How I Hire: Values First

I love what I do. I was fortunate enough early on in my career to discover a love for fashion and retail, and to this day, I wake up every day excited about what lies ahead. Retailing is hard work, but it has taken my career on a journey that has been amazing and fulfilling.

One of the most important things that I have learned on this journey is that you have to surround yourself with the right people in the right positions to ensure success. As the CEO of a nearly $2.5 billion public company, leading approximately 20,000 associates, I rely on my teams to help me deliver on our mission and purpose as a company. ANN INC. is the company it is today because we are composed of people who excel at what they do, but see themselves as doing more than making and selling clothes. They see something bigger: a chance to inspire and connect with women to put their best selves forward, an opportunity to build relationships, and to work with like-minded people on a close-knit team. And, yes, they are also having fun while doing all of the above.

With that in mind, when considering candidates to join our team, I generally think about four things: passion, authenticity, humility and shared values.

I have a very close friend who worked as an associate in a bank and then in stores after college. Next, he moved to selling clothes in specialty stores, but he never loved it. One day, he was asked to help someone design and decorate their home. He did a fantastic job and quickly realized that he was finally doing what he loved. He found his passion. Passionate people love what they do and are excited about it. You can hear it when they talk about their work, you can feel it when you are around them, and you can see it in their results.

Experience, education and skill are important, but I also look for passion when I talk to candidates.

A leader I admire once said that great leadership is the perfect blend of personal humility and professional will. I believe that to be true. You get far more support and loyalty by being authentic and forthright. I want the leaders on our teams to do what they say and say what they mean.

That’s why I look for humility and authenticity in the candidates I meet. I believe that everyone counts and everyone leads. There should not be any “peacocks” at ANN INC. One of my favorite sayings is, “a peacock today is a feather duster tomorrow.” We all need to be humble and proud of our work — but not boastful of our success.

I also place a lot of emphasis on shared values. When making hiring decisions, both my teams and I start with the core belief that cultural fit is everything. “Fit” might not come across in a job description, but candidates who fit feel strongly connected with all things the company stands for. At ANN INC., candidates who fit feel connected with all things a woman values, believes in, supports, defends, embraces, and loves. They are relationship builders, team players, and believers in fashion first and people always. Those one-in-a-million candidates are the ones we covet because they are capable of shaping an experience that will make someone’s day and inspire her to look, feel and be her best.

I happen to think that our company is a special place filled with unique and passionately dedicated associates. I recall a quote from the late Steve Jobs. He said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do”…the only thing I would add to that is, “and where you do it.”

---

Many of you have asked me on LinkedIn how you can work for ANN INC. and I am excited to see your interest and connection with our brands and channels. I encourage you to visit ANNINC.com, ANNCareers.com or our career-related social media sites to learn about our Company. There you will find stories and insights about ANN INC., our brands and our people.Insights range from career advice and openings, celebrating our successes – both company and individual associate milestones, our charitable and corporate social responsibility partnerships that are making a difference in the world, and the engaging environment we work in daily.

Hélio Silva

Hélio Araújo Silva Ocupação Audiovisual/ Screenwriter

8y

# SOCIETY Indian-hating - Sign the Petition: National Secretariat of Indigenous Peoples.We did not achieve sustainable development by which alçássemos Empowerment of life to change worldview consciousness and the Moral. Since the invasion, the man destroys the indigenous culture. After all, there were 515 years of Legal deception of Brazil! http://lnkd.in/bwvqDi8

Like
Reply

love to work with you I have customer service skill in retail mangent and go back to school to NORTHWEST

Like
Reply
Lynn Meisler

Owner; Duet Curated Consignment

9y

I feel the same way about my small staff in my small retail business. I love how Kay Krill explained it and helped me realize that my gut instincts about hiring are actually best practices

Like
Reply
A Nirmal Vijay

Deputy Manager HR @ AO Smith

9y

Very Inspiring!

Like
Reply
John R. Walters

Automotive Professional, AFIP Certified, Finance & Insurance Professional

10y

Hire Integrity !!!!

Like
Reply

To view or add a comment, sign in

Insights from the community

Explore topics