Michael Bieksha

Trader Joe's

Portland, OR USA

"The right path is the one you choose and love, not what others dictate."

Career Roadmap

Michael's work combines: Business, Food, and Helping People

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Mate (Manager)

I help guide a crew of 100+ employees to drive sales in the store and create a neighborhood environment.

GED
Trabuco Hills
Bachelor's Degree
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
California State University, Fullerton

Bachelor's Degree: Business Administration and Management, General

My path in life took a while to figure out

1.
Graduating high school and going to college out of state. Experiencing things on my own for the first time and navigating a big campus with many influences outside of it.
2.
Taking a solo trip to Europe and visiting 6 different countries. Having to navigate unknown languages and other issues on your own.
3.
Becoming a manager at Trader Joe's at 25 and managing people older than me.
4.
Moving to Portland from California, 1000+ miles away from nearest family and starting a new life with my wife.
5.
Running through the gauntlet of COVID and being an essential worker.
6.
Having kids and figuring out the work life balance.

Keep following my journey

THE NOISE
Messages from Parents:
As an only child, I felt pressure from my parents that I had to excel at a certain rate.
How I responded:
Don't be afraid of what your parents or anyone else say. There is a world out there to figure out. Explore and live life along the way. Being open minded while exploring will allow you to find your passion and excel in what you choose. The right path is the one you choose and love, not what others dictate.

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

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Pressure from the family to follow a certain path and do particular things to get there. Feeling like a failure for not accomplishing or trying certain things can weigh down on you.

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