Across the country, young people stare out the window and wonder what tomorrow holds. For some the future is difficult to envision. For many, the challenge is not seeing your dreams, the obstacle is finding a window to look out from.
Such is the story of San Antonio’s Robbie Hackfeld. Born and raised in the dust-worn trails of West Texas, this Abilene, Texas, resident knows firsthand how difficult it can be to get a foot in the door when there are few doorways to be found.
“I came from an area that was lacking in opportunity, especially for women,” Hackfeld explained. “The way things worked there was you go to high school, you graduate, start a family, and then take care of the farm. I had an innate belief that there was something more, something much bigger.”
The idea of settling down on the range didn’t sit well with Hackfeld. And as she surveyed the West Texas landscape, she realized that opportunity wouldn’t come knocking unless she went out and built a door. After high school, she found herself on the other side of the Lone Star State, immersing herself in environmental design at Texas A&M University. Her collegiate experience, like many others, included a full-time job.
“I really had to push myself through school. I paid my way through A&M by working various retail jobs. At times, I found myself exhausted, especially financially. Unfortunately, the only jobs available to women were retail and commission positions, but I made the best of it.”
After three and a half years of study, Hackfeld found herself in an unusual circumstance: a college graduate with no real use for her degree. She found that her passion was no longer environmental design, but rather, sales. “For me sales are passion driven. They are what I am truly made for.”
She began working in jewlery; handling sales and jewelery making. Her life’s journey soon brought her back to Abilene when her parents’ health began to slip. She moved home to look after her family and opened a jewelery store of her own. She operated the shop for over eight years, stopping only when a friend informed her of the opportunities available with a company called Transwestern Publishing. The idea of sales immediately caught her interest and soon she was on her way to Fort Worth to pursue her dream.
“I am a person that follows my gut, and when I left there was no apprehension,” Hackfeld said. “That was a clear sign that I was doing the right thing; I had no apprehension whatsoever.”
Hackfeld spent just nine months in Fort Worth before taking her talents to North Hampton, Massachusetts, where she was given a management position with the company. Her success at building a strong team and achieving impressive numbers took her across the country – from North Hampton to San Antonio to Redding, California - and back.
After Yellow Book’s acquisition of Transwestern Publishing, Hackfeld was given an opportunity to join the Alamo City team as a regional sales manager, tabbed to run the San Antonio and New Braunfels area. She enjoys the challenge that her position presents. “I see the endless opportunity in things, whether big or small. I never stop looking for opportunities.”
‘Opportunities’ are now everywhere Hackfeld turns, and she is quick to remember that she has a chance to give them to those who may be searching for something, just like she did years ago. “I get to make hiring decisions for the company,” she said. “Sometimes I get women who come in the door and they are looking for a place to land. They are searching for a place to grow into a career. It’s not always about experience, it’s about their hunger. That’s what I look for. It’s a cool thing.”
Hackfeld noted that she would love to return to her home and share her experiences in the hope that she may change perspective in her sleepy burg. For now, she is committed to growing with the company that gave her a chance to dream big. As for the future and those that may question her drive to succeed, Hackfeld says boldly, “I love nothing more than to prove everyone wrong. My life has been an adventure and I’m not ready to stop.”
From a small West Texas girl with stars in her eyes to mature woman with success as her guide, Hackfeld is changing her world, one moment at a time.
