I Belong: Meet Eldaly

Meet Eldaly | Facilities Solutions Analyst, MOSAIC Finance & Analytics Lead

Hi, my name is Eldaly; I was born in Puerto Rico, moved to the Dominican Republic in middle school, and then moved to Arizona for college in 2004, which has been my home ever since. Most people ask if it was a big culture shock, but I'm thankful my mom put me in a bilingual school where every subject was taught in Spanish and English. I also grew up watching American-based shows, Saturday morning cartoons, evening sitcoms, and movies which helped to make my move easier.

One of the first things you'll probably notice is that I'm a fast talker and tend to be loud. The more excited I get about a topic, the faster and louder I'll get. It might be from my bubbly personality or part of my culture and how I grew up. I try to slow down depending on the audience, but I can't make any promises if you get me caught in a good conversation.

This had never been an issue until a previous job I had; during my first review to discuss my progress, the main feedback I received was that I needed to slow down and lower my voice, that it was making it hard for people to understand me and some didn't take me seriously because I was too bubbly when communicating. I was so embarrassed and knew then that was not the place for me.

That's when I found a role at PetSmart. During the interview process, I was told that my personality would be a great fit for the culture. But when I started, I stayed in the background, keeping quiet and only speaking when asked to; I did not want to receive the same comments as my previous job. Working with my team, I realized I did not have to change who I was to be perceived as knowledgeable in my work. I also started getting more involved with the ARGs, eventually landing a role as a Leader in Mosaic, which helped me realize that what I had experienced was a form of micro-aggression.

I've been with PetSmart for ten years and can honestly say that the team you work and interact with can significantly impact your everyday life. I am thankful for the Belonging team and ARGs that work hard so every associate can feel like they belong and feel comfortable with being themselves at work.

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The Belonging Program’s “I Belong” Series harnesses the power of empathy through storytelling. This series is intended to give associates a greater sense of understanding, a bridge to gain new perspective, and a way to build connection to each other.