Howard Schultz

Howard Schultz is an American businessman and the former CEO of Starbucks Corporation. He is widely credited with transforming the company into the global powerhouse it is today.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1953, Schultz grew up in a working-class neighborhood. He was the first in his family to attend college, graduating from Northern Michigan University with a degree in communications in 1975. After college, he worked for Xerox, then for a Swedish housewares company, Hammarplast. During this time, he first encountered Starbucks, a small Seattle-based coffee roaster and retailer.

In 1982, Schultz joined Starbucks as retail operations and marketing director. He quickly realized that the company had tremendous potential to become more than just a local coffee shop. Believing in a vision of providing quality coffee, excellent customer service, and a warm and inviting atmosphere, he expanded the company by opening stores in other cities.

In 1987, Schultz purchased Starbucks and became the company's CEO. Under his leadership, the company grew rapidly, expanding the number of stores and adding lines of food and beverages to the menu. He also created the Starbucks Foundation, which provides grants for educational and social service programs for disadvantaged youth.

Schultz is known for his commitment to social responsibility and sustainability. He launched the Ethos water brand, which donates a portion of its profits to providing clean drinking water to developing countries. He also has advocated for increased workplace diversity and the wages of Starbucks' employees.

Schultz stepped down as CEO in 2017 but continues to serve as chairman emeritus and a board of directors member. He is also active in philanthropy, donating millions of dollars to causes such as homelessness and education. He is the author of several books, including Pour Your Heart Into It, which chronicles his journey as the leader of Starbucks

Schultz is an active supporter of numerous charitable organizations. He is the co-founder of the Schultz Family Foundation, which supports programs that focus on youth development, education, health, human services, and the arts. He also sits on the board of the Robin Hood Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to alleviate poverty in New York City. Additionally, he has established the Schultz Family Endowed Scholarship at the University of Washington. The scholarship helps minority students achieve their educational goals.

Schultz has received numerous awards and honors for his business acumen and philanthropy, including being named to Time magazine's list of the world's 100 most influential people in 2011. He has also been inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame.