My name is Jara Bonilla. I have been a Walgreens team member for a little over 20 years, and I am currently the district manager for District 342 in southeast Houston, Texas. I am also a leader within the company’s business resource group Women of WBA, or Walgreens Boots Alliance.
On Aug. 25, 2017, I was promoted to district manager. Unfortunately, it was the same day that Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc on Houston and surrounding areas. It was the first Category 4 storm to hit the U.S. since 2004 and the first to land on the Texas coast since 1970. The damage was insurmountable.
At the time, I was stuck in New Orleans where I was finishing up some work for my previous role. When I came back to meet my new teams in Houston, I discovered that two of our stores were damaged beyond repair and would need to be gutted entirely, but I also witnessed genuine resilience and determination. My team members, all dealing with losses and tribulations of their own, came in to support their stores and care for their communities. We quickly set up a mobile pharmacy to distribute medication and ensure uninterrupted service to the many people impacted by the disaster.
Although it was a big challenge as a new district manager, it was also a big learning opportunity. My teams and I were all dealing with struggles and were determined to overcome them. They cared for me greatly, and I supported them with everything I had. Together, we served our patients and customers during a time unlike any other, and we came out of it as a strong, ferociously committed team.
A typical day in my life
I’m an early riser, so my day usually starts a little before 5 a.m. That’s when I wake up and head to the gym. After my workout, I join a virtual women’s prayer group and head back home to get myself and my kids ready for the day ahead. I have two daughters, a 17-year-old named Janelli and a 5-year-old named Kendrixx. Once we have everything packed, prepped and ready, I drive them to school and hit the road to visit one of the 16 stores in my district.
On a typical day, I try to visit two to three locations per day to allow myself enough time to spend with the team at each store. Throughout my career at Walgreens, I learned that building quality connections is more beneficial than the quantity of store visits. I try to get to know my team members on a deeper level—their goals, challenges, aspirations. This number of daily visits also enables me to have enough time to answer questions, help resolve challenges and jump right into action whenever a store gets busy.
In a nutshell, this is my usual routine Monday through Thursday, but Fridays are a bit different and are reserved for tasks that require some office time. I still try to visit at least one store on Friday, but I spend a good portion of the day attending meetings, sending emails and recognizing the great things that happened at my stores throughout the week. I also use Fridays to connect with several district managers I’m mentoring and check in with my fellow Women of WBA business resource group members.
Empowering women and future leaders
I was inspired to join Women of WBA business resource group, because when I was growing up, I didn't see many women in leadership positions. Luckily, times have changed. I love being part of this group and learning what life looks like for women across the organization as mothers, students and career women. I am grateful that I can share my career journey—from store team member right out of high school to district manager—and show young team members that hard work can help you achieve your dreams.
You don’t meet a lot of people today who stay at the same organization for 20 years. When people ask me why I’ve stayed at Walgreens for so long, my answer is quite simple: support, understanding and opportunities to grow. As a district manager and leader within Women of WBA, my goal is to help continue this culture at Walgreens and encourage young team members—both men and women—that this is a place where they can grow and develop if they are willing to put in the effort, do the hard work and never stop learning, from the front of the store all the way to pharmacy.
