Retail Yesterday and Today

My career is not known to many except for the fact I had worked in the retail industry for decades. My career has been an extraordinary journey, and I felt it was a good time to share. I wanted to share with candor, and passion about my experience as a young Afro American growing up in the business. I came of age during a time of tumultuous social, and economic change in American. Like many Afro Americans I grew up with limited choices, and career opportunities. I did not have many mentor relationships outside of my father, therefore any road that I wanted to travel would be a challenge. The terrain that I wanted to travel had not been actively explored by many people of color. A young boy growing up on the south side of Chicago to reach the height of management was considered to be unimaginable by many prior to the start of my journey. I was at the right place when change started to take place in the country, and I believed my career success in the industry has been inspirational for many.