A job at Gap: “To her, it means the world”

She tried many different jobs, but the results were always the same — her employer would say, “Thanks but no thanks” after a few days, and she’d be on her way.

Until the Gap store in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan gave her a chance.

Tammi Stevens is hearing impaired. She also has some dexterity issues that make certain movements difficult, but she is bright, energetic as most 29-year-olds are, and willing to try new things. Yet job options are limited because employers are never willing to work with her to find a job that fits her abilities.

Then, a year ago, an advocate from the Partners for Workplace Inclusion Program (PWIP) walked into Saskatoon’s only Gap store and talked with store manager Marla Cook. She was happy to hire Tammi and carved out a customized role for her.

Tammi’s been there a year now — longer than any paid job she’s had— working every Wednesday from 7-10 a.m. on the shipment line, putting huge piles of clothing neatly away. She has excelled.

“She’s just thrilled,” said Tammi’s mom, Shelley. “It’s the Gap, and it’s in the mall — it’s something fun and cool, and she’s good at it. She gets up at 5:45 a.m. on Wednesdays, because she’s excited, and she looks forward to seeing her name on the schedule every week.

She’s got a pretty busy schedule and many interests, so three hours a week is perfect.

“It’s only three hours a week, and to a company that’s not much, but to her, it’s life-changing,” Shelley said.

Initially, the Gap staff worked with a job coach to come up with a list of things Tammi could do, rather than saying “Here’s the job.”

“I just wondered, is this manager just a nice person? Or is this a company-wide thing?” Shelley said.

Marla, the manager, said it’s about being the right people and doing the right thing.

“We have the ability to accommodate someone who is capable, but you have to have the patience and the right environment,” she said.

Shelley said that when the family took a vacation to Hawaii recently, they went to the mall and saw a Gap.

“Tammi was excited to go in there and buy a sweater, and tell them, ‘I work here, too.’”

As a result of this work, Gap won 2012 Employer of the Year from the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work.

Our beloved security guard will retire ...

In 1994, Anthony "Tony" Janaro was working for a contract security firm at our Gap headquarters in San Francisco.

At the security desk, the rules were clear. No one could pass through without first signing their name.

One day, a tall, bald man with a briefcase walked through. He strolled past the security desk without stopping to sign his name first.

“Sir?“ Tony called out. “You have to sign in first.”

“I have an office on the fourth floor,” the man replied clearly, without a hint of agitation.

“Still, if you can please sign in first,” Tony said, “I’ll escort you up to the fourth floor.”

So Don Fisher signed his name. Tony walked with him to the elevator, apologizing for the delay.

A few minutes later, Tony’s boss came over. “The company founder just came in,” he said, nervously.

“Oh, no,” Tony said. “I think I just had him sign in.”

They confirmed by checking the book. Yep, Don had signed his name. Tony, who had once operated a longtime candy store in New York, was sure his security job at 1 Harrison would end prematurely.

Not so. A few minutes later, Don called downstairs and spoke to a director. “Be sure you keep Tony around,” Don said. “He’s a good one.”

Tony’s still a good one.

This was one of my favorite stories Tony had ever told me. But he’s told a lot of stories to a lot of us here and he often overlooks a simple truth: he’s one of those stories.

Tony is retiring from Gap. He’s been with us for nearly 20 years – the unofficial eyes and face of our Gap HQ – eyes that will always see you from his black, elevated security desk. A voice, warm and Harlem-bred, that will always reassure you. Whether it’s a familiar greeting or a sharp quip, you’ll remember him.

When you zoom in closer, past our international expansion, pop culture and marketing campaigns, we’re known for, we’re a company of unique, passionate people. Tony is one of them. He fits right in.

Retirement will bring him closer to his family, to the things he loves and wants to do. He’s looking forward to it. A couple of days ago, he told me this: “You have to put your personality into your job.

Because I’m the first person you see at Gap, I take seriously the impression I can make. If I can put you in a better mood, you’ll probably want to do more business with us.”

There it was – that “thing” that great employees do so naturally. It’s not easy to mimic, but he nailed it.

Tony, we wish you nothing but the best in the days and years ahead.

On being a strong business woman...

In honor of Women’s History Month, Abinta Malik, a senior vice president, talks about what it means to be a female business leader today.

Growing up, I only really had two big passions in life. One was to “save the world” and the other was my obsession with apparel.

My family background is in nonprofit – my father worked with the United Nations – so I spent my whole life moving. Every three or four years we lived in a different country. I was exposed to various languages, and cultures, and I had a lot of exposure to the economic plight of the rest of the world.

I also give a lot of credit to my mother, whom I consider the most influential woman I know and admire. She was a homemaker and she always made us feel happy, content and well taken care of as we hopped around the globe. Today she is the head of two nonprofit organizations back in Pakistan, one for mental health and one for artisans. Pretty amazing woman.

Before joining Gap, I was able to work for a nonprofit myself, focusing on women’s issues in Northern Pakistan. I have always been a big believer in women’s rights, and I was happy to see the U.S. government pass a law that both strengthened and reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). 

We don’t spend enough time recognizing women and acknowledging what women have done around the world.

When I closed the chapter on my nonprofit work, it was only natural to then follow my other passion and come to Gap. Being a female leader in such a large company, in such a large business? Sometimes I wake up and am surprised that it all worked out that way.

I’m often asked what advice I’d have for a young woman beginning her career. My answer is simple: Work hard. Definitely work hard. Don’t take things for granted. Embrace the different experiences and make yourself better from all of those experiences.

Style “It girl” Aimee Song partners with Piperlime

It seems like everywhere I go these days, I’m hearing about the high-low fashion trend — pairing a splurge-worthy blazer with a low-cost pair of jeans, for example. Well, Aimee Song, the Internet’s It girl when it comes to style blogging, has mastered that art and then some.

And Piperlime, which has a history of partnering with stylists in the know, has added Aimee as its newest Guest Editor — just in time for spring.

In partnership with the leading lifestyle brand POPSUGAR, she is bringing her style tips, product picks and original video content to Piperlime.com, as well as on POPSUGAR.

Piperlime has a long history of partnering with guest editors, like celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe (who was the first) and Olivia Palermo. The editors choose things they like, and then customers respond (Rachel Bilson once convinced me to order a pair of Sam Edelman ankle booties).

We chose Aimee, known for her blog Song of Style (and her almost 700,000 Instagram followers), because she is aspirational, without being too “fashion forward.”

I spoke with Jacquie Lenart, Piperlime’s VP of Marketing and Creative, for a little inside info on why we’re working with Aimee.  Jacquie likes how Aimee always “adds a unique twist, which is very much in tune with Piperlime’s aesthetic.”

In the beginning, Jacquie and the team put together a list of bloggers, then whittled it down -- Aimee emerged as someone who fit Piperlime’s customers perfectly. The team then worked with POPSUGAR to secure Aimee for this partnership, and the rest is history. Also, POPSUGAR gives Piperlime a way to reach customers that might not yet know the brand.

Visit Aimee’s style picks on Piperlime.com, or watch a video of her offering tips, tricks and shortcuts. We can’t wait to see what she comes up with this season.

Old Navy ‘Upgrades’ styles with Brad Goreski

This spring, Old Navy  fans can be inspired by new ways of wearing its staple fashions with a little help from none other than celeb fashion stylist Brad Goreski!

Seems the star of Bravo’s “It’s a Brad, Brad World” comes to the brand by way of his sister, who is apparently a longtime fan and shopper.

So once Old Navy set its sights on Brad, folks from the brand sat down to breakfast with the stylist and a new partnership was born.

As part of Old Navy’s spring campaign, Goreski provides advice on how to pull together Old Navy jeans, tees, hoodies and dresses in five style videos (which lives on Old Navy’s YouTube channel). Additionally, his first style video aired this month with the remaining four set for the second season of his show, which started this week. Viewers will be able to interact with the show and style videos online at Bravotv.com during episodes by answering questions like “Which Old Navy outfit do you like best?”

As Old Navy Media Director Michele Schuh put it, “We think Brad is a really great match for us as he’s got that quirky Old Navy spirit in him, but he’s also inspirational and has a lot of fashion sensibility.”