WALMART LEADERSHIP INTERVIEW SERIES Ruiz can comfortably speak to the values and ethics of Walmart, having held numerous leadership roles since joining the company in 1992 as a store management trainee.
truly ingrained in how our leaders lead. We serve customers from all over the world. [Diversity] is just part of who we are, and who we’ve always been. We are a company that embraces diversity.”
As a store manager, she interacted and was responsible for 350 associates. The store level provided Ruiz the ability to grow professionally but also to apply the lessons of her youth with her associates.
Currently, Latinos make up 13 percent of Walmart’s workforce. That’s an important number for numerous reasons, especially when considering the demographic shifts happening around the country. It also helps leaders like Ruiz learn how a Latino in California might view something differently then a Latino in Texas.
“The combination of how my parents raised me, and the values Walmart embodies and what the company expects from its leaders, made it a perfect match for what I wanted to do in my career.” Her parents were models of generosity and hospitality. Ruiz remembers times during her youth where her house was regularly occupied by cousins and other family members. Her house provided the right stability for friends and family to attend work and school. For Gisel and her sister, it provided an environment of focus and determination on their studies. “I had an upbringing with parents who were extremely supportive. Neither one of my parents had more than a sixth grade education,” she said. “My mom went to middle school; my father never went to a day of school in his life. “All while I was growing up, they had an amazing passion for ensuring that my sister and I got set up for success, especially through education. That was a major part of what they wanted for our futures.” The continued growth of Walmart means more opportunities for diverse talent. Despite Walmart’s roots as an American business, there’s no denying its global footprint and presence. Growth and global usually bring along with it a diverse talent base and a larger pool to draw from. Ruiz confirms that Walmart has had a strong diversity strategy since she has been with the firm. She has seen the program become ingrained in the company’s culture and not just part of a company program. “We continue to focus on our diversity programs and we execute them really well. However, what I am most proud of is that no one has to push to make sure the efforts are happening. It is
“First, it is a beautiful thing to be a Latino or Hispanic. It is a beautiful, beautiful thing to belong to a culture with richness in the characteristics of our people. It is something to be absolutely proud of.” Ruiz is actively involved in preparing Latinos, specifically Latinas, for their future. She has taken on several mentorship roles — official and unofficial — at Walmart. Currently, she leaders a mentorship circle for Latinas. The object of the year-long program is to provide inspiration and resources for Latinas who want to grow within the company. “The first thing I tell them is No. 1: Don’t try to be someone that you’re not. Be yourself. It’s a gift. Those very attributes that make you unique, make you stronger. Don’t try to conform or be something that you’re not. Be proud of who you are. Leverage those strengths. Work on the things you need to do better, but don’t try to change who you are.”
big believer that what gets you to the dance is delivering exceptional results. At the end of the day, your work represents what you stand for. That should be representative of who you are and what you’re capable of.” Ruiz’s 20-plus years at Walmart have no doubt been filled with examples of what’s possible when ambition and delivery meet. And her story — like the commercials — continues to highlight the possibilities of working within a large organization. But the Ruiz’ story isn’t just about her path. To her, it’s about the next generation of leadership and ensuring that she opens doors that were opened to her throughout her career at Walmart. “I think I have a personal responsibility to help people because I grew up in a family environment that showed me how necessary it is to help people, but also looking back there were so many people in my career who chose to help me, who chose to support me, and took the time to do that because they had an interest in me. It’s more of a personal responsibility than a professional one. It really is about giving back considering what you’ve received.”
She stresses that the only way to guarantee long-term success is to focus on the job you have now and to deliver on expectations. Too often, she has seen talented individuals get caught up in the idea of the next job and they don’t perform well enough to ascend to the next level. “A lot of times I think people get distracted by what’s next,” she said. “You have to trust that if you do your current job really well and you differentiate yourself well, that is good enough. “If you start trying to work on your next job before you get really good at your current job, that’s typically not a really good success story. I am a
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