With over 30 years in retail at large corporations, Cedric Haulcy was most recently Director of Business Analytics, Planning, and Pricing at Walmart. He returned to academia to complete an MBA in Business Strategy and Analytics, with a certification in Global Enterprise Systems. Cedric also served as Board President, CEO, and Vice President at Horses for Healing, a nonprofit offering equine therapy for children with special needs. Cedric has been a mentor with EforAll since 2021.
What made you want to become a mentor?
I’m passionate about helping others identify opportunities, build strategies, and achieve business goals. At Walmart, I supported the international team by facilitating Merchant Strategy training seminars for business leaders in Guatemala, Chile, Costa Rica, and Japan. This initiative enhanced my passion for helping others develop the skills necessary to optimize their businesses. Mentoring with EforAll aligns with this passion and provides a meaningful way to give back to the community.
Is there a specific mentoring experience that you are most proud of?
The most rewarding moments are when the mentees have an epiphany—especially during discussion on complex topics like strategy, finance, or marketing. Seeing them connect all the aspects together is deeply fulfilling.
What do you think makes EforAll special?
EforAll’s community engagement with entrepreneurs is extraordinary. Our region is experiencing significant growth and is rapidly emerging as a vibrant hub for startups, offering a compelling mix of economic development, venture capital opportunity, and a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem. The EforAll program empowers local entrepreneurs to leverage their ideas with foundational business support, helping them build sustainable and successful businesses.
What advice would you have for entrepreneurs?
- Follow your dreams—and stay agile.
- Develop a clear vision that outlines your long-term aspiration for the business—what do you want it to achieve or become over time?
- Establish a mission that defines your purpose and approach to achieving your goals in the present—what will your business do, who will it serve and how will it deliver value?
- Your vision and mission will serve as your north star when facing challenges, making difficult decisions, or setting priorities (e.g., how does the situation align with your vision and mission?). This will help you stay focused on what matters.
- Agility—the ability to quickly adapt and navigate business challenges without losing momentum or direction—is especially critical for new businesses.
- Most importantly, celebrate milestones along the way. They’ll energize you, fuel your drive, and renew your passion to keep pushing forward.
Interested in becoming a mentor? Learn more here.