Post by Whole Foods Market

"I joined #TeamWFM in 2021 as a part-time Cashier at our Cedar Park, TX, store (CDP) while completing my Communications degree at Texas State University. During my first week, I fell in love with Whole Foods Market's culture, Core Values, and Purpose to nourish people and the planet. Each day, I was genuinely excited to go to work — surrounded by hardworking, kind and compassionate Team Members and leaders who inspired me. My store felt like a home away from home. As a neurodivergent person, I've always been fascinated by how people from different backgrounds communicate and connect. This perspective helped me thrive in Customer Service roles at CDP, where I could focus on the details that make each Team Member and customer interaction meaningful. In my year and a half at CDP, I supported various Customer Service roles, planned our Team Member Appreciation Week and became a certified Culture Champion. My attention to detail and understanding of the Team Member experience became invaluable assets. CDP left a lasting, positive impact on me, and I was eager to grow in other Whole Foods locations. That opportunity came in summer 2022, when I graduated, applied for a Customer Service Associate Team Leader role at our Bee Cave, TX, store, and got the job. Seven months later, Store Leadership encouraged me to apply for the open E-Commerce Team Leader role. This was uncharted territory, but I was open to the challenge and pushed myself out of my comfort zone to earn the role. Leading and building trust with a team of 25+ while learning the ins and outs of a metric-driven department was a great adventure. My neurodivergence gave me an edge: I could hyperfocus on metrics and systems while staying deeply thoughtful about each Team Member's needs and communication styles. In 2024, I was ready for a new challenge and applied for a Communications role at our Store Support office. I was thrilled to use my degree and my passion for the Team Member experience to support communications that positively impact and inform our Team Members. Over two years in, I've learned so much leading and supporting culture and Team Member experience communications. Being neurodivergent isn't just part of who I am — it's a strength that shapes how I approach my work. My attention to detail means I catch nuances in messaging that help our communications truly resonate. I think differently about how we connect with Team Members, considering diverse perspectives that add depth to everything we share. Whole Foods Market has given me a place where my unique way of thinking is valued and where I can bring my whole self to work. I'm grateful for the leaders who saw my potential, the teams who trusted me, the connections I've made and the culture that celebrates what makes each of us different. This is why I stay, and I'm thrilled to see where my journey takes me next." - Kayli Reyna, Communications Specialist #NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing