We recently had the pleasure of learning more about Leadership Development Specialist Rachel Hoopes, her journey to JK Moving’s Talent Development team, and a few interesting facts about her background and interests.
Finding a passion for supporting and leading teams
Rachel started on a path to talent development through a part-time job at lululemon, which she intended to be temporary as she searched for her “grown-up” job. Little did she know that she would fall in love with the company culture and their commitment to personal and leadership development.
Rachel went on to work in every role in lululemon’s retail stores, opening multiple new locations and managing eight locations, from Maryland to Hawaii, before eventually returning to the DC-Metro region. Throughout this experience, Rachel soon discovered her greatest passion: supporting and leading teams. This revelation led her to pursue the role of facilitator, program manager, and leadership coach on the luluemon Learning & Leadership team.
Joining the JK and CapRelo team
Although Rachel knew little about our company, the job description for the Leadership Development role here at JK and CapRelo felt exciting. She welcomed the opportunity to influence the company and leadership culture for a smaller company and in a hands-on way.
Within the first few weeks, Rachel shared that she felt like she was immediately part of the team. In the four months she’s been with us, Rachel has truly appreciated the people here and our organization’s team-oriented approach.
Taking her coaching skills to the next level
In July 2022, Rachel completed over 200 hours to earn the Certified Professional Co-Active Coach credential through the Co-Active Training Institute. By 2024, she had additionally completed and received the International Coaching Federation’s Associate Professional Coach designation.
These credentials mean more to Rachel than simply acronyms on her resume. After experiencing the positive impact of coaching, Rachel has an appreciation for its transformative effect. Now, she would like to put the coaching skills she has developed through earning these credentials to create a transformative space for others.
Rachel’s helpful leadership advice
Rachel encourages anyone considering a position in leadership development to seek out opportunities to gain actual, tangible, on-the-job experience, practicing their training, development, and facilitation skills. She suggests taking the initiative to lead training sessions or develop the training content. Rachel also emphasizes the importance of seeking opportunities to lead group discussions. Additionally, she advises learning about those who inspire you, identifying what it is about them that you admire, and incorporating these traits into your experiences.
Outside of work
Originally from Katy, Texas, Rachel first moved to the Washington, DC area as a student at American University.
Today, Rachel spends her weekends exploring Northern Virginia with her husband, Brenton, and preventing her cat, Flopsy, from making a “mad dash for the great outdoors.” Rachel also enjoys reading, gardening, and yoga.
3 fun and interesting facts about Rachel Hoopes
Finally, here are a few fascinating things you may not know about Rachel:
- This is her first year growing a vegetable garden in raised beds, and she’s hoping for home-grown tomatoes, cucumbers, or herbs.
- An avid reader, Rachel recently read over a hundred books in one year. While she’s proud of this accomplishment, it’s not a goal she’s likely to repeat.
- As a child, Rachel spent many summers in China touring the country with her mother and volunteering at a Giant Panda breeding center where she got to play with baby pandas and witness a panda give birth!
Please visit our Careers site to learn more about pursuing an exciting, fulfilling career with JK Moving!