Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks, born in Brooklyn in 1953 to a working-class family, Schultz faced financial hardships during his childhood, which fueled his ambition. After earning a football scholarship to Northern Michigan University, he graduated with a degree in communications, eventually landing a job as a sales representative for Xerox.
Schultz’s life changed dramatically when he joined Starbucks in 1982, a small coffee shop in Seattle at the time. he was drawn to the company’s commitment to quality coffee. However, his vision was to transform Starbucks into a global coffeehouse chain. After a trip to Italy, he loved cafe culture, Schultz proposed Starbucks beyond selling beans to serving espresso drinks he left the company briefly
In 1987, Schultz acquired Starbucks and began his expansion plan. Under his leadership, Starbucks grew coffee consumption in the process from a handful of locations to thousands worldwide. He introduced innovative practices like employee benefits and stock options, emphasizing the importance of treating employees—whom he calls “partners”—with respect and care.
Schultz is known for his efforts, advocating for social issues like veterans’ employment and education. His 2019 presidential run highlighted his passion for civic engagement, though it was met with mixed reactions. Today, Schultz’s legacy at Starbucks is one of creating a community around coffee and fostering an environment of inclusivity and sustainability. His journey from humble beginnings to leading a global brand is a testament to his belief in the power of dreams and hard work.
A quote from Schultz: “People want to be part of something larger than themselves. They want to be part of something they’re really proud of, that they’ll fight for, sacrifice for, that they trust.” ~ Howard Schultz
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Very interesting article, I definitely found it interesting to learn about the male CEO of Starbucks and his vision for the business. It’s pretty cool how a trip outside the US sparked his love for cafe culture, and hearing this perspective from a guy is really neat and not normal I think. It is awesome to hear about his influence on the company and how he brought a more cozy vibe to the place, which I think many people now appreciate. Good work!
Great job with this! I thought it was extremely fascinating to learn about a male CEO of Starbucks and his thought process behind the business and the impact that he wanted to leave with. It was cool how a trip out of the US helped him to fall in love with cafe culture. Specifically hearing that from a male is so neat! When I hear Starbucks, I think of moms in their 20’s and early 30’s, so it was very cool to hear about his input on the company and how he came to transform the company and bring a more homie and comfortable feeling to the establishment.
Wow, I found this article to be very interesting and insightful. I really liked how Schultz found a market that had not been tapped into and sought to exploit it. This proved to be a huge benefit for him and is majorly what made him successful. America is a huge mix of different cultures so bringing in different cultures through business is always going to be a thriving market because of the diversity of this nation. There will always be those that have a draw to those different cultural norms and influences. Thus, Starbucks tapped into a French cafe culture that is now part of many Americans’ morning routine and weekly norm.