Selection Systems Support Nesalie Webb was born on a small island in the Philippines, where hospitality and positivity are ingrained in the culture.

As a child, Nesalie knew these values were important but never imagined how much they would shape her personal and professional journey. At 14, she moved to the U.S. This big move came with a big transition.

“I had to learn English,” said Nesalie. “I taught myself by reading lots of books.”

As she learned more about American culture, Nesalie kept hearing about a grocery store known for its customer service, so she had to check it out.

“Shopping at Publix felt like home,” she said. “The premier customer service everyone told me about mirrored the hospitality I was used to in the Philippines.”

In 2018, Nesalie joined Publix as an administrative assistant in real estate before transferring to associate experience (formerly human resources). Over the past 6 years, she’s admired how Publix celebrates diversity and people from different backgrounds.

“I love being part of a team that creates the space for me to share my culture,” said Nesalie. “At every team potluck, I bring traditional Filipino dishes like leche flan, a popular caramel custard dessert.”

Though she’s thousands of miles from her native country, Nesalie keeps the Filipino culture and values close to her heart.

“Coming from humble beginnings, I learned about gratitude at a very young age,” she said. “No matter where life takes me, I’ll always remain grateful, spreading light and positivity — the Filipino way!”

Publix is a family — a big, 255,000-person one — with backgrounds from across the country and around the world. This article is part of a series featuring associates from a variety of backgrounds, age groups and cultures, and we love sharing their successes. We hope our articles help you learn a little more about your fellow associates who make up our Publix family.