Appetizers

Starting with some basics.

Fun Starters

Getting to know the human side.

 Main Course

A quick deep dive into the day-to-day job.

Tell us about yourself and your job.

I was born and raised in Brazil, came to the US for college, joined Walmart after graduation because of the company’s mission to help people save money and live better. As a merchant, I get to represent customers and their needs through relationships with suppliers/brands in a specific field/category. I determine the assortment we carry in stores and online, negotiate the cost and volume we purchase, and determine the price and tactics we use to sell those products.

How did you end up in your field? What do you like about it?

I wanted to do something that would make the work a better place. I originally intended to work in diplomacy, but decided the public sector wasn’t for me and looked for opportunities in the private sector that would allow me to have an impact. At Walmart, I get to help 200M+ customers every week to save a little bit of money so they can live a better life. That’s what gets me out of bed every morning.

What does a typical morning look like on the job?

Start by looking at sales and margin for the previous day, take a look at the website to make sure things look good, and spend some time identifying what is working and what isn’t working in my business.

Cool, then what does a typical afternoon look like?

Normally meeting with suppliers on plans for new product launches, inventory conversations, cost negotiations.

What types of projects and meetings are you involved in?

Involved in meetings with suppliers, lots of cross-functional team members like replenishment, marketing, operations. Meetings I’m in vary from strategic like planning the launch of a new product to tactical like how to allocate inventory to specific stores and distribution centers.

Who do you collaborate with in meetings and projects? Cross-functional teams? What's it like?

Pretty much every part of the organization. Site merchants, store operators, supply chain, suppliers, marketing, etc.

 Dessert

Now for some juicy insights in the tea room.

What's the most challenging thing about your job?

Having the resilience to keep fighting for lower costs when suppliers aren’t wanting to partner with us, being able to gain buy-in from cross-functional team members to prioritize my business, competing with my peers for resources.

What are some characteristics that can help someone succeed in your role?

Being curious and hungry to find solutions to customer problems. Being willing to fight every fight and not let things fall through the cracks. Always be on top of your game. Being competitive is extremely helpful in my role.

Any advice on how to stand out and get hired for those just starting off?

Look for opportunities to learn about how the sale of physical goods works across all channels (stores, online, DTC, marketplace) and show that you understand the different stakeholders and components of the supply chain that need to be influenced for a product to make its way from a brand’s plan to the customers’ hands. Show attention to detail and the desire to fix problems.

What's something that surprised you about your job?

I was very surprised that the largest companies in the world have very young people managing hundreds of millions of dollars, sometimes billions, and trust us to make the right decisions to drive the business forward.

What do you see your next step being?

I just took a new role and I want to turn this category around very quickly, develop a 3-year pipeline of innovation, and move on to the next role as a director. In 5 years I’d like to be a Vice President leading a team of merchants.

Any last thoughts, advice, or recommendations for someone who wants to do what you do?

Talk to as many people as you can in the industry. Don’t be afraid to reach out with questions. Starting from the top, good executives always reply to emails asking for career advice.

 Drinks

Chat more over coffee or tea?