The Future Leaders eXperience: An Interview

By: Morgan Griffin, Communications Specialist, FMI 

FMI’s Future Leaders eXperience has been instrumental in developing talent within the food industry. I am currently enrolled in the course, learning leadership skills and more about the food industry every week.

To highlight the impact of this year’s leadership development program, I spoke with two of my fellow leaders: Richard Pepper, a store leader at Kroger in Pasadena, Texas, and Shelby Dollemore, a category manager at Kroger in Portland, Oreg. 

Influential Leadership 

Pepper shared that his mentors significantly impacted his journey. "For me, it was Lori Scheller. She was one of my store leaders coming up. She's one of the first people that I really saw put into practice getting results through your team having a positive influence in the entire building," Pepper recalled. Scheller’s unique approach and ability to unify and motivate her team left a lasting impression on Pepper. "Nothing was the end of the world with her. Whatever the problem was, she would make sure that everybody was working on the solution together." 

Similarly, Dollemore was inspired by a leader early in her career. "I had a boss during one of my college internships who captured the balance of having fun while coaching and developing others perfectly. He didn’t take life too seriously, often celebrating the small things and incorporating activities that made the job more exciting. Even while having that much fun, he always covered the needs of the business and set aside dedicated time with me on a regular basis to discuss my development and my career goals, which made me feel seen and challenged. I grew a lot during that internship and am very thankful I experienced his leadership." 

Joining the Future Leaders eXperience 

Pepper’s district manager and HR leaders encouraged him to participate in the Future Leaders eXperience. "They were looking for ways for me to better round my skills. I came to the Kroger company from Fred Meyer as a lead ASL, and so I learned a lot very quickly," he said. The Future Leaders eXperience offered a structured opportunity to enhance his skills and gain new perspectives. 

Dollemore's recent promotion inspired her to join the program. "I recently received a promotion into a role with a much larger team than I was used to managing. I was inspired to join because I needed support with the transition, and it has really benefitted me thus far." 

Key Takeaways and Impact 

Pepper found improving communication to be one of the most impactful lessons from the program. "We all need to improve how we communicate with our team. So far, all the sessions have been helping us tailor our approach to better reach our teams,” he explained. The practical application of these lessons, such as the ASK model (align, seek, kick-start), helped him refine his leadership style. 

Dollemore highlighted the importance of practicing leadership skills. "Leadership is a skill you practice. You don’t have to be a natural-born leader; you can practice and exercise those skills to become a master. To be a good leader for your team, you need to prioritize time and preparation for skills like trust building, coaching, developing, and celebrating." 

Advice for Future Participants 

For those considering the course, Pepper offers valuable advice, "Future Leaders offers a new perspective on how to lead by following. For me, it was learning that you are going to teach way more by asking questions than you ever did by giving answers." He encourages participants to keep an open mind, ask questions, and actively engage with the course’s materials. 

Dollemore underscores the importance of participation. "Participating in the live discussions is how you get the most out of the program. The resources provided by FMI are great, but you also have an opportunity to learn from peers during this course which is not something you encounter very often." 

Next Steps 

The Future Leaders eXperience is more than just a training initiative; it's a transformative experience that equips participants with the skills and perspectives needed to excel in their careers. Richard Pepper and Shelby Dollemore's journeys are testaments to the course’s impact and the value of strong mentorship and continuous learning. 

Learn more about the Future Leader’s eXperience