influence on me, but he doesn’t know about it).

How and where do you find inspiration?

I find incredible inspiration from talking to our customers. There is nothing more inspiring than traveling the country and talking to Walmart customers that are so thankful for saving money. When you are touring a store and get pulled aside by a customer, literally tears in her eyes, who simply says “Thank you.” Thank you for saving her money every day so she can buy supplies or new shoes to send her kids back to school. I love my job because I get to make a real impact on real people.

What are you most passionate about?

My family. I make all my decisions and plans based on what is best for them. I am wonderfully blessed to be married for 26 years to an incredible woman who makes me better every day and supports me in every challenge, choice, and opportunity. We are fortunate to have two incredible sons that we are very proud of and who never fail to exceed our expectations. I find myself learning more from them and being inspired by them more and more. They have grown up fast, and the teacher is quickly becoming the student.

The three qualities that got me to where I am today.

A strong work ethic—you can outwork the person next to you and it does get noticed.
People skills—many people don’t like to think that relationships should matter but they do, more than many are willing to admit. You have to build relationships up, down, and across your organization to get things done in increasingly matrixed organizations. It amazes me the number of times I have to tell people that being liked is not a bad career strategy.
Leadership—I’ve been fortunate to work for incredible people throughout my career and learned something different about how to lead from each one of them.

What are you working on now that you’re most excited about?

I am currently leading the Walmart President’s Inclusion Council. Working with some of our best global leaders, we are striving to eliminate bias and create a culture and environment where everyone is comfortable and encouraged to be themselves. Inclusion is a fundamental part of our business, customer, and associate strategy. It’s important work that I am very proud and excited to lead.

What is the best advice you’ve received?

From a business perspective: be known as someone who can be counted on to deliver results consistently.

What part of your job would people find most surprising or interesting?

If you have a high degree of intellectual curiosity, there is no better job. For better or worse, almost everything that happens in the world (political, economic, social, etc.) in some way impacts my business, and ultimately what I do in my job. I tell people all the time that I’ve had good days and I’ve had bad days at Walmart, but I can honestly say that I have never had a boring day.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out at Kearney? Why?

Well, my oldest son is graduating in a few weeks and is starting his career at Kearney… so what I will tell him (or anyone starting their career anywhere) is to focus on four things: maintain high integrity, work hard, results matter, and find out what you like, because you will be working for a long time.

If you could solve one problem in the world, what would it be? Why?

Hunger. People are amazed at just how many Americans are food-insecure, let alone the rest of the world. With the technology and resources we have, it is one of those problems that is completely unnecessary. We have so many problems that require big changes and new technologies—hunger isn’t one of them.

What would you most like to be remembered for?

Creating opportunities for others and helping them to achieve their full potential. I’ve been fortunate to have some relatively big jobs and be part of organizations that make a broad impact, but honestly, nothing is more satisfying than seeing others (particularly young people) achieve or get promoted and being even a small part of their success.

And finally, what is your general motto in life?

There is no destination, so enjoy the journey.

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