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United States 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.
Howard Schultz, who led Starbucks from a small Seattle roastery to a global brand with over 40,000 stores and nearly 500,000 partners, emphasized a commitment to reclaiming the 'third place' and delivering performance through a lens of humanity.
In 1976, Howard Schultz worked as a salesman for Xerox in New York.
In 1979, he was recruited by French private equity firm PAI Partners to be general manager of a Swedish kitchenware manufacturer's U.S. subsidiary, Hammarplast.
Schultz left Starbucks in 1985 to open a store of his own, Il Giornale, named after the Milanese newspaper of the same name. The store offered ice cream in addition to coffee and played opera music.
In January 2001, Schultz led a group of ten investors who bought the National Basketball Association's Seattle SuperSonics for $200 million.
In January 2001, Schultz led a group of ten investors who bought the Women's National Basketball Association's Seattle Storm, along with the Seattle SuperSonics.
Schultz was an early and significant stakeholder in Jamba Juice in 2011.
Schultz served on the board of payment processing company, Square, Inc., until 2014.
During the summer of 2014, Schultz launched the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, a partnership with Arizona State University, which allows all employees at Starbucks working 20 or more hours a week to qualify for free tuition through ASU's online courses.
In 1998, Schultz established venture capital firm Maveron with investment banker Dan Levitan. Maveron primarily invests in start-up companies and seeds consumer-focused companies.
Maveron, co-founded by Howard Schultz, notably invested in eBay.
Maveron, co-founded by Howard Schultz, notably invested in Shutterfly.
Maveron, co-founded by Howard Schultz, notably invested in Zulily.
In 2013 Starbucks purchased its first-ever coffee farm, Costa Rica’s Hacienda Alsacia. Schultz participated in a coffee tasting of an exclusive dark-roast coffee from Hacienda Alsacia.
Howard D. Schultz, born on July 19, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York, grew up in the Canarsie public housing projects. He earned a B.A. in communications from Northern Michigan University in 1975. His early career included a sales role at Xerox and a general manager position at Hammarplast, a Swedish kitchenware manufacturer’s U.S. subsidiary. It was during his time at Hammarplast that he first encountered Starbucks Coffee Company in Seattle in 1981, a visit that would profoundly shape his future career path.
Schultz joined Starbucks in 1982 as the director of retail operations and marketing. A pivotal moment was his visit to Milan, Italy, in 1983, where he was inspired by the country’s vibrant espresso bar culture. Upon his return, he advocated for Starbucks to offer traditional espresso beverages, an idea initially met with resistance but eventually led him to establish his own Italian-style coffee bar, Il Giornale, in 1986. Two years later, he acquired Starbucks from its original owners, rebranding Il Giornale and embarking on an ambitious expansion strategy. Under his leadership, Starbucks went public in 1992, using a $271 million valuation to significantly increase its store count. He stepped down as CEO in 2000, becoming chief global strategist to focus on international expansion, particularly in China.
He returned as CEO in 2008 during the financial crisis, initiating significant changes including mass executive firings, store closures, and employee retraining to reinvigorate the brand. During this second tenure, he championed fair trade standards and ethical sourcing policies, doubled the company’s purchase of fair trade coffee, and launched the Starbucks College Achievement Plan in partnership with Arizona State University in 2014, offering tuition-free online courses for eligible employees. Schultz retired from active management in 2018 but returned as interim CEO from 2022 to 2023, overseeing the transition to a new CEO.
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