The Home Depot announced on May 29 its partnership with the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream, a museum in Washington, D.C., that celebrates stories of perseverance, opportunity, and achievement. As part of this collaboration, The Home Depot associates from across the country are featured in the center’s permanent exhibit, the American Dream Experience. Through personal interviews, these associates shared their perspectives on what the American Dream means to them—including building careers, supporting families, pursuing education, and giving back to communities.
Crystal Hanlon, senior vice president and chief culture officer at The Home Depot, is among those highlighted. Hanlon described her journey from cashier to executive leadership during an interview included in the exhibit. “I walked in for a job—$5 an hour—to pay my bills. I was supposed to leave. Then we built a wheelchair ramp for a child in our community. When he used it for the first time, the joy on his face… it hit me. That’s when I knew this wasn’t just a job. It was something bigger,” Hanlon said.
Hanlon attributed her long tenure at The Home Depot to its people and culture: “The people. The culture. It felt like family. Leaders invested in me. Teammates showed up for each other. It didn’t feel transactional—it felt meaningful.” She also discussed how opportunity and support enabled her advancement within the company: “Opportunity—and people who believed in me… I learned by doing: Every role in the store; every level of leadership; every part of the business.”
On maintaining company culture amid growth, Hanlon said, “You tell the stories… If you stop telling those stories, you lose who you are.” She defined her view of the American dream as “the ability to start with nothing and build a life,” emphasizing not only financial stability but also caring for family and making a difference.
Reflecting on what she looks for when hiring talent at The Home Depot, Hanlon said, “Heart… You can teach skills; you can teach business…but you can’t teach someone to care.” She also credited her early life experiences with shaping her approach to leadership: “I lost my mom at nine… My sisters became my foundation… They taught me loyalty, grit…”
Hanlon concluded that after more than 40 years with The Home Depot she remains motivated by making a difference: “Titles don’t matter to me. If people say I cared about helping others—that’s success.”
