Her Story
About Izabel
Izabel Swanson serves as manager of a Sherwin-Williams paint store in the Duluth, Minnesota area. She joined the company five and a half years ago as a part-timer, advanced to the assistant program for two years, and has led her current location for the past two and a half years. Before entering the paint industry, Izabel worked as a bartender for three years after graduating high school in 2020. She is currently pursuing a business degree part-time at Northwood Tech in Superior, Wisconsin. Izabel credits a previous manager for patiently teaching her the business and attributes her rapid progress to her own passion and hard work. She values honesty and truthfulness above all, striving to create a welcoming environment for her crew and customers. Through Sherwin-Williams Spanish learning program, she frequently assists Spanish-speaking customers in the region. Izabel advises young women entering male-dominated fields to embrace hard work, stand up for themselves, and express their knowledge confidently.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Izabel
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my previous manager who was patient and showed me the ropes properly, running so I could walk, combined with my own passion and hard work. Every day I am learning something new from experienced colleagues.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice is that with high responsibility comes great reward, and everything takes time. Take it when it comes to you and truly appreciate it.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Embrace how hard you can work, capitalize on what the guys are doing, fully dive into it, stand up for yourself and express your knowledge because you know just as well as they do.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty and truthfulness are big values. I am very honest with my crew and customers, and I pride myself on being a safe place where people can come with smiles on their faces.
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