Source: Fortune
Summary
Ann-Marie Campbell, Home Depot’s senior executive vice president, rose from a part-time cashier to the C-suite over 40 years. A viral LinkedIn post highlighted her career, which began in 1985 at $4.15 an hour. Campbell, now earning over $1 million annually, has led the company’s operations as CEO Ted Decker is on medical leave. She emphasized the importance of finding work one loves and seeking help when needed, according to reports.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story.
Fortune 500 company, 2,200 stores, 470,000 employees.
CEO on medical leave, executive leads day-to-day.
40-year career, $1 million salary, $4.15 starting wage.
Staying put is rare, but Campbell found purpose in her work.
Author: Evan Null
Campbell found a 40-year career by finding work she loved
Staying at one company for an entire career is something that is increasingly less common—with a 2025 survey finding Gen Z’s average job tenure during the first five years of their careers is just 1.1 years. But Campbell has said it ultimately came down to finding work she genuinely enjoyed.
“Jobs become careers when you do something you love,” she told students at Longwood University in 2014, adding that it is then important to use your strengths to create opportunities for yourself.
“When I say confidence is key, when I say put yourself in positions to take and grasp opportunity, I am a living proof of that.”
Her story is a rare example of long-term loyalty in a world where job-hopping is the norm.
Her success is tied to her ability to adapt and grow within one organization.
Climbing the corporate ladder means knowing when to ask for help
When Campbell got her first paycheck from Home Depot four decades ago, the chain had fewer than 50 stores and about 5,000 employees. Today, the company ranks No. 25 on the Fortune 500 and has more than 2,200 locations across North America and more than 470,000 on its payroll.
The baby boomer’s impressive rise took decades of hard work and determination. As Home Depot expanded and Campbell moved up the ranks, she learned that raw talent alone wouldn’t carry her career forward; she soon recognized the power of building relationships, seeking out opportunities, and asking for help when it’s needed.
That lesson became clear when Campbell was a district manager overseeing 13 Miami-area stores in the late 1990s. The region was going through major economic upheaval, and Campbell was navigating the challenges of the job while also raising two children under the age of 4.
“You have to ask people for help,” Campbell told Fortune in a 2016 profile. “I wasn’t good at that.”
Her experience taught her that success is not something you have to navigate alone.
Leadership is about helping others
Once Campbell had support, she believed it was her duty to help others. She emphasized that once you’ve had someone help you, there’s an obligation to do the same for others.
“We have to stretch our hand out and help someone,” she added to Black Enterprise in 2017, “pull someone up.”
This philosophy has guided her throughout her career: take the opportunities in front of you, perform when you get them, and help make room for someone else to follow.
Her leadership style is rooted in mentorship and collaboration, not just individual achievement.
She believes in creating opportunities for others, just as she was given her own.
The power of performance
“Believe that you can. The dream is real. It can happen,” she said. “It will happen if you keep yourself focused on performing. The ticket to the game is performing.”
Her career is a testament to the value of consistent performance and a willingness to grow. She didn’t just climb the ladder—she built it as she went.
Her story is a reminder that long-term success often comes from staying in one place and proving your value over time.
It’s not about luck—it’s about staying focused, working hard, and seizing every opportunity.
Her journey shows that loyalty and performance can still lead to the top in today’s fast-paced corporate world.
Legacy of loyalty in a changing workforce
Ann-Marie Campbell’s career is a rare example of loyalty in a workforce that increasingly values mobility and change. Her 40-year journey at Home Depot stands in contrast to the current trend of short-term employment.
Her story is not just about personal success—it’s about how one person can thrive in a company that has grown dramatically over the same period.
Home Depot, which has expanded from 50 stores to over 2,200, has benefited from her long-term commitment and leadership.
Her career highlights the value of staying with one company and building a legacy over time.
It’s a model that may seem old-fashioned, but it still works in the right environment.
