I am currently working at Starbucks Coffee Company in West Palm Beach, FL.

We are
almost 31,000 stores strong globally and nearly 11,000 company operated here in the
U.S. Starbucks was found in 1971 by an incredible man named Howard Schultz. When
I started in my role as a barista 12 years ago, my intent was to find a part time job that
will keep me occupied while my husband was at work. Not too long after, I feel in love
with the company. I will never forget a video my Store Manager showed the team when
the country was going into financial crisis due to real estate bubble bursting in 2008. He
presented a video explaining what was happening and the unfortunate impact it was
making on the economy, including Starbucks. I remember the fear of not having a job
because they were aggressively closing many stores, but we were given the opportunity
to go to another location if we chose to continue our journey with Starbucks. In that
moment, rush of feelings came over me; sense of relief, happiness, fear of the unknown
and my respect and admiration for Howard Schultz.
I love our mission and values because it’s aligned with my personal values. Starbucks
and I fit like the zig saw puzzle shown by Natalie Baumgartner. I wake up every day
looking forward to going to work and see whose day I can improve. I am also grateful to
be part of another partner’s development and supporting them to reach their goal.
Creating an environment of acceptance and a safe space where you are encouraged to
be your best self is a great place to be. Starbucks was and continues to be a leader in
building human connection and treating each other with respect and dignity.
When I see my husband, I know we belong together just because how he makes me
feel and encourages me to be the best person I can to myself and others. This is what
Starbucks does for me as well.

1. Tell me a time that you disagreed with someone you were working with such as
your boss or a co-worker. What happened and how did you manage the
disagreement?
One of my partners who I’ve been working with and helped grow into a store manager
started to date one of our peer’s girlfriend. No one knew who he was dating until I ran
into them in a grocery store. Strange as I didn’t realize they knew each other. I walked
away feeling suspicious but wanted to assume the best because I’ve known the girl’s
boyfriend for about 5 years, he’s another store manager. I confided in my comanager
and we agreed to ask him to connect over coffee. We had coffee and bluntly, I asked if
he was dating the girl and he vehemently denied. I knew he was not being honest
because he got defensive and his neck got really red. Regardless of his plea, I told him
even if it’s not true, the perception is bad enough. I also said, he’s not respecting the
others in our district as this can have a devasting impact on our team.
He promised he was telling the truth and we went about our day. I wanted to share this
with my district manager and our peer, but I was torn. What I had assumed was also
experienced by our DM as he ran into them at a bar. To my disappointment, he did not
say anything because he didn’t want to “stir anything up”! My DM is correct as it’s not
our business, but it goes against my values along with Starbucks. Subsequent to this
conversation in August, she moved in with her “boyfriend”.
Our relationship has more or less been dissolved because I have lost trust in him. My
relationship with my DM has also changed because he chose not to take appropriate
action.
2. Tell me about a time that you had a problem to solve that you struggled to
complete on your own. What was your process and what was the outcome?
Unfortunately, when you’re in management, there comes a time when you have to
consider the livelihood of the whole team and make a decision that will impact one
person. I had a partner who had a heart of gold but just was not reliable. I liked her as
a person, but her absence created so much hardship for others, they started to resent
her. Knowing I only had one option, I couldn’t get myself to have that conversation
alone with her. I reached out to my peer who I explained what the situation was, and
she was there to support me as I delivered the separation notice.
I realized after this process had taken place, the entire team seemed more positive and
worked better together. I had less partners with time and attendance opportunities
because I was able to deliver what accountability means regardless of how I may feel
about you as a person.
3. Tell me about a time that someone asked you to complete a task that went
against your values or beliefs. What did you do and what was the outcome?
I had a situation with a peer that involved him asking me to listen on a conversation. I
didn’t realize he wasn’t going to let the other person know she was on speaker and he
was not the only one in the car. I felt this to be very dishonest and lacking integrity. I
stayed in the car while the conversation was going on but opened the door as soon as it
was over. My friend said to me, “you heard that, right?”. My reply to him was, “I didn’t
hear anything’. Not only was the person on the other end of the phone call betrayed but
I felt the same. As you can imagine, he was not happy with me, but I told him, what he
did goes against what I believe in, honesty and respect for one another. If you can’t do
that, what is the point of having a conversation or relationship with someone?
This is how I realized; we weren’t truly friends because this incident put a negative
space between us.