From managing a high-speed Chipotle in California to leading the charge in Motawi’s shipping department, Amanda Sherwood brings a fierce work ethic, thoughtful care, and a side of spooky to everything she does. Whether she’s calculating tile dimensions or pursuing a doctorate in psychology, Amanda is always on a mission to do good—and do it right.
What’s your role at Motawi?
I’m the Shipping and Receiving Team Lead.
How long have you been here?
About three and a half years—I started in January 2022.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I start by checking in with our three sales channels: installation, wholesale, and internet/gift. They’re kind of like separate mini businesses. I assess what each channel needs from me, check our orders, and plan my day around what needs to ship—usually prioritizing by due dates and customer expectations. Then it’s about pulling orders, QC'ing tiles, packing them, and shipping them out. Internet orders can be time-sensitive with priority shipping, so I keep a close eye on those.
What were you doing before Motawi?
I worked at Chipotle for nine years. I started as a crew member and worked my way up to General Manager. I worked at several locations, including one of the top five busiest Chipotles in the country, in California.
How did you find out about Motawi?
Through Jeff Gould—he’s a family friend. His family and my husband’s go way back, so when I started looking for a change, he gave me his stamp of approval.
What made you want to work here?
I needed better work-life balance. At Chipotle, I worked nights, weekends, holidays—it was tough, especially with young kids. Motawi offered normal hours, flexibility, and amazing benefits. Plus, the culture here is incredible. Even though I’m not artistic, I’m surrounded by creative geniuses, and I’m constantly in awe. Working for a woman-owned, local business that does things the right way just feels really good.
Do you remember your first day or first impression?
I interviewed around Christmas, and the atmosphere was so warm—we had a hot cocoa bar in the kitchen! Everyone was so kind, especially Autumn. I started as a Production Generalist in Trimming, and just two months later, Marshall slid the shipping job posting across my workspace and said, “Can you apply for that, please?” He saw my management experience and believed in me. That trust meant a lot.
What part of your work do you enjoy the most?
I love when we get customer feedback saying something was beautifully packaged. During the holidays, I feel like Santa Claus. I think about each recipient, and it means a lot to send something so carefully wrapped. Everyone here works so hard to create beautiful tiles—the least I can do is ship them with the same care.
Any moments you're especially proud of?
Before I took over, we needed three people in shipping. By streamlining and leaning into Toyota practices, we reduced that by one and freed up resources elsewhere. That kind of efficiency feels great. But honestly, every compliment and success is a collection of small wins.
What's something you've learned or gotten better at since starting?
Everything about shipping and freight was new to me. I had zero experience and had to learn while also leading others. It was a steep learning curve, but I love challenges. I see myself as a lifelong learner.
Any quirky or surprising parts of your job?
Shipping tile is a craft in itself. Every day, I’m figuring out how to safely and efficiently pack an order that might include tiles in wildly different sizes and shapes. There’s a lot of math and spatial awareness involved—how many 1x1s fit with 2x2s, how to combine 6x6s with 4x12s. It’s like a giant puzzle that’s always changing. I take a lot of pride in getting things just right to ensure everything arrives intact.
What's something surprising about working at Motawi?
How genuinely respectful and caring the culture is. Titles don’t matter much—we all just have different slices of the pie. I love how we celebrate holidays thoughtfully and inclusively, not just with pizza parties but with meaningful traditions.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I love gardening, concerts, and being outdoors. I get goosebumps when music hits me just right—lyrics really move me. I’m fascinated by people and love deep conversations. My friends say I’m like Mr. Weasley from Harry Potter: endlessly curious.
Any projects or passions?
I’m currently pursuing my doctorate in psychology. I go to Walden University, which is designed for working adults. Between work, school, and family, I also put in 20–30 hours a week studying. My dissertation will focus on the lack of maternity leave in the U.S. and how it affects birth rates and family wellbeing.
What might surprise your coworkers?
Probably that I’m getting a doctorate! People assume I go home and crash, but I study a ton. My team knows when I look extra tired—it’s school. They’re so supportive. Also, I’ve had a lifelong connection to the paranormal. My mom is Thai and Buddhist, and I grew up calling on ancestors before meals. For 16 years, I had vivid Halloween dreams about a fiery-haired witch who tested me. After years of failing, I finally stood my ground in the dream and banished her—and I’ve never had the dream again. I’ve also had dreams that seemed to warn me of real-life events, like my grandmother’s heart attack. These experiences make me feel like I’ve always had one foot in another world.
I notice you wear EarPods. What do you listen to while working?
Music, podcasts and true crime stories—constantly. Over the last year I’ve listened to over six months’ worth of Spotify just at work! “Rotten Mango,” “Conspiracy Files,” and “Two Girls One Ghost” are some favorites. When I need to focus, music works better for hands-on tasks like installation packaging.
Lightning Round
Morning person or night owl? Morning person (when not in school!).
Coffee, tea, or something stronger? Iced caramel macchiato with an extra shot of espresso.
Favorite Motawi tile? Rainbow Saguaro.
If your job were a tile? A busy Frank Lloyd Wright design—big parts, little parts, all the details.
One word to describe Motawi? Unique.
What are you excited about right now, at work or in life?
I’m pregnant! I’m excited to complete our family.
Any dreams for the future, big or small?
I dream of staying at Motawi until I get my “big girl job” in policy. I want to keep showing up for the people I love.
Amanda’s story is one of quiet determination, lifelong learning, and a bit of moonlit magic. From streamlining tile shipments to tackling injustice through her dissertation, she’s packing care, passion, and purpose into everything she touches.
