Episode #3
H-E-B President & COO Roxanne Orsak on Culture, Integrity, and Leading with Heart
What does it take to rise from an entry-level store management trainee to become the first female president in H-E-B’s 120-year history? In this episode of Aggie Legends, host Ben Wiggins sits down with Roxanne Orsak ’88, president and chief operating officer of H-E-B. Roxanne shares the defining moments of her 37-year journey with the beloved Texas grocery brand — from growing up on a family farm and finding her calling at Texas A&M to steering major retail innovations like Meal Simple, H-E-B Plus!, and Joe V’s Smart Shop. Roxanne pulls back the curtain on H-E-B’s unique culture of “relentless dissatisfaction,” the power of remaining privately held, and how frontline partners drive the company’s biggest breakthroughs. She also opens up about transformative career lessons, including the candid feedback that taught her to lead from the heart rather than trying to fit into a mold and why putting your personal health and well-being first is essential for long-term leadership success. 00:00 Intro & Small-Town Roots 01:52 The Defining Moment: “Sounds Like Can’t” 04:49 Finding Direction at Texas A&M 06:41 The Overnight Stocker Test & Choosing H-E-B 10:30 The Power of Staying Privately Held 12:02 Rising Through the Ranks & Overcoming Early Hurdles 17:07 Reframing Work-Life Balance: Putting Yourself First 20:11 Actionable Changes: Family, Fitness, & Boundaries 23:01 Staying Committed & Triathlon Training 24:17 Expanding Horizons: USC & Harvard Business School 26:26 Evolving H-E-B & “Relentless Dissatisfaction” 28:51 Partner-Led Innovation & The Birth of Meal Simple 31:47 H-E-B Fandom & Flying Tortillas 32:58 Reverse Mentorship: Learning from Gen Z 34:31 Texans Serving Texans: Organic Disaster Relief 38:39 Career Advice for Grads: Go Beyond the Data 41:24 Core Lessons in Leadership & Closing
