At just 24 years old, Camille Arnold, M.A. ’11, became one of the youngest female business managers ever hired by Coca-Cola. After two and a half years at her post, she now oversees an $11 million budget and a staff of six—some of whom are nearly twice her age—withremarkable business savvy, unwavering integrity, and an ambitious drive that distinguish her as not only a smart hire, but also the company’s future.
APU LIFE: Coca-Cola ranks among the top 10 private employers in the world,with more than 700,000 employees. When did you decide you wanted to work for such a large corporation?
ARNOLD: My father worked in the Coca-Cola warehouse in Downey when I was growing up. I used to wear his uniform to school on career day and tell everyone I was going to work for Coca-Cola one day. I never lost sight of that goal. While working on the East Coast after college, I saw an ad for APU’s Young Executive M.A. in Management
(YEMAM) program, with concentrations in human resource management and public administration. The economy wasn’t good at the time, and I thought furthering my education in such a unique program might be a logical step for helping to achieve my childhood dream.
APU LIFE: How were you able to skip so many rungs on your way up the corporate ladder?
ARNOLD: In the YEMAM program, I organized a tour of the Coca-Cola facility
in Downey for my entire class. During the tour, I met a human resource business partner and asked if I could call and talk to him. He agreed to let me shadow him for a day, and I used that opportunity to ask questions, showcase my knowledge of the company, and express thoughts that showed him that I was a strong, talented, motivated, ethical person. He spread the word about me, and when an opening came up in the Carson office, I got called for an interview. I immediately called Roxanne Helm-Stevens [associate professor and director, management programs]. She prayed with me, told me
to get my portfolio together, and said, “Go for it!”
APU LIFE: What has been your biggest challenge in your role as a manager?
ARNOLD: Earning the respect of my direct reports and finding the best way to communicate with them took time. Millennials use technology as our primary form of communication. We employ a very straightforward approach to communicating, which can be misconstrued as a lack of empathy. I assessed the way I communicated with people and made some changes that seem to have made a big difference. In addition to holding one-on-one meetings with each of my staff members once a month, I also established an open-door policy, making myself available no matter the time of day. I ask them exactly what they need from me: Are they looking for advice, a third-party opinion, or just a chance to vent? In turn, they have taught me the invaluable results of active
listening—increased productivity, stronger working relationships, and sincere respect for one another.
APU LIFE: Where do you hope to be in10 years?
ARNOLD: I would love to work in Berlin with our international human resources team to learn how the U.S. works in comparison to other countries. As the chair of our African American Cultural Education and Awareness Group, I want to expand my knowledge of business and human resources on a global level. My perseverance and determination comes from my little sister, Ashley Arnold-Howard, M.A. '14, who has overcome major obstacles. She inspires me to set lofty goals and shows me daily that I can, in fact, achieve them.
