On the Job: Myrakle Wilburn

For 2014 International Academy of Flint graduate Myrakle Wilburn, there is no limit to her ambition. As an alum of the TeenQuest program, the confidence and interpersonal skills she learned there have helped her on the path to becoming a franchise owner for Culver’s restaurant chain.  

Wilburn was not new to the food industry when she joined Culver’s, having worked her way up to management while at another quick service restaurant and leaving when she had reached management. position She also gained experience in leading people and managing a restaurant’s day-to-day activities. Once she began working at Culver’s, their trust in their team members and Wilburn’s previous experience helped her move quickly up the ladder.

“I started in the middle of COVID as a shift lead and then blazed my way through different management teams,” Wilburn says. “After three months, I was promoted to hiring manager. Two months later, I was made an assistant manager, and then in another two months, I was the first assistant manager.” 

This rapid ascension came from hard work and dedication to her goals, which have paid off.

“It was a lot of hard work,” says Wilburn. “A lot of hours. Plenty of weekends are spent at work. There was a 12-week course at our corporate office and some field training out there as well.”

What Wilburn has found in making the leap to being a franchise owner is how she has been able to use what she’s learned in previous roles.

“Being a franchise owner is the same as being a general manager, but your eyes are opened in a broader perspective,” says Wilburn. “Not only do you have to put a priority on your team and leadership, but you also have to put a priority on your community.”

Being part of the community is a very large part of the role of what makes Culver’s unique and something Wilburn takes very seriously.

“We’re right on the line of a college area (Calvin University in Grand Rapids), so we try to be present during some of the games; try to be a pillar as a place for a part-time job,” Wilburn says. “It is a place not only where people can meet and greet after games but a place that can give students the opportunity to enhance their social skills and professional skills and have a safe place to come and enjoy the culture.”

What lessons from TeenQuest helped you get where you are today?

I would say being confident in yourself. Being assertive without being aggressive. You should walk in there with that confidence and your head held high. It is easier if you respect yourself and hold yourself to a high standard and you understand that hard work does pay off. You have to get out there and make eye contact and be vocal. It’s harder to be in the working world if you are shy and not confident. 

In what ways were the lessons you learned during TeenQuest helpful to you on your journey?

TeenQuest was beneficial because the lessons I learned during it kept me confident and able to do interviews and apply and research for jobs. Even though you may get turned down, there’s still an opportunity out there for you.

What advice would you offer other TeenQuest grads on pursuing their dreams?

Be adamant about what you want in life, and follow your roles and your goals. 

What kind of legacy do you want to leave with your employees?

My goal is to make people happy. My hope is that not just my employees but the guests that come in can share a smile or a warm handshake, hug, or even a cheese curd to encourage another person. I believe that one spark of hope or happiness can change the world if we set the field on fire one at a time.