Joy Baucom
Sergeant, U.S. Army,Market Asset Protection Manager, Walmart
“Walmart…puts a lot of focus on talent development for leaders. If anyone’s looking to grow within a company, Walmart’s definitely that company.”
What made you decide to start a career with Walmart?
When the recruiter I was meeting with started talking about some of the programs Walmart was initiating between prior military and people transitioning out of the military or veterans, like the Junior Military Officer program, I was sold. They felt that the military had a lot of values similar to Walmart’s – such as leadership, integrity, honor and duty – and that they can teach the business, but they can’t teach leadership. That was a sign to me that Walmart was home for me.
How would you describe a career at Walmart?
My family is pretty much all prior military, and integrity is something we uphold in our family. When I heard that that pretty much described the core values of Walmart, I was impressed. That’s important to me, to find a company that believes honestly in the core principle of the company, which is saving money and living better. It’s not just a saying. It’s a belief.
What about working for Walmart makes you proud?
When I visited Walmart headquarters, I was expecting to see some grand type of office, especially because Walmart is a Fortune #1 company. But they explained they don’t have elaborate offices because if you spend money on high-end space, how do you save money for the customers? It’s a recycled building to show support for that core principle. So it wasn’t just that they were saying it – they also lived it. That was when I decided that I wanted to continue on with the JMO program. It’s important to have confidence in a company that also believes in you, and which transfers those same core values that the military has into a regular business. I don’t think there are many companies out there that really believe that and live it on a daily basis.
What do Walmart and the military have in common?
Sam Walton said, “If you take care of your associates, they’ll take care of your customers,” and that’s something the military also says. If you take care of your soldiers, they’ll make sure to complete the mission. They go hand in hand.
What would you tell transitioning military members about a career at Walmart?
Currently I’m the market asset protection manager, and the things I learned in the military were easily applied. That whole one-team effort is the same as in the military. At Walmart, we also have one mission that we must accomplish. So that makes the transition easier. Walmart also puts a lot of focus on talent development for leaders. If anyone’s looking to grow within a company, Walmart’s definitely that company. They’re focused on making sure we pick the right talent, and then once we have that talent in place, continually developing it so you can go on to the next level. For those in a leadership position, they’re very proactive about making sure you’re developing yourself so you’re working at your highest capacity and your highest level.
What about working for Walmart makes you feel like you have an impact?
Walmart takes into account my feedback because we’re the key intel, the front line. Sam Walton said, “Listen to the associates and don’t overlook their insights.” That’s how I knew that this is a company where I would want to take my career and grow. At Walmart, you’re not just anyone; everyone has a say and opportunity to impact the business.
What about working for Walmart gets you out of bed in the morning?
Empowering, teaching and guiding the associates gets me out of bed in the morning. When it finally clicks with them, I definitely get enjoyment out of that. We did a lot in the military with the soldiers, so I enjoy training associates. It’s also a retail business – there’s a new situation every day, and that’s a huge motivational piece of working here.
Joy Baucom was recently featured in an article in the Miami Herald discussing the job market for veterans.