Director, Learning and Development since 2017

Previous CVS Health Positions:

• HR Business Partner, 2013
• Manager of Training, 2008
• Project Leader, Organizational Development, 2004
• Project Specialist, Organizational Development, 2002
• Intern, Training and Development, 2001
• Retail Store Associate, 1996

Why did you apply at CVS Health?
When I applied to CVS, I was just a teen! But I knew I wanted a job where I could help customers, whether that was finding a lipstick, searching for a greeting card, or picking up medication. My family had always shopped at CVS when I was growing up - in fact, my earliest memory of CVS is when I was just a little kid and my mom was trying to get me, my little brother, and a huge shopping cart of purchases out of the double doors of a store. A very nice colleague saw her struggling and helped her to her car with the cart. I guess his kindness sort of “paid it forward” in me wanting to do the same!

What is the most exciting part of working for CVS Health?
I love knowing that I’m helping to create programs and processes that will support our colleagues, so that they can help our customers. I’m one step removed from our customers and patients now, I strongly believe the work I do makes a difference. It’s amazing the reach our organization has, all over the country, and I am always excited to hear stories about the great service our colleagues provide.

What do you tell your friends and family about working at CVS Health?
Well, after they tell me ALL about their shopping experiences in their local CVS, I usually share with them how exciting it is to be a part of such a large health care company that is always evolving. When I started, we were very small (just in the northeastern U.S.), and not only have our retail stores grown tremendously, we now have so many other parts of our business! We have a Pharmacy Benefit Manager (Caremark), a Long-Term Care Pharmacy (Omnicare), an in-store Clinic (MinuteClinic), a health care insurer (Aetna), and so many other that all help people on their path to better health. There’s no one larger in the country or better equipped to support the transformation of health care.

What is unique or exciting about working in retail?
Retail is NEVER boring! There is always something new and interesting happening, whether it’s new products or programs for our customers, new tools and systems to make our job easier, or simply a new day with opportunity to have an impact. When I was in my store roles, I absolutely LOVED meeting new customers every day, and seeing some old friends regularly as well. Of course, there are always going to be times when customers are in a bad mood, or complain about something, but in retail your job is to turn that around. A little challenge now and again keeps things exciting.

Describe your typical day at work at CVS Health.
A typical day at CVS Health depends on your role. In my store roles, I was constantly moving around, helping customers or setting up product, putting away deliveries or cleaning up the store. I had the opportunity to handle cash and deposits, so some office/computer work was normal for part of my shift. In my non-store roles, I spend much of my time talking to people! In meetings or on calls, the majority of my day is spent interacting with others in some way (including email). I would say, no matter where you are at CVS Health, you always have fellow colleagues that you will spend your days working with to help our colleagues and/or our customers.

Why should someone consider working in retail?
If you want a role where you can see the immediate impact of your work, can feel a sense of pride and accomplishment at the end of the day, and can meet some amazing people who share your desire to help others, then a job in retail is for you.

What are your career goals?
My personal career goal is to continue to find leadership roles in human resources where I can help support our colleagues. I’ve been in training, leadership development, performance management, colleague engagement, and an HR Generalist role over the years, and all of those areas of HR have given me a great appreciation for how we ensure our colleagues have the best support available, particularly those to care for our customers and patients. I want to lead teams in HR to continue that work.

What does “lead with heart” mean to you?
Leading with heart to me means making your work have personal meaning. I have family and friends who have struggled with both acute and chronic illness, and I know the power that our retail stores, PBM, clinics, etc. can have in helping them improve their quality of life. I lead my team with heart by being genuine, caring about my colleagues, and always doing what is right.

Categories:
Retail | Working at CVS Health

Tags:
retail career path