Kenya Jackson is the quintessential example of success. The vice president of marketing for Fortune 50 company, Target, has experienced great success in corporate America — first as an entrepreneur and then at his current post as VP for the retail giant. Jackson has a natural affinity for successful forays.
And as Jackson and Target comb the country to harvest the intellectual crop of prospective job candidates, he readily discerns future leaders, innovators and business rock stars. Fortunately, he is not hesitant about disseminating some of that knowledge to those looking to ascend to greater heights in corporate America, or pursue a more independent course, or —like Jackson – do both.
What did your success both independently and as a corporate executive teach you and can you share that with us?
From my experience, I think it’s key to be collaborative, find good partners, be a continuous learner and apply as you go on your journey. Continuing to do that … is how people will grow in their careers. And remember, success is always better when it’s a shared effort.
After you experienced success with your own business, you decided to reenter corporate America:
After achieving and exceeding all of my goals I made [as an] entrepreneur, I joined a small outsourcing human resources company with the opportunity to own a piece of the business. Our objective was simple: grow the business for five years and sell it. After my first twelve months, we were bought. And it was one of the best learning experiences I’ve ever had. Then an executive recruiter at Target shared with me what it was like to work at Target and connected me with great leaders there.
Target is not only one of the nation’s largest corporations, it also boasts one of the strongest legacies in terms of diversity and inclusion:
We have a strong commitment to hiring and retaining a diverse team so we can better serve our guests. We also support diverse communities through other partnerships and organizations, o you know about the National Black MBA Association, the diversity leadership program, INROADS, Management Leadership for Tomorrow, Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting and the National Society of Hispanic MBAs.
What is your objective when you visit these prestigious professional conferences and conventions?
These association’s mission is to create economic and intellectual wealth in the black community and align with Target’s diversity in creating a more inclusive workplace. Target has long been a leader in understanding diversity and appreciating the richness that it brings to the workplace and our communities everyday. Diversity is an integral part of our company. It’s who we are. We believe that our team is our competitive advantage. And we are determined to attract talent who are motivated with enthusiasm and work with diverse teams [to] turn ideas into action.
When farming the pool of prospective candidates, you have certain criteria you are looking for applicants to meet. Share some of advice about how candidates should focus themselves.
Be very focused on what you want to do, not just at your current position, but then beyond that. If you want to come to work at Target or any company for that matter. Have a narrow and deep focus, saying ‘here’s one or two things I would be interested in.’ But then how does that translate developmentally long-term into your career objectives. By having that focus, a candidate sets themselves up to put their best foot forward.
