As Ben Ephie sits down to talk about his meteoric career at T-Mobile, he’s presented with a little gem from the past: a seven-year-old internal company video where he shares his then experience in a T-Mobile career development program.
“Oh no you’re not going to make me watch this, are you?" he says, with a laugh. "It’s so cringe!”
But in truth Ephie can’t help but marvel at how much has happened since he first started with the company.
“I think back on when I was still trying to figure out my life and what I wanted,” says Ephie, a T-Mobile National Retail Senior Manager. “It’s an amazing feeling to now say I’m doing it, and we are full speed ahead.”
Ephie’s career path is undeniably impressive. He started as a part-time retail employee, then moved through various roles in store leadership, product management, district management and more. Now, Ephie leads a team that builds strategic sales relationships with the largest retailers in the world, driving T-Mobile’s performance. It’s a trajectory he says he never would have imagined when he first started. When asked how he moved up the ladder, he attributes career enrichment programs for helping him see the bigger picture and understand his role within the company better.
That first frontline development program seven years ago was integral in Ephie’s career path because after working on a retail floor it provided a comprehensive understanding of a product portfolio and allowed him soon after to have real input on T-Mobile’s Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi feature.
“Since that first program, I’ve had an insatiable passion and have been a sponge for development,” Ephie says. “I can’t imagine a better environment for uncovering your ability to influence decisions and product selection, and ensure leadership has visibility on how you're showing up to influence this company in the right direction.”
Ephie says he actively sought out other advancement opportunities like T-Mobile’s Career Advantage Program (CAPS) and Leadership Excellence and Development (LEAD) program.
“They helped me sharpen my sword,” he explains. “I wanted to have a stronger grasp on why certain decisions are made and how market leadership and support can inspire teams.”
Doing Well by Doing Good
Ephie admits when he first joined T-Mobile, he wasn’t expecting much out of the experience beyond a way to help pay down student loans. But, once involved in the development programs, he quickly realized there was a lot to learn about the business, and about his potential within it. He says that’s when he also joined various company Employee Resource Groups like the Black Empowerment Network (BEN) and Veterans and Allies Network (VAN).
T-Mobile’s ERGs foster inclusivity and diversity and offer a platform for employees to connect with others who share similar backgrounds or interests. Over 30,000 employees are part of at least one of the six ERGs and their subsets. At BEN and VAN, Ephie felt a bigger sense of belonging within T-Mobile.
“Personally, Black History Month is a time for me to reflect and allow this company to highlight the historic individuals who dedicated their lives to a cause so we can all benefit,” he says. “I think about how far I have come personally, and I marvel at the opportunities I’ve taken advantage of and that they exist.”
That feeling later translated into wanting to pay it forward, supporting three employees via BEN Mentor Circles, along with joining the VAN board as Engagement Chair.
“I wanted to make sure that I’m always involved, not just from a participation standpoint, but also from a support perspective,” he says. “My sweet spot is asking, ‘Am I helping my company do better and be bigger?’ I think people forget how your involvement can impact the employees around you and how seeing you care matters.”
The more he sought out these programs, the more the awards came in. Plaques for winning “Un-Wrapped” and four “Tip of the Spear” awards all highlighted him as a top performer over the years, while highly coveted company accolades like Winners Circle and PEAK gave validation to the way he was poised to inspire. He even has a WWE-style championship belt gifted for his impactful work (though he swears he never wears it).
Physical trophies are nice, but they’re not how Ephie’s measuring his success these days. Ephie knows he’s driving the business in the right direction when a mentee gets the promotion they dreamed about after helping them find their confidence or introducing them to other supportive leaders. He says the years participating in advancement programs and ERGs have been a profound journey of self-discovery into the kind of person he is, and the kind of leader he wants to be.
Seven years after that first development program, he recognizes that doing well when it comes to achieving his business KPIs is something that cannot be sustainably achieved without doing the good work of investing in both himself and the people around him. Ephie always finds ways in conversations to bring the people he has met throughout his journey back into visibility. Whether it’s by giving a shout out to his coworkers at his first store in Trumbull, Connecticut, or to give accolades to his new teammates based in Frisco, Texas, Ephie is continuing to do the work of doing well by indeed doing good by those around him.
“It truly is what you need to do in order for your team to get it right for you,” he explains. “This company has shown me it wants to dedicate time to help me invest in my career and now it’s about leveraging these learnings. When I say I’m a well-rounded leader it’s because I believe I am one that understands people no matter where their walk of life is and perhaps, more importantly, as it differentiates from mine.”
Want to Learn More?
Read more about T-Mobile’s ERGs and career development programs and how they can help you achieve your goals. Visit the LiveMagenta wellbeing site for more information and resources.