Interview with Pepe Estrada, Director of Public Affairs at Walmart
In case you didn’t know: Walmart is big. It’s so big, it is the largest private employer in the United States, with over 1.5 million employees. Now imagine driving change from the top, having the support of the CEO to lead Walmart’s efforts in community outreach.
Meet Jose (Pepe) Estrada, the Director of Public Affairs at Walmart. Over the past 15 years, he’s worked with LatinX, LGBTQ, American Indian, People with Disabilities, and Emerging Generations communities. He’s even led Walmart’s first influencer-based reputation management initiative.
The interesting thing about Pepe is that he didn’t start out in public affairs at all. He began as an economist in Peru before moving to the United States to get his PhD in agricultural economics at NC State. Along the way, he learned three vital rules for success, which could be why he’s been so successful across roles and industries: 1. Be adaptable and flexible, 2. Network, and 3. Never judge a book by its cover.
Have you listened to the podcast? How has your perception of Walmart changed as a result? Do you agree with Pepe’s rules for success? Share your thoughts, tweet @theomarproject on Twitter.
Show Notes:
The Omar Project
Book - Extreme ownership by Jocco Willink and Leif Babin
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