In our 2022 issue, we’re shining the light on some outstanding leading ladies for all their accomplishments and contributions to society.
GENA BUMGARNER
Vice President Customer Development Walmart, Tyson Foods
Gena is originally from Hot Springs and moved to Northwest Arkansas when she came to college at the University of Arkansas, where she had the opportunity to play collegiate golf. She fell in love with Northwest Arkansas and has been here ever since. She has been married to her husband, Matt, for 12 years. They just had their first baby boy in August 2021 and have two puppies, Rufus and Willis. From a professional perspective, she started at Tyson as a marketing analyst in the business units after graduating from college. From there, she spent nine years on Tyson’s McDonald’s business, then almost four years on the K-12 Government business before moving into her current role on the Walmart team.
Education:
B.S. Business Management, University of Arkansas
Did you always know what you wanted to do?
Not at all. I always knew that I wanted to work in an environment that allowed me to be people focused but not necessarily focused on a “role.”
When did you know what you wanted to do?
As I grew my career at Tyson, I began to understand aspects of roles I enjoyed and where my skills were the best fit. This evolved over time, and I have been afforded opportunities to stretch myself that enabled me to continue on my desired career goal/path. I think the key is continuing to learn and focus on developing yourself through classes, mentorship, stretch assignments and networking.
Best part of your job:
I am lucky to work with great people. I know that sounds like a cliché, but the people I have had the chance to work with over my career continue to be the best part about every role I have had at Tyson.
First big break:
I had the opportunity to lead the integration of one of the companies we acquired. This enabled me to work cross functionally across our business and learn so much in a brief amount of time.
One thing you’d love to master in business? In your personal life?
I’m not sure if there is anything I want to “master.” My goal is to continue to learn and evolve every day. With technology, our world continues to change rapidly, and I believe this creates an environment where we can always learn something new. Stay Green. This can also be said for my personal life. As we just had our first child, I am learning something every day – whether reading something in a blog at 3 a.m., feedback from family and friends, or trial and error. I want this to continue in both my personal and professional life. Overall, I hope to remain curious.
What changes have you seen within your workplace in regard to empowering women?
We continue to focus on empowering all team members at work with the goal of creating a workplace where we can be our “best selves.” We have amazing business resource groups, like our Women’s Business Resource Group, that allows team members to be involved, be in leadership roles and provide feedback to the organization. Within our commercial organization, we have continued to focus on mentorship for team members as well as career planning, which is focused on the team member’s desired career goals.
In what ways have you personally had to pivot during the pandemic?
I believe the pandemic allowed me to focus on becoming more balanced. I became a better friend, wife and teammate. The pandemic allowed me to take a step back and understand that it’s important to spend quality time with those you care about.
In what ways have you professionally had to pivot during the pandemic?
Being creative on how you connect with your team and customer. The pandemic created a new way of working which didn’t allow for the “drive by” conversations. You had to be purposeful on your connection with your team and your customer in a virtual environment. I also learned how important flexibility is for not only myself but our team members.
What nonprofits are you involved with and why?
I am on the board for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkoma. When I worked on our McDonald’s business, I had the opportunity to learn about this organization and their mission in supporting families around the world and helping them access the medical care and resources they need. Here locally, I got to see this work firsthand. RMHC creates an environment for families to remain close to their little ones when they need it most. We have so many team members that have personally stayed at a Ronald McDonald House and hearing their stories of how impactful it was to stay so close to their child during a stressful moment made me want to take action and be a part of this amazing organization. I started by volunteering to assist on committees for different fundraising events then grew into my current role on the board.
What do you do for fun?
Anything outdoors – biking, hiking, gardening, golf.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
I have been so fortunate by having so many people in my life that inspire me in different ways:
– My mom was a rock star business woman who grew her career through building strong relationships.
– My assistant coach in college understood that everyone has a different approach to be their best selves. You have to allow for individuality while also focusing on the team.
– My husband is one of the most passionate people I know. He loves people to their core and is always there to help anyone in need.
These three have really helped to shape me and continue to shape me.
Personal mantra:
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Advice you’d give to other working women/moms:
Be inclusive. We have all had help to get to where we are. Pay it forward and bring others along the journey with you.
How are practicing self-care?
I am a firm believer in everyone taking time for themselves or finding an outlet that allows them to balance. For me, I do this through working out regularly in the morning before work that ensures I get some “me time” in before the day starts. I also love vacation and believe everyone should use their time to unplug and reset.
Do you still seek out mentors or mentees?
Absolutely – I mentor and am a mentee! I believe we can learn from each other, and these conversations and relationships help us talk through situations, plan out our careers and make us better teammates.
How do you stay motivated?
I self-reflect A LOT and always find things that I can do better. I also seek out feedback. I am a very competitive person and the athlete in me knows there is always something to work on. I take my self-reflection and feedback and find ways to continue to strengthen my strengths and work on those things that need improvement.
You can view Gena’s page in the Leading Ladies segment of the 2022 3W Magazine here.