Diversity is essential in the workplace. For a company that handles pest and wildlife services, having team members from different backgrounds boosts the overall company culture and team operation. At Abra Kadabra, many personalities work in various roles. So far, we’ve covered a couple of team members and told their stories. 

Today, we are telling the story of the most exceptional team member, who is not only the youngest at Abra Kadabra but also the only team member who can speak fluent Spanish.

Getting to Know Emily Starkman

She was recently recognized for her exceptional work ethic and was awarded Employee of the Month and Wizard of the Month simultaneously. 

In celebration of International Women’s Month, we recognize one of the roses amongst the thorns—yes, roses amongst the thorns! Since Abra Kadabra has males in 95% of its team members. 

In a male-dominated workforce, this young woman has diverse experiences from different working industries despite being 22 years old. 

Let us dive into the story of Emily Starkman, Customer Service Representative at Abra Kadabra Environmental Services. 

Emily is a young woman who wants to make an impact in everything that she does. As a Customer Service Representative under the company’s Sales Team, Emily brings a unique blend of dedication, experience, and warmth to her role.

Since joining the team in September 2024, she has become a valuable asset, embodying the company’s culture of support and collaboration.

Emily brings light to everyone around her like sunshine on a cold spring morning. However, behind a sweet girl is a competent budding young woman who ensures she gets the job done excellently. We are honored to acquire some of Emily’s best tips on excelling in your job and life. 

Allowing Yourself to Take a Different Route

It took many formative years to develop the solid work ethic that Emily currently has. Many of us learned the most basic errands at home, taught by our parents or other family members—which was a similar case for Emily. Emily was an obedient kid, and when she grew to have free will, she went to take simple jobs to earn a little. 

She took side jobs as a babysitter and mowed lawns when she was only nine. ‘”I started babysitting and mowing lawns, and by the time I was 14, I worked at Al and Alma’s, a local restaurant in Mound,” she recalls.

Starting to learn about hard work and the value of resources, Emily grew up competitive and goal-driven. And in most cases, when you love what you’re doing, you don’t often recognize that you need a little break from it all. 

Mental Health and Redirection

Emily attended a competitive high school where anything less than an A was looked down upon. She pushed herself to perform at a high level, which caused her to be burnt out, especially after the pandemic. 

“I was so young when the pandemic hit, and I had those formative years be affected by this span of complete solitude and isolation, which was hard, “Emily recalls.

She remembers that during that time, all she had to do was focus on her studies, which caused her to be burnt out later. 

“My mental health was suffering at the time, and the reason why I didn’t go to college is that I had to make a conscious decision to choose myself and choose my path in life because I’m not following the path that was originally laid out in front of me.”

Her original path was to graduate high school, attend a four-year college, and finish with a degree. But life had different plans for Emily. Despite her path being anything out of the ordinary, it felt the most true to her. 

Being at Abra Kadabra and excelling in the field she chose makes her the most grateful because she gets to be her authentic, whole self. 

“I’m grateful that people here are so accepting of people from different walks of life, and Micah (the Call Center Manager) had faith in me to hire me and take me on despite not having a ton of sales-specific experience.” 

Having a People-first Mindset

A considerable part of what inspires Emily to be great at what she does is her love for helping people. 

As an extroverted individual, Emily thrives on building relationships. “I’m one of the most extroverted people you’ll meet,” she laughs. “But I’m also selective with my friendships, surrounding myself with people who share my values.”

This people-first mentality extends to her colleagues. “I genuinely enjoy working with everyone at Abra Kadabra. It’s a refreshing experience to be part of a team that truly cares about each other.”

Her natural ability to build rapport has also given her a headstart in mastering customer experience, which is a massive part of her job. “I believe that making a genuine connection with our customers is key,” Emily explains. “When people feel heard and respected, it creates a lasting positive impression.”

Learning About Different Cultures

The most prominent fun fact about Emily is that she is the only bilingual person at Abra Kadabra. She is interested in communicating with people in their native tongue and learning about different cultures. She believes that by doing so, she’s learning how to become a more global citizen, which is essential to her. 

Learning how to contribute to society was instilled in her as a young girl and is a value she holds up to now. Being a contributing member means giving back to your community through volunteer work or getting a job and being professional. 

When it came time for Emily to enter the workforce, she found it easier to adapt because she had learned many ways to build relationships with people from different backgrounds. 

In elementary school, Emily began learning to speak Spanish and continued to elevate her language knowledge in the following years.

The immersive learning methods helped Emily fully commit to learning Spanish. She had classes when everyone was required to speak entirely in Spanish. There, she was able to dive into the language and learn how to pick up on context clues. 

Since she was 18, Emily has been taking high-level Spanish courses. 

In one semester, she had the opportunity to go to Costa Rice and Panama for an immersion program. The immersion took three months, and Emily proudly shared how she could apply what she’s learned throughout the years by speaking directly to native-speaking Spanish people. 

Having a Strong Support System

Talking about paying it forward, Emily credits her parents for instilling a strong sense of responsibility.

 “My parents always encouraged me to work hard and take pride in everything I do,” she says. “That mindset has stuck with me throughout my career.”

Emily recognizes that her parents have always been her support system. It was instilled in her and her younger brother growing up to have a strong work ethic. Her self-development journey is anchored by what her parents taught her, and she is constantly working to better herself in multiple facets. 

These include showing up at her best for schooling, community service, and traditional jobs to become a well-rounded person. In high school, she didn’t have many friends because she carefully picked the people she trusted and wanted to focus on people who shared her mindset. 

Starting Young

Learning to be a contributing member of society is a value instilled in Emily when she was young. 

As mentioned, Emily started as a babysitter at the age of nine. At a young age, her eyes were opened to the realities of the world, especially in the working class. She has never stopped hustling and taking jobs since then. 

Now, she has extensive experience to her name because she’s consistent and committed to different jobs, no matter what the roles are, as long as she can do them. 

Emily’s job experience included managing a clothing store, working as an operations manager at a gun club, and even holding multiple jobs simultaneously during the summers. 

“I typically held down two to four jobs at once. It was exhausting but rewarding,” Emily reflects. These experiences laid the foundation for her exceptional customer service skills.

For her, starting at a young age helped her get a headstart to a better career. 

Having Time to Relax and Unwind

We now all know that Emily loves to work. However, she never forgets to put everything on her plate to relax and recover. 

In her free time, Emily loves to hang out with her friends. She also loves being outside, especially during spring and summer, doing outdoor activities like camping. 

She recalls winter camping in January, when the temperature dropped to -30° F., a funny and memorable experience she cherishes. 

Now that Spring is coming close, Emily looks forward to warmer seasons when she can spend more time outdoors and enjoy nature.

Opening Up on Work Struggles

The challenge is part of anyone’s growth. No matter how old you get, challenges will always come to us, whether at work or in life. 

That’s why Emily puts her experience aside whenever she encounters hardships. It’s like treating oneself as a glass half empty, ready to take in some constructive criticism or advice on how to get better. 

One fine example is Emily’s sharing her experience when she just started working for Abra Kadabra. Knowing that she had less experience in customer service, she wasn’t hesitant to reach out to her boss and open up about the challenges she faced in her tasks. 

She recalls thinking she might get in trouble for not making enough sales or contributing to the team quota. 

However, during her one-on-one discussions with her team leader, Emily opened up about her struggles and was presented with actionable steps to improve her role. 

“If we don’t meet our sales goals, it’s not about punishment,” she says. “Instead, the focus is on what we could have done better and what support we need.”

After six months on the job, Emily was recognized as the Employee of the Month and Wizard of the Month.

“Being recognized by both my peers and management was incredibly validating,” she beams. “It’s great to know that my effort is appreciated.”

Being Open to Mindset Shifts

Change can be scary. But Emily never resisted it. She shared that transitioning into sales was initially daunting for her. 

“I was struggling with how to sell pest control services,” she admits. Fortunately, her team leader, Micah, provided invaluable advice that shifted her perspective. 

“Micah said, ‘Look at every phone call as if it’s a customer service call where you’re solving a problem,'” Emily shares.

This mindset helped her gain confidence and excel in her role. Her genuine desire to assist customers, paired with her exceptional communication skills, led to remarkable success.

How Emily Uses Her Spanish Skills in Her Role

Being the only bilingual employee at Abra Kadabra, Emily often assists Spanish-speaking customers. 

“It’s fulfilling to help people in their native language,” she shares. “When customers feel heard and understood, it makes a huge difference.”

As mentioned, Emily gained her Spanish proficiency through immersive schooling and international experiences, which allowed her to communicate effectively and provide exceptional service.