Howard Schultz: An Overview of the Entrepreneur's Career

Howard D. Schultz is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the CEO of Starbucks. He is responsible for turning Starbucks into a top global brand and now works as a philanthropist and humanitarian aiming for a better and more equal world.

Howard grew up in Canarsie, Brooklyn, living in the borough’s housing projects with his family in the 1950s and 1960s. He attended Northern Michigan University (NMU) on a football scholarship and earned a bachelor's degree in communications in 1975. After graduation, he moved to New York City to take a job in the sales and marketing department for the Xerox Corporation. This job led to a position as vice president at Hammarplast, a Swedish coffee maker company.

While Howard was at Hammarplast, he met with the original Starbucks founders Gerald Baldwin and Gordon Bowker, who were impressed by Howard’s business savvy. Baldwin and Bowker offered Howard part ownership of the Starbucks company and a role as director of marketing and retail operations. Since catapulting the company to worldwide success, Howard has made a name for himself as an author and philanthropist. As the cofounder of the Schultz Family Foundation, Howard has contributed to literacy programs and helped veterans and young people navigate unemployment. He also owned the Seattle Supersonics.

Howard Schultz served as the CEO of Starbucks from 1987–2000 and again from 2008–2017. In 2022, he returned to helm the company. Howard used his transformational leadership style to turn Starbucks into the American coffee shop utopia of his dreams (or, as he has said, “the kind of company that my father never got a chance to work for”). Here is an overview of his career at Starbucks:

• 1982–1985: While working at Hammarplast, Howard met with the two founders of Starbucks in 1982 after noticing that the company was ordering many coffee products. Starbucks founders Jerry Baldwin and Gordon Bowker were both impressed by Howard’s marketing savvy and offered him partial ownership of the company. While on vacation in Milan, Italy, Howard developed a new vision for Starbucks inspired by the social aspects of Italian coffee culture. Though his fellow co-owners did not immediately share Howard’s vision for expansion, they allowed him to establish a coffee bar in one of their newly opened locations, which was an instant success.
• 1985–1999: Howard left Starbucks in 1985 to open his own coffee bar, Il Giornale, which was a quick success. When the original Starbucks owners were looking to sell their stores a few years later, Howard paired up with investors to purchase the business. He merged Starbucks with his coffee bar, which officially became the Starbucks Coffee Company, where he served as chairman and CEO. During his initial tenure as CEO, Howard introduced new coffee and espresso drink choices for coffee enthusiasts and emphasized the stores’ atmosphere. He also implemented a training program for baristas to improve customer service and provide them with healthcare and stock options to make a more positive work environment.
• 2000–2018: Howard stepped down as the CEO of Starbucks in 2000 to work as the company’s chief global strategist. In 2008 during the global financial crisis, Howard resumed the position of CEO and stepped down again in 2017 to assume the role of executive chairman. During his time at Starbucks, Howard expanded a company of eleven stores in one city into more than 28,000 locations in over seventy countries. In 2018, Howard became chairman emeritus after retiring from active management of the Starbucks brand.

Howard is also an author who has penned several books about business and his experiences. In his books, Howard offers business leaders tips on developing leadership qualities and core values to help make their enterprises successful.

1. 1. Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time (1997): In this inspiring book, Howard details how he built Starbucks into a massively successful brand. He also explored the company’s principles and how it became such a staple of American coffee culture.
2. 2. Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul (2011): Howard shares his experience returning to Starbucks as CEO in 2008 to help dig the company out of the financial crisis that plagued the global economy. This book earned a No. 1 spot on the New York Times bestseller list.
3. 3. For Love of Country: What Our Veterans Can Teach Us About Citizenship, Heroism, and Sacrifice (2014): Howard coauthored this book with Rajiv Chandrasekaran. In the book, they celebrate the heroic and courageous efforts of America’s veterans both on and off the battlefield. Howard shares stories of bravery and sacrifice, reminding readers about the power of selflessness and dedicated military service.
4. 4. From the Ground Up: A Journey to Reimagine the Promise of America (2019): In this New York Times bestseller, Howard covers the new ways that businesses can thrive in modern America. He unpacks his philosophy on how businesses should operate in light of significant social issues in a changing society.

In 1996, Howard and Sheri Schultz founded the Schultz Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on encouraging youth development and mitigating veteran unemployment. The foundation helps veterans transition from combat life to civilian life, offering work opportunities, career guidance, and facilitating other life services. The organization also supports young adults between the ages of 16 and 24, especially those in marginalized communities.

The Schultz Family Foundation helps provide basic resources to young people, so they can focus on building their professional lives. From obtaining their first job to gaining networking opportunities, the foundation offers guidance and support to break the cycle of poverty and improve the lives of those in need. The foundation also consistently advocates for equal rights and opportunities and provides grants to scholarship programs and other beneficial organizations that focus on the well-being and future of humanity.

Howard Schultz has earned many awards over his long and successful career as a businessman, including:

1. 1. The Israel 50th Anniversary Tribute Award (1998): The Jerusalem Fund awarded Howard this honorific to recognize his efforts to maintain and promote a close alliance with Israel.
2. 2. National Leadership Award (1999): AIDS Action awarded Howard this honor in 1999 to recognize his efforts in educating people about acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and his philanthropic efforts to fight the condition.
3. 3. Businessperson of the Year (2011): Fortune magazine named Howard Businessperson of the Year in 2011 for his dedication to creating initiatives in the job market and improving the economy. In 2015, the magazine proclaimed him the most generous CEO for providing Starbucks employees with health benefits and stock options.
4. 4. Forbes 400 list: Howard earned a spot on the Forbes Top 400 billionaires list in both 2012 and 2021, recognized for his net worth following the success of Starbucks.
5. 5. National Equal Justice Award (2017): The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund awarded Howard this honorific for his efforts to promote equality and opportunities for people from various backgrounds and his emphasis on building a more inclusive future.
6. 6. ASU Honorary degree (2017): In 2017, Howard spoke at the Arizona State University (ASU) commencement ceremony. The university awarded him a Doctor of Humane Letters degree, an honorary title given to those who demonstrate outstanding philanthropic and humanitarian efforts.

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