Holland has spent close to 5 years living #LifeAtPetSmart and has continuously helped to make a positive impact on our team. Her passion for diversity and inclusion has helped to establish and landed her as a lead of one of PetSmart’s core associate resources groups, W.I.S.E. She's also broken through barriers for working mothers by relaunching a corporate career in Supply Chain Automation. Read her story of belonging at PetSmart below!
The Belonging Program’s “I Belong” Series harnesses the power of empathy through storytelling. This series is intended to give associates a greater sense of understanding, a bridge to gain new perspective, and a way to build connection to each other. To learn more about the “I Belong” Series or to submit your stories, please visit our new Belonging Fetch Page.
Meet Holland | Sr. Automation and Reporting Analyst
(with her her mom and adorable daughter!)
I am a third-generation female college graduate. Neither of my grandfathers, nor my father, graduated college, but my mom did, and so did hers. After college, my grandmother worked in accounting for Standard Oil until, as the culture at the time dictated, she had children. My mother graduated from New Mexico State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. She was one of the few females in her field.
For many years, I was the first child dropped off at daycare, and the last child picked up. My dad was starting a business, and my mom was working long hours in a successful career that often required travel. After trying hard to find balance, my mom left her career after 15 years. Her words "regret" and "I'll never get that time back with you" played on repeat in my head for many years.
Like the women who came before me, I attended college and started my career with PetSmart after graduation. I loved my job, the people, and the trajectory my career was taking. Four years later, I had my first child. I went back to work, but my mother's words continued to play in my head. While I was incredibly fortunate to be at a company that valued work-life balance, corporate culture in the U.S. still wasn't evolved enough for most companies to offer part-time opportunities, job sharing, or even telecommuting options. It didn't feel like there was a way for a working mother to take a small step back from her career while she had young children at home and still keep momentum with her career. So, I pulled out of my corporate career, conflicted and mourning the loss. This predicament is all-too-familiar for millions of women and has been exacerbated by the pandemic.
As my children grew, so did my longing to return to work. I decided to return and hoped that maybe someday I could be a mentor or support for someone else who has experienced this conflict.
Coming back to PetSmart felt like coming home. I am so grateful to be back and to be a part of W.I.S.E. I believe PetSmart is helping forge a more gender-equitable world – not just by words but by actions and example.
I have a daughter now, and I hope to help create a world where she doesn’t have to choose.