
How long have you been working with Staples Professional and what have you enjoyed most about being part of this organization?
I started with Staples in 2007 as a customer care specialist and got promoted to leads coordinator in 2012. In 2013 I moved to the pricing team where I worked as a pricing analyst responding to formal and informal bids. In 2016 I moved to my current role of pricing manager for lines of business.
What I enjoy the most about working at Staples Professional is the team environment. I have the pleasure of working with a great team that is always curious to learn and that takes time to help, support, and appreciate each other.
Throughout my career I have also had great managers who have supported my career goals and growth by providing the required tools and training/coaching sessions.
How have you developed professionally as part of the team at Staples Professional?
My experience in different areas of the company over the last 13 years has enabled me to connect different parts of the business and draw a bigger picture. In my current role, I have to work with both internal and external teams, and I have to make quick decisions and meet hard deadlines. As the pricing manager, I have to analyze numbers to explore different possibilities and outcomes so I can recommend the most favorable outcome to sales leadership team. Since our lines of business grow and change regularly, my team and I participate in significant product and strategy training so we can actively learn, adapt, and evolve with the new products and categories.
With my current role, I have developed leadership, critical thinking, decision-making, and analytical skills. I learn something new every day and share that with my team.
What makes you feel that the work you do at Staples Professional contributes to the company’s overall success?
My team and I work with the sales and merchandising teams to bring in new business. Every time we win new business, learn about new products as our scope gets bigger, and create a new process as we have to quickly adapt and align with the new business goals, I can confidently say that my team and I are a part of a bigger team and contribute to the company’s overall success.
In what ways does Staples Professional inspire you to go above and beyond?
I love my role! I love my team! I love working with numbers!
Every bid is different and that provides an opportunity to learn something new. As bids are accompanied by hard deadlines, that learning must happen within a short turnaround time. It can be challenging to always learn things quickly and constantly adapt and evolve, but that’s a big part of what makes my job interesting.
At Staples Professional I know I can express my ideas freely and try out new things. My manager, my peers, my team members, and my sales friends listen to my ideas. They appreciate if the idea works and they support and learn with me if the idea fails. That encourages me to be creative and inspires me to go above and beyond to be successful and in turn make the supporting team successful.
How does your work impact Staples Professional Customers?
Being a part of the lines of business team, I have opportunities to work with the customers directly and indirectly. My team works with sales team to put together solutions/product selection as per bid requirements. Being a part of the process to put together a package that meets the needs of the customer makes my day (and I do this every day!)!
What changes do you see happening at Staples Professional that excite you?
I’m really excited about our five new product brands. I have always believed that having our own brands of quality products for all lines of business gives us a competitive advantage. We understand how our customers work and use products and I am excited to see the quality products we’ve developed for our own brands. I look forward to seeing how these brands grow in the coming years.
Why should someone consider joining the team at Staples Professional?
If you are looking for a great team environment, supportive management, and opportunities for career growth, then you should check out the job opportunities at Staples Professional.