At Wayfair, we have a large population of co-ops, interns and campus hires or individuals very early in their careers. These employees play an important role in the company’s current and future success. This month, we hear from Kristine Shatas, Head of Campus Attraction & Programs, who shares more about how she brought Wayfair’s Early Leaders program to life, how we all can contribute to the development of early leaders, and what we might gain through doing so.
Can you tell us about your background and why you came to Wayfair?
I came to Wayfair after working in both recruiting and higher education. In my previous role at Stonehill College, I partnered with companies to help them build an effective recruiting strategy on campus. I even brought several groups of students to Wayfair to tour the office, meet with alumni and experience the company culture. When it came time to take the next step in my career, Wayfair was on the short list of places that I considered, and ultimately brought my experience full circle.
How has early talent evolved since you arrived at Wayfair?
I’ve seen the importance of investing in early talent and developing future leaders first-hand. Almost three years ago, not long after I joined Wayfair, I had the opportunity to propose and develop an early identification (ID) program, now called the
Early Leaders Program. I recognized a need and opportunity to engage with talent earlier, and to expose students to all of the potential Wayfair could offer them. From my time spent working on college campuses, I knew there was a huge appetite for this type of program with internships not typically available until junior year in college or beyond. Sometimes a student just needs access to opportunity, and the sky's the limit!
Fast forward to this summer and we’ve since welcomed three Early Leaders cohorts to Wayfair , and five alumni from the inaugural 2022 program will be joining full time this summer!
What have you learned after several iterations of the Early Leaders Program?
- Students can be fearless (in a good way!). They bring unique insights to our teams and aren’t afraid to ask hard-hitting questions, even to some of our most senior leaders, something our leadership team encourages from all employees.
- It takes a village to make these programs work, let alone be successful. Each year, more than 100 volunteers across Wayfair give their time to plan and lead sessions, serve as mentors and even judge the students’ final case competition.
- Students are eager for connectivity. Through a smaller, targeted development program, we can offer more one-on-one and small group interactions than in a traditional internship experience.
How does an early talent program foster leadership qualities in our employees?
Many of our more experienced and tenured employees at Wayfair collaborate with an intern, co-op or new hire in their work in some shape or form. This provides an opportunity to coach students on our thought processes and new concepts, as well as lead by example.
Our full-time employees appreciate the opportunity to hear from the students and listen to their perspectives. The more that students feel their opinions and ideas are valued, the more empowered they feel to participate (and eventually lead) in conversations and think outside the box. This also establishes a culture where everyone welcomes and values the perspectives of others, no matter someone’s formal seniority or experience.
Early talent programs establish opportunities for all employees to get involved and grow. There are a multitude of ways to get involved in student or new hire programming. Current employees can share their career journey, lessons they’ve learned and advice by serving as a mentor. They can also volunteer for programming including career panels and networking opportunities, or sign on to serve as a manager for an intern or co-op and grow new leader skill sets.
Why are you so passionate about early talent?
Early talent has a lot to offer to an organization in both the short-term and long-term. Not only do they bring unique perspectives to our daily work, but they also have the potential to be future leaders at Wayfair. As we continue to ensure the long term success of the company, developing our early talent can have a huge impact, no matter the role one plays here at Wayfair. Personally, I love working with students to find that first role that launches their career.
When you aren’t at work, what are you doing?
My life outside of work: I live outside of Boston, MA with my husband, three kids and two dogs. At any given time, you’ll find me on the sidelines cheering on one of the kids - I’m a true baseball mom at heart. When I’m not at a game, I love to be outside, especially during the summer when we visit our favorite beach - Second Beach in Newport, RI. We’re also huge Disney fans and I was lucky enough to go twice last year - once for a conference and again in October for a family vacation. We already can’t wait to go back!
What is your favorite Wayfair purchase?
Best Wayfair product I've ordered: This
outdoor couch and table set I purchased on WayDay. It fits perfectly on my deck and fits my family of five with room for guests.