Alumni Spotlight: Ann Marie Campbell (Georgia State University)

Those who believe the American Dream is dead need look no further than to the life of Home Depot’s Executive Vice President Ann Marie Campbell. From cashier to corporate powerhouse, Campbell’s journey from a child in Jamaica to leader of a Fortune 500 company is an inspiring tale of success.

Campbell witnessed the importance of hard work early in life: her father passed away in a car accident when she was barely eighteen months old. Her mother and grandmother raised her and her three brothers.

Humble Origins

During school breaks, Campbell would help with her grandmother’s business, Phidd’s Furniture and Appliances. After graduating from high school in 1981, Campbell’s family emigrated from Kingston, Jamaica to the United States, where she attended Florida International University and studied philosophy.

A Foot in the Door

While in college, Campbell began working as a cashier in a Home Depot in order to save money. Originally, Campbell admits she did not even know her new job was at a home improvement store. Nonetheless, her prior experience working with her grandmother made Home Depot a perfect fit for Campbell. Although she had previously studied medicine, she found she excelled in the retail field and constantly discovered new challenges and opportunities at Home Depot.

Ann Marie Campbell Goes to Business School

Before even completing her bachelor’s degree in philosophy, Campbell chose to pursue an Executive MBA from Georgia State’s Robinson College of Business to boost her on-the-job experience. Through Robinson’s EMBA program, she was able to combine her practical and theoretical knowledge of the business world and quickly excel through the ranks.

If you Don’t Speak Up, No One will Listen

Campbell states that one of the most valuable lessons she learned in business was to “speak up.”

It’s understandable why, as the turning moment in Campbell’s career came when she met then-vice president Lynn Martin and spoke up to answer a question he posed. Thanks to her confidence and skill, Martin saw the value in Campbell and made an effort to learn about her experience.

Keep on Climbing

Since that day, Campbell has climbed steadily to the top, moving from cashier to such positions as store manager, district manager, vice president of operations, vice president of merchandising and special orders, vice president of retail marketing and sales for Home Depot Direct and vice president of vendor services.

Until January of 2016, Campbell served as president for the Southern Division of Home Depot, when she was selected to replace Marc Powers as head of U.S. stores.

Today, Ann-Marie Campbell leads Home Depot’s three operating divisions in the U.S., which consists of almost 2,000 stores and almost 400,000 associates. Even before this recent change in position, Campbell was ranked #38 of Fortune.com’s “Most Powerful Women in Business”.

With all of the amazing opportunities she received during her life, Campbell hopes to provide others with the same chance to “speak up” and shine. She recommends that young people plan early so they don’t lose time trying to find the right career.

Other recognitions she’s received include being named one of the 75 Most Powerful Women in Business by Black Enterprise in 2010, and as one of Atlanta’s 100 Top Black Women of Influence by the Atlanta Business League in 2012.

Campbell also serves on the boards for the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University, Potbelly Corporation and Barnes & Noble.

In an interview, Campbell stated her mantra to be: “it’s only when you develop others that you personally succeed,” and she believes especially in instilling confidence in young women. “When I do have opportunities to speak to students, or even to my kids, that’s the type of value that I instill in them. It’s not just about you. The world is a community. Everyone has their part, so let’s go out and make sure everyone is able to do it successfully,” she said.

 

regions: Atlanta

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