From Cart Pusher to Career Builder

See how store manager Junius Williams is building his team at the brand-new Supercenter in Cypress, Texas. 

Junius Williams still remembers the nerves of his first Walmart interview. He was 18 years old, fresh off a job drying cars at a local car wash and surrounded by dozens of candidates.

“I didn’t think I’d get it,” he admits.

But what he lacked in résumé, he made up for in grit — and goals. “I wanted to prove myself,” he says. “And then keep proving myself over and over.”

Now, 20 years later, he’s leading a historic moment for Walmart: opening Store 6930, in Cypress, Texas, the company’s first new-from-the-ground-up Supercenter in more than four years, with 335 associates and a team he’s built from the ground up, too.

Junius took a break from unloading trucks and setting all-new displays to talk about his career journey, the mentors who guided him and how he’s quietly built a reputation for turning potential into performance. Over the course of Junius’ career, every single store lead who has worked under him has gone on to become a store manager!

Q: Let’s go back to the beginning. What do you remember most about your first day at Walmart?

I was just 18. They were doing interviews and orientations in big groups. I remember sitting at the table thinking, “There’s no way I’m getting this job.” But I got hired on as seasonal help at Store 772 in Houston, and I told myself, I’m going to work hard and stand out. I set a goal to become a permanent associate. And then, to get a job inside the store, ha! There’s only so much you can learn in the parking lot! After that, I started setting a new goal for myself every six months or so.

Q: What kept you motivated early on?

Curiosity. Once I got inside the building, I realized how much more there was to learn. I started on carts and carryout, but I asked for a shot at unloading. I got to learn about receiving, stocking — and I met a whole new crew of people I hadn’t worked with before. From there, I started taking on projects, learning fresh, food safety, merchandising. It was fun. I started to fall in love with it.

Q: You’ve mentioned a few mentors who’ve made a big impact. Can you tell us more?

I’ve been lucky to have some great ones. David Uzomaka gave me my first shot at being a co-manager when I was just 22. That call changed my life. Obi Nwankwo pushed me to network, get uncomfortable and keep growing. He challenged me in all the right ways.

And there were others, like Linda back at Store 772. I was still hourly, a new dad, and she helped keep me focused. I try to carry all of that forward in how I lead today.

Q: You’ve had a reputation for building strong teams. What’s your approach to mentoring talent?

My actions have to match my words. I’m big on respect. I try to create an environment where people feel seen, supported and pushed to grow. Not everyone leads the same way, and that’s okay. I try to tailor my approach to bring out the best in each individual.

Q: Every store lead you’ve worked with has become a store manager. That’s rare! How do you make that happen?

I invest in people. I’ve had five store leads go on to become store managers. Some I hired, some I inherited, but I never stopped helping them grow. I believe that no one on my team should fail. I want to build them up while I build myself up.

Q: What advice would you give to a cart pusher, or anyone just starting out at Walmart?

Learn the systems. MyWalmart, inventory flow, the foundational processes — those are the keys to unlocking everything else. If you understand the basics of how a store runs, you can go anywhere from there. That’s what I did. Every time I learned something new, a new door opened. Take it seriously, even if it feels like a small job.

Q: And what would you tell a store lead who wants to grow into a store manager one day?

Figure out the people piece. Learn how to create a great environment where people want to show up and do their best work. If you focus on that, you’ll accomplish more than you thought possible. It’s not just about checking  boxes or hitting numbers, it’s about building a team that thrives. When you do that, everything else falls into place.

Q: What makes opening Store 6930 so special to you?

Kind of like the building itself, I had the opportunity to build this team from the ground up. I was really intentional about who we hired: friendly, outgoing people with warm personalities, because this store is opening in an up-and-coming community. We’ve built a diverse team with a great mix of backgrounds and experiences, and I think that will help us connect with more customers right from day one.

It’s also exciting that a number of our associates are people I’ve crossed paths with over the years. I’ve worked with my digital coach, my overnight coach, and a few of our team leads and associates I’ve known from earlier in my career. That sense of connection means a lot. To me, it feels like everything I’ve learned over the past 20 years has led to this. I want Store 6930 to be known not just for strong results, but for exceptional people.

Q: What do you hope your associates say about you when they look back?

I hope they say I was approachable, respectful and that I made a difference. That I stood by them in the big moments — good and bad. I want them to remember that we built something together. That we made this store special. And that we proved you can lead with kindness and get results.