Howard Schultz

Howard Schultz has transformed Starbucks from a small coffee bean retailer into a global coffeehouse giant, demonstrating a commitment to partner-centric culture and social responsibility. His leadership has seen the brand expand to over 40,000 stores worldwide, establishing a new paradigm for business success intertwined with community engagement. After encountering Starbucks Coffee Company in Seattle in 1981, Howard Schultz transformed the brand from a small coffee bean retailer into a global coffeehouse giant with over 40,000 stores. Schultz joined Starbucks in 1982 as Director of Retail Operations and Marketing.

During his second tenure, Schultz championed fair trade standards and ethical sourcing, doubling Starbucks’ purchase of fair trade coffee. He launched the Starbucks College Achievement Plan with Arizona State University in 2014, offering tuition-free online courses for eligible employees. That same year, he published ‘For Love of Country’. In 2015, he founded Onward Veterans, supporting post-9/11 veterans’ civilian transition.

Schultz transitioned from CEO to Executive Chairman in 2016, retiring from active management in 2018. His third book, ‘From the Ground Up’, was released in 2019. Most recently, Schultz returned as interim CEO of Starbucks from 2022 to 2023, overseeing the crucial transition to a new CEO and continuing strategic growth. In 2023, he provided expert insights testifying before the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

His visionary leadership throughout his various tenures has cemented Starbucks’ global reputation for prioritizing a partner-centric culture and social responsibility, expanding its global footprint to over 40,000 stores and establishing a new paradigm for modern business success.