We recently connected with Natalie Michiels and have shared our conversation below.

Natalie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

I graduated from UW-Whitewater with a degree in Art and Advertising. While in college I worked at a clothing store part-time, and when I graduated I stayed on as I transitioned to an ad agency to work in accounts and creative. After a couple months I realized that my internship experience and the real life job felt vastly different and I wasn’t sure if I had made made the right choice selecting this agency. The clothing store I worked at needed an assistant store manager that would oversee visual responsibilities and I jumped at that chance. From 2011 till now I have worked in fashion retail.
I am currently a visual merchandising coordinator at the moment I am overseeing 14 stores in Wisconsin and Michigian. I enjoy being creative but as
As I approach my fifth year of this career I have noticed that one of the most rewarding parts of my career is the connections I have made with the teams in all my stores. Each person I work with has different skill sets and personalities; and I try to adjust my training style to ensure that we get the job done and establish a trusting work relationship.
About two years ago I was working with a team leader and I noticed she was a bit more quiet than usual. I asked how she was doing and that I noticed the change in behavior. She asked if we could talk in private because she hadn’t been able to talk to anyone and felt comfortable telling me. We went into an office and she shared some very serious issues happening at home. I realized that I don’t have the skill set to properly serve her in this time of need and suggested we set her up with the store human resources. I checked in on her as she navigated this hard time and I felt a calling and couldn’t quite put a finger on what it was.
Then a few months later I had another team member come pull me aside and announced I had a serious illness and hadn’t talked to anyone about it and wasn’t sure how to tell me about work. We talked for a bit and I found human resources again and helped me share her situation to get the support she needed. That same week I saw something about getting a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health. It was truly like a light bulb went off. I knew then that is what I wanted to pursue next.
I am currently in my third semester of my Master’s program and have a 4.0 GPA. I am truly loving this program and hope to absorb as much information as I can so I can serve my clients to the best of my ability. I am still working full time as a visual market coordinator and very grateful to be able to work and got back to school.

Natalie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

S.O.D.A. (Support Outfits Drives Awareness) for survivors of domestic abuse

I experienced homelessness as a child and as an adult I want to give back. I found a domestic violence shelter that needed volunteers to help with childcare. These shifts were two hours to allow the parent time to do laundry, attend counseling sessions, or just have a moment to themselves. I did a few shifts with childcare and it wasn’t the right fit for me. I like kids but with my skill set and past and did not feel like the best use of who I was and caused me stress.

At this same time I was given the opportunity to tour the Community Clothes Closet; a nonprofit that helps those in need get free clothing. They partner with the local domestic violence shelter and offer survivors rides to shop every Monday night. While on my tour, I learned about an event they host called, Cool for School. This event is hosted before school starts and children get three bottoms, five tops, shoes, and typically a bag of underwear sometimes gently used. I remember getting emotional finding out that children were not able to have new underwear. My work provided funds to purchase new underwear.
I then started hosting Undie Fundie’s. I was able to partner with local businesses and make news appearances. The best results we had was with a bar and grill, donated a package or underwear and got half off your bloody mary flight. We got over 800 units of underwear that day.

I started hosting drives off urgent need lists. This brought me joy and made a difference. This is why I started S.O.D.A, there are so many ways to get involved. I have been able to pattern with over 40 domestic violence shelters in 14 states.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

I would indeed. Who I was in my twenties is someone very different. The career and education I selected back then made sense for who I was then. My work experiences gave me a chance to grow into who I am today. I have such a need to connect and help others that I did not have in my twenties.
The work place has greatly changed, when my grandparents retired they had been with their employers 50+ years. That isn’t rare in today’s world and that is ok. Workplace, people, it is all constantly evolving and I feel good about my past work and the future career I will be starting when I turn 40.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

My company completes surveys multiple times a year to ensure employee satisfaction and that we are considered a top place to work. I am happy to report year after year my department is one the highest ranked areas to work in the company. I credit this to transparency and all hands on deck. So what do I mean by this; transparency in the sense that I keep it real with my information and objectives. If there is a floor move my team doesn’t like but is corporate directed I tell them its ok to feel that way but let’s try it, track the sales and see how it does. What works, what doesn’t and why? Still giving them that ownership and keeping the flow of conversation.
With all hands on deck, I mean we all do the work. I may come to do an assessment but I will then jump in and help hang graphics or update a mannequin. Leadership to team members: everyone in my department needs to know how to do all aspects of the job.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliemichiels/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliedichiria
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@petiteprofessionals
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/the_soda_club_/

  https://www.wbay.com/2022/01/05/underwear-donations-needed-community-clothes-closet/

Image Credits

Headshot done by Magic Dreams Production
The rest are photos I have taken.