Her Story
About Joy
Joy Lasley is a Territory Brand Ambassador who has worked with HEB grocery stores since 2011. Based in the Houston, Texas region, she previously covered territories in Austin, Killeen, and Waco. Her role involves checking own-brand products for integrity, ensuring freshness and proper dating, managing promotions, and educating department managers on new items across produce, seafood, market, deli, center store, and cheese shop departments. Her primary expertise lies in deli-prepared foods. Prior to this position, Lasley built a foundation in the restaurant industry, attending cosmetology school before spending 14 years with Chili's and serving as a district manager for Quiznos. Among her notable achievements, she has opened over 100 HEB stores. Lasley values integrity, honesty, compassion, and empathy in both her professional and personal life, and she volunteers at antique mall events where she also buys and resells vintage items.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Joy
01What do you attribute your success to?
I've always had to get out there and fend for myself. I've never really had anyone to take care of me, so I've always had to fight for anything I've ever had. You gotta be an advocate for yourself and promote yourself because you can't depend on people to do it for you sometimes.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Be consistent and fair and objective. Treat everyone equal and always try to encourage people to grow with the company wherever they may be.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Have a lot of self-discipline especially since you're on your own schedule going to multiple stores a day. You've got to make your route, be focused, and adjust to different markets and clienteles whether in downtown Houston or small towns in Texas. You really have to be versatile.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The grocery market is very competitive right now. You have to be open to new competitive products, pay attention to new items and suppliers, educate leadership on what's happening in the field and at competitors, and capture new business including from social media trends. We're the eyes and ears for the company.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
To be a good person with integrity, honesty, compassion, and empathy. If you need guidance, go to your higher power whatever that may be, and have faith.
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