Beyond the Job Description: Emily Gabric’s (’16) Path to Professional Growth
October 15, 2026 | 2 min read
Emily Gabric (‘16) has built her career by looking beyond the requirements of her job. Rather than limiting herself to the responsibilities of a particular position, she has consistently sought opportunities to contribute more to the people and organization around her.
Gabric demonstrated that willingness to get involved during her time at Florida College. While pursuing her degree, she worked as a Student Instructor for Mathematics and at Florida College Academy, gaining experience supporting students while balancing the demands of college. After graduation, a connection through a local church helped Gabric secure her first corporate position at Masonite, launching a career that would eventually lead her to Chick-fil-A.
Gabric joined Chick-fil-A in 2019 as an Administrative Coordinator for Enterprise Protection and Travel. As she learned more about the organization, she intentionally sought opportunities to expand her experience. She asked to sit in on meetings, joined colleagues on work trips, volunteered for additional projects, and built relationships across the company. These experiences broadened her understanding of the business and eventually helped her transition from administrative support into real estate.
“If you want growth, you have to grow in your current role,” Gabric said. “You have to be willing to take on those extra things and put yourself out there.”
Today, Gabric serves as a Senior Specialist in Existing Restaurants Real Estate, supporting projects that affect existing Chick-fil-A restaurants and the operators who run them. She collaborates with teams across the organization to navigate projects and develop solutions that benefit individual restaurants and the company as a whole.
For Gabric, contributing beyond her job requirements means more than advancing professionally. It also reflects an approach to service she first witnessed at Florida College.
“Being a servant leader was a mindset that you saw at FC,” Gabric said. “You saw that with the professors and with other students who took extra time to build relationships and value work.”
She recognizes that same attitude at Chick-fil-A, where leaders willingly teach, share their knowledge, and invest additional time in others. Her experiences in both environments have strengthened her understanding of the connection between growth and service. Both require a willingness to give more than what others expect.
As she continues her career, Gabric encourages others to prepare for future opportunities rather than wait for a promotion or new title. Her own path demonstrates that professional growth does not always begin with a new position. Often, it starts by making more of the one you already have. By looking beyond the boundaries of her job description, Gabric continues to expand both her professional opportunities and her ability to serve those around her.