Embracing the differences that minority candidates offer can help stores attract new customers.

I recently received a thin, white letter with the logo of my employer on it. While I have received many letters and packages from my employer, the thinnest of them all is, for me, the most important of them all. That’s right, it’s bonus time! 

Bonuses are handed out quarterly to management, and determining who gets bonuses is dictated by factors such as profit before overhead, sales, gas prices and more. The most interesting determinant, perhaps, is employee turnover. (more…)

A lack of mentors is affecting the advancement of women and minorities to executive positions.

Even with the strain of oil prices and the reduction of in-store sales, convenience stores are a booming industry. But it has some work to do to continue reaching a profitable, untapped demographic: women. Women are a full 50% of the population, yet when looking at the history of the c-store industry it has been predominately operated by men and marketed to that core base.
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There’s a place at the table in the evolving convenience store industry.

By Tonya Brown

The issue of diversity and inclusion in corporate America has been a topic of conversation for a long time. First, the issues around the table were about achieving diversity. Then the role of inclusion came to be and the issue of how do we actually leverage that diversity once achieved took center stage.

I have been involved in the area of diversity and inclusion in talent acquisition and management for some time, both by sitting on panels and participating in racial dialogues. There have been many strides made in terms of the Fortune 50,100, and 500, but it is clear that while some convenience store operators have achieved some diversity at the lower levels, they are certainly still living in the dark ages. (more…)

Leaders need to modify their thinking and actions in order to truly unleash the human spirit in their store managers.

By Tonya Brown

Over the last 11 months, I have seen four District Managers (DM) take reign. Now of course, given that this is the retail industry, it was hardly a surprise. They came and went for a number of reasons; some overt and some covert. The retail industry has always had a sense of drama embracing it. It is often hit with high turnover, involves long hours, provides little praise, and comes with minimal pay; at least in comparison with salary averages of other industries.

With the revolving District Manager or DM door, come constant changes in management styles, attitudes, and COMMUNICATION. Differences in communication was always the most frustrating experience because in my view, open and direct communication is always prudent, but it became very clear, that some managers preferred to communicate via phone, some in person, and some preferred non-direct communication via the method of emailing. (more…)

The business of inclusion is as important as what’s sold on the shelves.

Tonya Brown

One might think that the convenience store industry is a microcosm of diversity. One would have to admit that the industry, at least from the lower operations level, would fit this mold. After all, the DNA at the lower level encompasses diverse talent from differing social, economic, educational, ethnic, sexual orientation, and of course gender backgrounds.

However, with the existing global landscape, comes the responsibility of creating a diverse environment and managing the complex dynamics that result in this achievement. More importantly, store managers must advocate, not just create and manage diversity, but design a strategy that accomplishes the goal of an inclusive environment. (more…)