Afrooz is embracing every chance to achieve her dreams.
When Afrooz Fadaei started at Store 1827 in Park City, Utah, she had only been in the U.S. for a month after emigrating from Iran. She eagerly jumped into her role on the remodel team and went on to work in various positions, including cashier and online personal shopper, before landing her current job: people lead at Store 5350 in Salt Lake City.
Afrooz’s journey is an inspiring example of Walmart’s skills-first approach to career growth, which focuses on recognizing talent, creating opportunities to develop valuable skills and removing barriers to advancement.
Overcoming challenges, embracing opportunity
Ever since Afrooz was forced to leave school in Iran, she dreamed of continuing her education. After a few years of working at Walmart and becoming more fluent in English, she knew it was time to make her dream a reality.
“As an adult, making time for education can be overwhelming. But this company just provided me the opportunity to do it on my own time and for free,” she shares. Through Walmart’s Live Better U (LBU) program, Afrooz was able to earn her high school diploma in 2024, graduated from a college prep program earlier this year and is now a proud student of Bellevue University.
“Walmart brings the best vision of ourselves out — to the business, to society, to the country and to our family.”
— Afrooz Fadaei, Walmart People Lead
LBU is part of Walmart’s $1 billion investment in workforce education, eliminating the burden of student debt and making high school diplomas, college degrees and skills certificates fully accessible. “I don't spend one penny out of my pocket,” Afrooz says. “It's completely free education. I cannot even think about a better opportunity through a company.”
She’s also completed Academy training, where — despite being the only student in her class who spoke English as a second language — she earned 100% on her test! “I cannot tell you my feeling, I sat down and I was crying like a child. I explained to the others that this was my dream, that I can educate myself.”
Growing in confidence and skill
The impact has been life changing. “I found out that I can do it. Yes, I can do it,” Afrooz says. “I believed in myself after that.” Her coursework has spanned American history, business, financial management and communication — and every class has built her confidence on the job and in her daily life. “It affects my communication with other people. I can be better at my job and my personal life as well.”
This is exactly what Walmart’s skills-first model aims to do: equip associates with real-world tools that unlock new levels of personal and professional growth — without a traditional degree requirement. Over 75% of Walmart’s U.S. roles don’t require a college degree, and programs like LBU are opening pathways to higher-paying roles across the company.
Looking ahead
Afrooz is already working on her next step: earning a bachelor’s degree in management and leadership through LBU. Her ultimate goal is to become a people partner — mentoring other associates and helping them navigate their own career journeys.
“Walmart brings the best vision of ourselves out — to the business, to society, to the country and to our family.”
