Yvette began her Publix career in 2020. Prior to joining Publix, she specialized in compensation and relocation at a variety of companies, and worked as a consultant helping startups and nonprofits develop their human resources programs and policies.
What is your favorite Publix experience?
At the end of October, I emailed my department about breast cancer awareness month. I shared my journey as a 2-time survivor and suggested we all wear pink and get a photo taken. I only expected a handful of people to participate, but when I saw so many people in pink, I was overwhelmed by the show of support.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I’m all about hanging out by the water. The beach is genuinely my happy place.
What are you reading right now?
The Bible. It’s my source of strength and encouragement for anything I go through. When I’m happy or when I’m down, there’s always a takeaway. I like the various interpretations you can get from a verse when you read it one day versus another. You’ll get different things out of the words based on your mood.
What is the best career advice you received?
Don’t limit your learning. Expand your knowledge as much as you can.
Favorite place you’ve ever lived?
Washington, D.C., because it’s so diverse. The city really is a melting pot, especially when it comes to the diversity of restaurants and free access to museums. There’s so much to do. Plus, it has great public transportation. Growing up in the suburbs of New Jersey, I never thought I’d love the city as much as I did.
What’s your personal or professional motto?
Personal: Live every day like it’s your last. Professional: Make the organization better than when you joined.
What’s your favorite sports team?
Dallas Cowboys
What did you want to be when you were younger?
As a kid, a pediatrician. Then as I got older, maybe around middle school, I got acclimated to foreign languages, fell in love with Spanish and wanted to be a United Nations ambassador.
What do you think makes Publix a great place to work?
The people
What’s your favorite Publix product?
Publix GreenWise Market Caramel/Cheddar Popcorn
What’s your favorite movie?
“Air Force One” with Harrison Ford. I can watch that a billion times.
What’s your work philosophy?
Making others better than before I came — so, coaching and mentoring. I want my team to be in a better place than when I arrived.
What’s one thing on your bucket list?
Travel to Fiji, the Maldives or some other beautiful beach with crystal-clear water.
What’s your proudest moment?
Becoming a mother
Where were you born?
Princeton, New Jersey
What are you listening to right now?
Jazz on my ride home
What’s your advice to someone just starting their Publix career?
Be patient and get to know as many people in different areas as you can, so networking within the organization. Don’t limit yourself to just your department.
Favorite place to vacation?
Anywhere overseas. I’m all about getting passport stamps.
You’re a new addition to the crayon box. What color would you be and why?
Hot pink. It has taken on a new meaning for me now. Most recently, it’s become about breast cancer awareness. Prior to that, it was one of my sorority colors.
What emoji best describes you?
The face palm 🤦
What is your favorite lunch?
A good salad. So it would have tomatoes, red onions, spring mix with some baby spinach, fresh blue cheese and candied pecans or walnuts. The coup de grace would be fresh salmon with a brown sugar vinaigrette. They have it in the deli at #654, Orlando, Florida.
What are you binge-watching right now?
I’m trying to get caught up on “Queen Sugar” on OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network.
Name the best ice-cream flavor.
Southern Butter Pecan
Farthest you’ve traveled?
China. I’ve been to Shanghai a couple of times.
What toppings do you like on your pizza?
Pepperoni. If I could get pepperoni and spinach, that would be amazing.
What’s something about you that people may be surprised to learn?
People think I’m super extroverted, but I’m really an introvert.
If you could spend a day in someone else’s shoes, whose would they be?
Michelle Obama because she’s so down-to-earth and can relate to people on so many different levels. I’d really like to understand her thinking — what motivates her, what drives her and how she connects with people.
What veggies do you put on your Pub sub?
Lettuce, tomato, banana pepper and onion
What skills do you think help your Publix career the most?
Leadership and relationship building
What do you want to learn next?
A little more about employment law
What’s your most unusual talent?
I have a chair in my house — leather, big arms, really plush — and I swear that thing has ether or something because I can fall asleep within seconds of sitting in it. I can be talking to you in midsentence and be out.
What is your go-to song to pump you up?
Any gospel song by Yolanda Adams or sisters Mary Mary
If you could meet anyone in the past or present, who would it be?
I would like to have met JFK because of his inclusive thinking — his whole mindset. I think he saw beyond a lot of the societal divisions we have.
Favorite board game as a kid?
Trouble
