Story of Growth: Lauren Gilbertson
Celebrating Our Q1 Rock Star
Clickstop is thrilled to announce Lauren Gilbertson as our Q1 Rock Star. Known for her impact on internal processes and dedication to growth, Lauren has exemplified the core values that make our company thrive. Here, we explore her journey, approach to challenges, and the impact she’s had.
When Lauren discovered she was the Rock Star award winner, her initial reaction was confusion. “I’m the one who plans these events from start to finish, so imagine my surprise when I found out I was kept in the dark. It was both concerning and flattering,” she shared. As the initial confusion settled, Lauren transitioned into an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the support she received over the past 2.5 years.
A Journey of Growth at Clickstop
Lauren joined Clickstop in July 2021, just one week before having her first child. Returning from leave, she jumped into crafting Clickstop’s recruitment strategy and quickly added managing internal communications. Within months, she transitioned to Communication Strategist, handling all internal and external communications.
Her ability to manage complex projects became clear as she led the company’s first Strategy Week and the East Coast Distribution Center relocation. In July 2023, Lauren proposed a new role aligning her strengths with company needs, leading to her promotion in early 2024 to Director of Communication and Project Management. Now, she drives communication, supports Clickstop’s Leadership Team, oversees strategic planning, and manages key initiatives.
Embracing Challenges with a Futuristic Mindset
Lauren’s motivation to tackle challenges head-on stems from her forward-thinking mindset. “My number one Gallup Strength is Futuristic, so I feel as if my brain constantly lives years in the future when considering decisions and solutions,” she explained. “I try to approach every challenge and opportunity as strategically and sustainably as possible.”
One example of her impact was her complete redesign of the Clickstop website in early 2024. “Our website has 90% new traffic every month because our primary visitors are job applicants. After working to understand those visitors, I talked with our Talent Acquisition Specialists to grasp where we could better inform candidates on the website to improve the interviews they were having,” she noted. This work has empowered candidates to better understand Clickstop and have more meaningful conversations with our hiring teams.
Her commitment to improving communications also led to a thorough internal communications audit, providing valuable insights that have driven better solutions and decisiveness. “The audit allowed me to challenge myself and my teammates to provide better service and solutions to employees regardless of whether they work remotely, onsite, or hybrid,” she shared. “To make a larger impact, I was committed to removing assumptions. I used the audit as a listening tour to hear first-hand how employees in all areas of the company experience communication.”
One result of this audit was Lauren’s work to improve new hire onboarding by ensuring new employees better understood Clickstop’s communication tools and expectations. These updates involved coordination with Technology, HR, and other departments. This change has enhanced new hires’ ability to stay informed, engaged, and connected within the company, which allows them to be more engaged and impactful employee-owners.
ECDC Team during relocation.Last but not least, one of Lauren’s standout achievements in recent months was the East Coast Distribution Center (ECDC) Relocation Project. Despite having no experience in warehouse management, Lauren managed to oversee the successful relocation of a 40,000-square-foot facility to one double the size within 100 business days. “I knew I could provide value by organizing all the moving pieces so that the project team members could focus on being experts in their respective areas,” she said. Her intentional planning and ability to keep the larger vision in mind were crucial to the project’s success.
Cheat Sheet for Growth
Reflecting on her journey, Lauren expressed gratitude for the opportunities and support at Clickstop. “The mission, values, people, and opportunities have been like jet fuel,” she said. “I have so many people to thank for supporting and inspiring me to take ownership of the opportunities I was seeing.” Lauren’s journey at Clickstop is a testament to the power of aligning the strengths of our people with the needs of our company. She’s used her strategic thinking, effective communication, and relentless pursuit of excellence to impact our internal processes, employee growth, and overall company success.
“At Clickstop, our Code is a cheat sheet for growth—for ourselves, others, and the company. When I interviewed nearly 3 years ago, I was eager to join a team where I’d be surrounded by people who constantly challenge the status quo and push for growth. Thank you to my fellow Clickstoppers for pushing me to do that every day!”
Lauren Gilbertson, Q1 Rock Star Award Winner
Lauren has exemplified Clickstop’s core values through her leadership in key projects, enthusiasm, and opportunistic mindset. The results have driven significant growth and collaboration, making her a deserving of Clickstop’s highest honor, the Rock Star award.