Karisha Whitestone
Atlanta,US
Summary
Passionate Leader with 5+ years of retail leadership and recruitment experience, specializing in full-cycle hiring, onboarding, and workforce planning. Demonstrates strength in building high-performing teams, improving retention through structured onboarding, and aligning hiring strategy with business needs while promoting equitable hiring and diversity. Skilled in scheduling, inventory-informed staffing, and customer-focused operations; seeks to scale talent programs that drive operational excellence and strong employer brand.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Store Manager
Starbucks
Fairburn, Georgia
03.2025 - Current
- Lead full-cycle recruitment for store leadership and hourly roles, including sourcing, interviewing, selection, and onboarding.
- Partner with district leadership and HR Business Partners to assess staffing needs and align hiring strategy with business demands.
- Conduct structured behavioral interviews to evaluate leadership capability, cultural alignment, and performance potential.
- Manage active hiring requisitions and provide updates on candidate pipelines and time-to-fill metrics.
- Deliver a high-quality candidate experience from first contact through start date, strengthening employer brand reputation.
- Champion equitable hiring practices and support diversity and inclusion initiatives in candidate selection.
- Support local hiring events and community-based recruiting efforts.
- Implement structured onboarding programs to accelerate new hire ramp-up and improve retention.
- Build cross-shift communication routines and handoff checklists to resolve operational gaps, ensuring consistent service delivery and smoother peak-shift transitions.
- Coach baristas through one-on-one skill sessions and role rotations, raising service competency and fostering a dependable team during high-volume periods.
Assistant Store Manager
Starbucks
Newnan, Georgia
04.2024 - 03.2025
- Assisted the Store Manager in daily operations, including opening/closing procedures and cash handling.
- Fostered a welcoming environment for customers, enhancing their experience and driving repeat visits through exceptional service.
- Coordinated staff schedules and training sessions, improving team performance and ensuring peak operational efficiency during busy hours.
- Supported merchandising and seasonal rollout activities, coordinating new product launches and promotional setups.
- Cultivated a positive team atmosphere through open communication and encouragement, resulting in enhanced staff morale and collaboration.
- Collaborate in scheduling to match staffing to peak business hours.
- Monitor inventory levels and assist with ordering to keep product availability high and waste low.
- Coach, mentor and develop team members: deliver onboarding, training, and ongoing feedback.
General Merchandise Team Leader
Target
Fayetteville, GA
10.2020 - 10.2023
- Oversaw a team of 10 employees, providing guidance, training, and support.
- Led team of 3 presentation members to successfully complete projects ahead of deadline.
- Trained and developed team members to ensure a positive and productive work environment.
- Collaborated with teams across multiple departments in order to develop performance metrics aligned with company objectives.
- Trained team members in customer service and product knowledge to maximize sales opportunities.
- Resolved customer complaints in a professional and timely manner to maintain customer satisfaction.
- Conducted performance evaluations and provided coaching to employees to improve productivity.
- Trained and mentored new team members to improve overall team performance and customer service.
- Managed floor sets and displays to showcase merchandise and drive customer engagement.
- Conducted regular store walk-throughs to assess visual presentation and recommend improvements.
- Prioritized tasks effectively to ensure completion of most important items.
- Collaborated with team to create efficient schedules for project deadlines. Including transitions, revisions, sales plans, and more.
General Merchandise Team Member
Target
Fayetteville, GA
10.2017 - 10.2020
- Provided exceptional customer service by assisting customers with inquiries and locating products.
- Developed visually appealing product displays to increase customer engagement and sales.
- Organized merchandise displays to optimize visual appearance and appeal.
- Provided training and feedback to improve employee skills and confidence.
- Stocked shelves and maintained the cleanliness of merchandise displays in various departments.
- Participated in inventory management, restocking merchandise, and organizing displays to boost sales.
- Delivered accurate and timely merchandise transitions for all store areas; adhered to new merchandise street dates.
- Experienced in resolving customer complaints and addressing their inquiries effectively.
- Proficient in handling cash transactions and providing excellent customer service.
Education
MBA - Entrepreneurship
Southern New Hampshire University
New Hampshire06.2023
Bachelor of Science - Sociology
University Of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA12.2016
Skills
- Customer Service
- Sales Growth & Transaction Optimization
- Inventory Management
- Scheduling
- Onboarding
Timeline
Store Manager
Starbucks
03.2025 - Current
Assistant Store Manager
Starbucks
04.2024 - 03.2025
General Merchandise Team Leader
Target
10.2020 - 10.2023
General Merchandise Team Member
Target
10.2017 - 10.2020
Bachelor of Science - Sociology
University Of West Georgia
MBA - Entrepreneurship
Southern New Hampshire University