The Next Generation – Jr. Board Member Interview
In this month’s WISE Jr. Board newsletter, we are featuring Keri Cardenas who not only works for Whole Foods, but has a wide variety of activities, events and fulfillments outside of her day-to-day career! Keri has lived in Austin, TX, for the past 10 years with her wife, three children (ages 22, 17 and 12), three dogs and one cat. Outside of work, her past times revolve heavily outdoors where she and her partner have been changing their yard into a native plant and pollinator haven.
Keri also recently took up the drums, and she’s playing her first show in March. She also volunteers training for the Trevor Project, a youth LGBTQ+ suicide prevention organization. Her next biggest goals are to continue post graduate work and hopes to have a clear decision on what route she wants to take before she begins classes again in fall.
WISE: Keri, please give us some background on your experience prior to working at Whole Foods.
KERI: Joining Whole Foods was a leap of faith in my career. Prior to starting at WFM, I had worked as a high-volume store manager for Levi’s and then Old Navy. It was very tough, demanding and physical work, but I loved the people I worked with and finding ways to continually improve the team member and customer experience. After 7 years, I knew I would need to make a change in the type of place I worked in order to grow my career.
WISE: How did you find your career opportunity with Whole Foods?
KERI: When I knew it was time to make a change, I began researching employers that had diverse career paths that could support my long-term growth. I had several friends that worked for the company and all had great things to say about their experience. I initially joined the flagship store as a part of the store leadership team. That became my platform for me to demonstrate my skills, intensely study and learn about our product and customers, and meet others who could help me take the next step forward. A year later, I was hired as a regional buyer for the Body Care team. About a year and half later, I was hired onto the global private label Supplements team.
WISE: What has been your most challenging part of your time working at Whole Foods?
KERI: Interestingly, I feel that every challenge at work has been an opportunity to find a better way of doing something or rising to the occasion. The most difficult moment during my time at Whole Foods was the passing of my coworker, confidant and mentor Samantha Hein. Sam was a true force of nature, influential, beautiful, kind and whip smart. She was a WISE member, and the 2021 winner of the Top Women in Storebrands Lifetime Achievement Award. Losing her was hard in so many ways and I will remain forever changed. The loss of her in my life brought me to the following conclusions: I will never take my time for granted; I will continue to push my boundaries to experience my potential; I will look for ways to lift up others; and I will always try to lead with my best self for me, my family, coworkers and friends.
WISE: What has been the most rewarding part of your time working at Whole Foods?
KERI: Making products for the customer that support our rigorous quality standards for ingredients, sourcing and claims is extremely fulfilling work. Knowing that I can be a part of an organization that truly cares for the planet and the people on it is truly a dream. The opportunity to help lead that strategy for the supplements department in private label has been an incredible experience. While the work is never easy, it is exciting and rewarding to find new and better ways to run our business, while providing a better product to the community that I feel proud to stand behind.
WISE: What got you interested in joining the WISE organization?
KERI: When I joined WFM private label, a member of the leadership team was a part of the WISE organization. She encouraged us to sign up and participate. I have always been interested in groups that bring in diverse voices, experiences and backgrounds. I was excited to meet folks from the industry and to develop my interpersonal and professional skills.
WISE: How long have you been a part of WISE? Tell us all about what you’ve done within the organization.
KERI: I started WISE in 2019 and shortly thereafter joined a mentor circle. Since then, I’ve enjoyed numerous development webinars and participated in the InPower coaching series. For 2023, aside from the work on the Junior Board, I will be going through the DEI Leadership track training. The opportunities to expand your skills are endless!
WISE: What do you think could be the future of WISE?
KERI: I’m really excited about the DEI work WISE is doing. I think as we move forward, our work in intersectionality is going to be the most important and impactful. We have the most diverse and multigenerational work force of all time. Additionally, we can connect with underserved and/or underrepresented persons/communities to ensure that we not only bringing ALL the voices to the table, but also making sure they have a seat and lifting them up to be heard. WISE can be an enhanced leader of that allyship by advocating for, educating, and activating within this space. It’s exciting times ahead!
WISE: How would you sum up your experience in this industry, and what advice would you give to those considering joining this industry?
KERI: Private brand work is truly exciting. Post pandemic, we have seen the customer trade out of national brands and opt for ways to save money in the private label space. Working within this industry allows you to be the most sought-after brand in your stores. This attention enables and pushes us to become increasingly nimble, transparent and creative. This not only helps change and shape the entire industry, but also creates improved economic impact throughout the supplier and customer community. There is so much room for creative thinking—whether it’s concepting a trend into a packaged good or raising the bar for sustainability, we have the opportunity to lift up our company and our communities!