Today we’d like to introduce you to Kasandra Garza.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kasandra. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
In college, I needed money – like most people. The radio station I worked for had a “beginning-of-the-school-year” party with Favor. I had no idea what Favor was, but I knew it was a for-sure thing as long as I had insurance and a license. Favor was still a start-up at the time. It is similar to DoorDash and UberEats, except you can order absolutely anything – and it is a Texas brand! So, I start “running” for Favor through college. After graduating, I decided to apply to work at Favor HQ in Austin and got the job. I was still in college, studying towards getting into a Master’s program, so I worked in support in Austin. When I got into a Master’s program (SHSU), I moved to Austin and started working as a Community Manager in Houston!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
NO, it has not been smooth. There have been a lot of sleepless nights. I went to school from morning until 5 pm, then drove from San Marcos to Austin and worked until 2am-4am. Then, I would go home and do it all over again the following day. It was incredibly difficult to read for classes and study for tests and write long papers in between having a full-time job. Right now, the struggle still continues as I work my way through Grad school, which includes far more reading than undergrad ever required. I’ve always worked for what I have so NOT worked was never an option. I also never wanted my mom (a single mother) to worry about me, so I continued this routine.
Favor – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Favor is no longer a startup. We were acquired by HEB in February 2018, and it has been constant growth ever since. I’ve been associated with Favor for about three years now and have seen it grow so much. I am a Community Manager, so I and my team manage the entire East Texas region of Favor. Personally, I am known as the history girl at work – the one who tells fun facts about LBJ (my favorite president). I am the one who always plays WWII protest songs at the office on our group playlist. Related to work, I am responsible for several things, including meetups for our runners, but also making sure we are reaching as many runners as possible in Houston (given Houston is MASSIVE). What sets me apart from others is my genuine want to teach others. I LOVE teaching others, whether its about history or how to run a Favor. I love teaching people something they didn’t know before. I am most proud of how the company has stayed true to its belief and continues to create a start-up feel regardless of having been past that stage a while ago.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is directly related to happiness. I define success by being genuinely happy with where are you are in life and feeling like you are doing what you are meant to be doing. Always strive to want more, but never settle for something that doesn’t make you happy. Success is not massive amounts of money, but waking up every day and being happy with what you are doing.
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
