Her Story
About Natalie
Natalie Jablonski is an elected Trustee for the Village of Swansea, Illinois, serving over the Personnel Committee and the Communications Committee, and she acts as an Honorary Commander at Scott Air Force Base for the 375th Logistics Readiness Squadron. In her professional career, she has spent eight years at Schnucks in grocery retail, where her responsibilities include project management, design, and facilitating alignment on larger projects involving deadlines, processes, and obstacles. With nearly 30 years in various leadership roles, Jablonski earned her degree in organizational communication from McKendree University and later achieved a master's degree in management from Webster University. She volunteers on the board of directors for the United Way of Greater St. Louis, participates in leadership at the Rotary Club of Swansea, supports It's Your Birthday Inc. and Women Empowering Women, and previously served as CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters in southwestern Illinois. Jablonski attributes her success to the support of family, friends, and loved ones, and she values faith, honesty, and integrity in both her work and personal life.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Natalie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to having people around me, family, friends, loved ones that support me. My parents raised me at a young age not to be of service, but of value. Having that strong structure, people that you can count on, who will challenge you and hold up a mirror of accountability is essential. No one can do this alone.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was 'Never Say Never' from a vice president early in my career. She suggested getting my master's degree, which I initially resisted, but I did it anyway. It taught me that the future is still to be written, and you never know what's ahead.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage women to get out of their own way. Go for it. Take a chance. Even if you don't think you can do everything, figure it out. Faith it until you make it. Put faith in yourself, in the Lord, and in those around you. You can really do anything.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge right now is change, especially with technology and AI affecting so much of what we do. Yet it's also one of the greatest opportunities. The question is how you approach it, how to keep up and get one step ahead by getting great people aligned on your team.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My faith is most important, guiding me through discernment, pausing to think, pray, and reflect before decisions. Honesty and integrity are key, doing the right thing even when no one's watching. I value backing my team when they act with integrity.
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