Celebrating Heritage and Culture with Mary Beth
Mary Beth, Senior Director of Talent Acquisition, shares how her family traditions and Native American culture have had an impact on the strong woman leader she has become.
Mary Beth is from the Lumbee Tribe, a significant force in North Carolina with a vibrant culture, strong community, and generational resilience. The Lumbee Tribe was recognized in 1885 and is the largest tribe in North Carolina. The tribe’s strong spirit is shown through their traditions, culture, and customs.
One way Mary Beth and her family celebrate and share their culture with others is through Native American Heritage Month, which takes place in November.
“This month is a time to celebrate culture and share stories so future generations know what we have been through. One great thing is we want to celebrate with everyone, not just Native Americans,” Mary Beth exclaims.
Throughout November, Mary Beth and her family celebrate the month by attending events, spending time with their community, and enjoying traditional culinary dishes.
One staple Mary Beth and her family enjoy every year is Fry Bread. Fry Bread is a fried flat dough bread that is enjoyed in a sweet or savory way. Some people prefer to eat this traditional dish with honey and sugar, like Mary Beth, while others prefer to add meat. Mary Beth encourages everyone to try this dish, you can find the recipe here.
During the month, Mary Beth and her family celebrate their culture by.png)
attending different Pow Wows. Pow Wows are gatherings that celebrate Native American culture through dances, traditional food, homemade jewelry, and crafts.
Mary Beth, along with other Sodexo employees, attended the 3rd annual Onslow Veterans Pow Wow in Jacksonville, NC this past November. Sodexo was a proud sponsor of this event and employees from our EBRGs (Employee Business Resource Groups), NAAC (Native American and Aboriginal Council), and Honor (Honoring Our Nation’s Finest with Opportunity and Respect) came together to recruit potential candidates and support the local community.
Mary Beth is the HR advisor of NAAC, where she helps to plan events and share the importance of our EBRGs.
“One great thing about our EBRGs is that you can join any group you want. People think they should align with what represents them, but this gives people an opportunity to join something they want to be an advocate for,” Mary Beth expresses.
Advocating for what you believe in is an important quality that Mary Beth brings into her career. She transformed into the strong leader she is today from the influence of her family and culture.
Historically in tribal nations, there is no separation from men and women. Most tribes are a matriarchal society. Growing up, Mary Beth was raised by strong women who taught her to be confident and never back down to fear. Mary Beth taps into the traits she has learned from her culture to make her a successful woman in leadership.
“It comes naturally for me to check in with my team and want to support them in any way I can. This behavior is what smaller indigenous communities do,” Mary Beth shares.
Mary Beth cultivates a strong and supportive team culture by keeping team communication open. She makes sure to meet with her team every day on video, to resemble the behavior of seeing people in an office. She wants to continuously build connections with her team and will hold two lunch meetings a week for a time to bond.
Mary Beth’s passion for her culture and determination to strengthen DE&I within her team is displayed through her leadership skills at Sodexo. She continues to share the beauty within Native American culture and encourages people that they can be what they want, no matter who they are or where they came from.