“What's in your DNA?”
That's the first question Natalie Snow, a first-generation, full-time Texas Tech University student, asks employees at the HTeaO store in Lubbock.
“It's in my DNA to care about people and have a passion for serving something greater than myself,” Snow said. “Bringing smiles to people's faces is something I've probably been an advocate for for a long time.”
As director of operations for HTeaO in Lubbock, Snow lives up to his passion for people and recently opened his third store. Her job consists of payroll and back-end operations, but she also trains managers, and she works with her team to help with everything from cleaning to tea-keeping.
“I'm not going to ask (my team) to do something if I can't do it myself,” Snow said. I think there are very few managers today who have that kind of mindset.
Snow, who graduated from Monterey High School in 2020, has been an inspiration to her team and to both her current and former educators. She started working at the age of 15, at the age of 19 she became the HTeaO manager and at the age of 21 she became the head of operations. During that time she was taking classes all the time.
“If you had asked me this in high school, I never would have thought I would do something like this,” Snow said.
According to one of his instructors at Texas Tech University and the director of the Monterey Band, Snow's success was not unexpected.
“She got exactly the same grades as my class, straight A's,” said Jazmine Brantley, an instructor at Texas Tech University. “Natalie is busy taking notes, showing her desire to learn, but it's not just about passing the course. It's about developing her own skills to become an unstoppable leader as she begins her journey. This is to make the set perfect.”
Brett Berridge, Monterey's orchestra director, felt that Snow would be an inspirational leader, even as a high school student.
“Whether it was in class or in a small ensemble, she showed that she would never do less than her best. So she proved every day that she had the will to never give up,” Berridge said. said. “Seeing Natalie come back to support Lubbock ISD at every turn is so special. Every time I ask for help, she not only says yes! Ask about the steps. And how can we grow even bigger, drawing even more strength from her support? ”
From the grocery store to leadership: Learn how Snow started her path to leadership at age 15
At age 15, Snow began working first at Market Street and then at Chick-fil-A while attending Monterey High School.
“I was exposed to a lot of leaders and managers, and that's where my leadership skills grew,” Snow said. “I loved (HTeaO) as a customer. I looked around and thought, 'Maybe I can work here.' At that time, I never imagined that I would achieve such results in a short period of two and a half years. ”
By age 19, she interviewed for an assistant manager position at HTeaO on Milwaukee Avenue. Two weeks later, she says the general manager quits and her boss asks Snow if she wants to be promoted.
“It put me in a really difficult position, but I'm always up for a challenge,” Snow said. “I was a little nervous, but I persevered and it worked out. It was lucky in a way for me, but it was the result of the hard work I put in to get where I am.”
She continued to take initiative and established herself as the marketing director for the Lubbock business. When her boss resigned, Snow was promoted again to become regional operations director.
“He said, 'You're the only person I trust with this business,'” Snow said. “I was 21 when I got this job, so it was a wild experience.”
As part of that wild experience, she ended up changing her previous STEM major to business during her junior year of college.
“After taking the marketing director position, I found a niche in all areas related to marketing, including digital marketing, community involvement, and giving,” Snow said. “I cried a few times because I had to suddenly change my major as a junior, but I loved it. It was probably one of the best decisions I made.”
This decision also allows her to share what she learned at Tech with her employees, so the HTeaO team continues to improve.
“When we have management meetings, we can tell them about what we're learning,” Snow said. “And we're using it for what we're talking about and what we're going through. It's providing a knowledge base and adding more of that education to people who don't normally have access to it. Masu.”
Paving the way for female leaders
Her experiences as a young leader encouraged her to give other women the same opportunity. All of her managers are women under the age of 25, and Snow trains them using information from her ongoing studies at Texas Tech University.
“Some would say (a 19-year-old) isn't ready to handle business,” Snow said. “We want to break these standards and say that any 19-year-old can do it. I believe in the future of young women and business leaders growing.”
Customers often see these leaders-in-training behind the counters at HTeaO locations in Lubbock (6704 Milwaukee Ave., 2616 50th St., and 5105 98th Street). Two of those leaders include general manager Kayden Crawford, who has been friends with Snow since middle school, and assistant manager Jaydyn Morris.
“She was truly inspiring and showed us that it is possible for women to be successful in business,” Crawford said. “In fact, it was because of her that I transferred to major in business.”
Morris agrees that Snow is a source of inspiration and credits Snow for helping him come out of his shell.
“I started building those relationships with my coworkers, and I really feel like it was because she helped me come out of my shell and helped me become more self-aware as a manager.” Morris said. “I want to become a good manager and leader like her.”
Snow's advice to future leaders and managers is: “Good luck.”
“My advice, especially to the business majors I meet along the way, is to get out there and get experience,” Snow said. “Make sure you know how to treat people, how to talk to people, and what's in the best interest of not just yourself and your business, but (your employees).”
Snow's advice also included:
- Be confident.
- Prove why you are suitable for the position.
- Let's do something not so fun.
- Treat people right.
- Communication network.
- Aim for big positions.
- Follow your passion.
- Find a company that aligns with your values.
- Be ethical.
“If you feel like I did when I was younger and you want to make an impact but don't know where to start, start with what's in your DNA,” Snow said. . “This world needs more leaders, especially strong female leaders.”
