We had the good fortune of connecting with Gilbert Tapia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gilbert, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I believe sacrifice is necessary to be successful. That could mean 14 hour days and working weekends. I’m the type of person that goes all in and pushes myself to my limits. I want to know what I’m capable of. I figure out what the measure of effort is to advance in the role/company then calculate how to make it work within the framework of my life. I have learned that sacrificing time in the beginning has a huge payoff in the end. I am a work in progress and I just want to continue to learn and improve.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I had the pleasure of working with a manager during my time at Wipro Technologies that really pushed me to be the best version of me. Someone that put me in situations that I would not have volunteered for. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and started to show me that I was capable of much more than I was aware of. Once I had a taste of that level of success I needed more. It felt great to see the work being put in and in return there were rewards. Those rewards were improved self-confidence, improvement in my communication with others, promotions, increases in pay and improvement in my relationships outside of work. I now try to pay this forward by investing time and creating opportunities for others.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’ve had the opportunity to travel a lot in my lifetime. Phoenix is still my favorite place, it’s home. Nothing beats our weather and beautiful views. If I was your tour guide for a week, we are starting with some amazing Mexican food at Barrio Cafe. We have to see the sights from Camelback Mountain. We are definitely having drinks and enjoying a great night at The Arizona Biltmore Resort. We will squeeze in some time to walk around Downtown Phoenix, maybe catch a Suns game…..Go Suns!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I couldn’t have made it as far as I have without an amazing support system around me. Having someone to lean on is critical in a retail world where sales can be very unpredictable. My sister, Sally Natalino, has been an amazing support and was the first person to believe in the dream. Sally is now a part of the company leadership team and helps with the overall planning and direction of the business.

Website: www.cookiebrokers.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/cookiebrokers

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilbert-tapia-67760894

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cookiebrokers

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cookie-brokers-bakery-of-phoenix-phoenix-2

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDk85jUbmsdagYhZTNgpicw

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.