North Bay Woman

46 NORTH BAY WOMAN | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5 S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2015 United Markets Kelly Augustin 100 Red Hill Avenue, san Anselmo | 515 third street, san Rafael | www.unitedmarkets.com Listen. Ask Questions. Listen some more. That is the motto that Kelly Augustin of United Markets likes to live by. As a young girl, she got started in the grocery business by driving with her Mother and brother from their home in Petaluma to visit her dad at the United Markets in San Anselmo, where he was a manager at the time. "It was very exciting to walk through the store on any day, but especially during the holidays when the store was closed", states Kelly. "My Dad would bring me down and together we would walk through the store, making sure all of the refrigeration was working, and the store was set up for the following day. I began working at the market when I was 15 as a courtesy clerk and over the next 7 summers, I would return to learn all I could about the grocery business. I started as a checker, and worked my way up to head clerk. After graduating from St. Mary's College with a degree in business, Kelly chose to return and work full time for the family business, alongside her father. "Since then I have 'worn many hats' and continue to learn something new every day," says Kelly. With a strong belief in leading by empowering, Kelly prefers to teach, then allow the person to experience and add their own ideas to the task at hand. "There is so much reward and enjoyment in seeing others succeed at overcoming a challenge. With 135 employees, each one has their own strengths and weaknesses, just like me. Each of us has our good days and not so good days. But with patience and understanding, together we can overcome any challenge. My advice to women starting their own business is to treat it as if it is a child and you are its mother. Trust yourself and in your instincts. Be flexible. As women, we have an opportunity to be tender, kind, and compassionate. Love your business, but know there will be days when you don't like it. Just like being a mother, there will be times when you do just the right thing, and other times, when you don't have a clue what to do. That's OK. Just like your children teach you things about yourself, your business will reveal things to you as well. UNITED MARKETS

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