In the 6 years he's been with PetSmart, Jason has made a positive impact on associates as a motivational and engaged leader. Check out the below to learn how he has achieved true work-life balance while enjoying #LifeAtPetSmart.
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, associates can visit PetSmart's Belonging Fetch Page.
Meet Jason | Senior Vice President, Retail Operations
My retail career has spanned 25 years and includes a variety of brands, but I consider myself especially fortunate that the last six years have been at PetSmart. There is a certain uniqueness to retail (and we all may be secretly addicted to it), and I make sure to tell everyone there is no better retailer to have a career with than PetSmart.
I entered the retail industry in the same year that I entered parenthood. As I grew in my career, I was also growing as a father. Many “firsts,” both personally and professionally, were occurring in tandem. I now have four beautiful daughters and a granddaughter. I am blessed to see these young ladies grow, and I’m so proud of who they are.
As my kids grow into young adults and find their way in the different aspects of their lives, I see how important it is to ensure my work life aligns with my personal life. Most people instantly jump to the phrase “work-life balance”, which I think more traditionally speaks to the time spent at work versus with our families, but I have found it critical that the values, beliefs, and qualities I preach as a father directly align with my professional life.
This is something I am so proud to say I have in my career and #lifeatpetsmart. In terms of leadership, Doing the Right Thing, being United Together, and Playing to Win in life are ideas I tell my daughters about and work to embody as a father. I hope they exhibit these leadership traits as they carry themselves into this world. In terms of culture and the environment we all want to be a part of, Unconditional Love, Belonging, Recognition, treating everyone with respect, and rewarding behaviors echo the environments, friends, and social circles I encourage them to engage with and be a part of.
When the things I believe in and inspire people to be, both in the business world and in my cherished personal life, are in alignment, it allows me to be my authentic self as a leader and parent. To me, this is true work-life balance. I’m proud of the work I do and the consistency of my message; it’s what makes me feel like I Belong and is precisely why I am so appreciative of my #lifeatpetsmart.
