Her Story
About Samantha
I served almost 8 years in the Navy as an Information Technician, which required going through a clearance process. After retiring from the military, my husband and I moved to San Diego, and I was looking for a job. I'm a firm believer in my faith, and I went up to Petco where they had a job opening sign in the window. I kept bugging them about it, and they hired me on the spot because I had experience. I got my grooming certificate through Petco in June 2024 and started my own business, but I've stopped it this year. Now I work for a private veterinarian as a dog groomer, bringing in extra revenue for her and taking on any extra tasks she needs me to do, so I'm kind of like her assistant too. I'm also potentially working for a dog club next. In my role, I take care of my grooming responsibilities, and I do a lot of extra little stuff for the vet as well. The biggest challenge in my field is the two-way communication - you have to be able to communicate with the customer about what they would like, and then communicate with the animal so they feel that they're safe.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Samantha
01What do you attribute your success to?
I have a strong faith in God, the God of Israel. He gives me purpose, and I go out and do it. That's really what drives everything I do - my faith is central to my life and work.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to do something you enjoy, and then it's not a job. I also learned something that wasn't necessarily advice, but it's been really important to me - I feel better just serving others. Once I get over that pride of wherever I'm at in a job thinking it's about me, and I realize that it's way bigger than me, then I'm able to do that job well. That shift in perspective from focusing on myself to serving others has made all the difference.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Practice and don't give up. It takes a lot of practicing before you can do what I do. With Petco, I didn't get too much practice, but you kind of just have to learn as you go. I kind of just got thrown into it, so my advice is to keep practicing and persevere through the learning process.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field is communication - it's a two-way street. You have to be able to communicate with the customer about what they would like for their pet, and then you also have to communicate with the animal so they feel that they're safe. It's challenging because you're managing both the pet parent's expectations and the animal's comfort level at the same time.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The three values that are most important to me are faith, loyalty, and perseverance. I feel like those are the core values that guide everything I do, both in my work and in my personal life.
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