Retail positions are often viewed as dead-end jobs with low pay, long hours and limited room for advancement. Damian Waugh, views the retail sector quite differently. Through years of passionate service, a solid work ethic and taking initiative Waugh has advanced from restaurant manager of Yum! Brands to his current role as the New York district manger of Starbucks. Recently he forged a partnership between the 125th St. & Lenox Ave. Starbucks store with Harlem’s Abyssinian Development Corporation to reinvest a portion of profits back into the community. Rolling out grabbed a cup of coffee with Waugh as he talked what it takes to succeed in retail.
What strategy has been most effective in helping you advance to your current position and how so?
I believe that in order to meet any business goal we must take care of and continue to invest in the capabilities of our people. This has helped me in many ways as I have been able create teams that are capable of turning around and sustaining successful businesses within their communities, while also having great passion for the people around them.
What is your advice to those seeking to advance in food service/retail and refuse to see it as a dead-end job?
Throughout my career I have been blessed with many great leaders and mentors. I have seen some outstanding leadership and no doubt some not so good ones, and I believe it’s important to learn from all experiences in your life. Foster a learning environment where you are teaching others around you what you have already learned while also continuing to educate yourself. Have a clear understanding of what your path of advancement looks like and what development needs you may have. Bring others with you along the way.
What are the key qualities you look for in selecting your management team and why?
The most important thing for me is to find someone that’s a great fit for that community. Someone who really understands what our customers in that store need. And someone who understands the importance of being really involved in the community. A commitment to the communities where we live and work is a key piece of our mission at Starbucks, and that’s one of the criteria we look for in our leaders. I think that’s something that’s unique to Starbucks.
