Howard Schultz

Howard Schultz, an American businessman, was born on July 19, 1953 in Brooklyn, New York, U.S. He is best known for his role as the CEO of Starbucks and for transforming the coffeehouse chain into a global presence.

Howard Schultz completed his studies at Northern Michigan University and obtained a bachelor's degree in Communications, becoming the first in his family to graduate from college.

After starting his career at Xerox Corporation, Howard Schultz transitioned to working for a Swedish kitchen appliance company called Hammerplast.

In 1981, Howard Schultz visited a Starbucks store in Seattle, Washington during a business trip and was captivated by the delicious coffee. This experience sparked his interest in the company.

In January 1, 1982, Howard Schultz received a job offer from Starbucks, a popular coffee shop in Seattle.

In 1983, Howard Schultz traveled to Milan, Italy.

In 1984, Howard Schultz opened the first II Giornale coffee bar after venturing out on his own due to disagreement with the owners of Starbucks. The cafe quickly became popular in Seattle.

Il Giornale, a coffee company founded by Howard Schultz, began its operations on January 1, 1985.

By 1986, Howard Schultz had raised the money needed to open the first store, Il Giornale, which offered ice cream in addition to coffee, had little seating, and played opera music in the background.

In 1987, Howard Schultz became the CEO of Starbucks.

An interview with Howard Schultz, the founder of Starbucks, titled 'Grounds for Success' was conducted by Scott S. Smith and published in Entrepreneur magazine on March 3, 1995.

The book 'Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time' was published in 1997 by Hyperion. It narrates the story of Starbucks and the business principles that Howard Schultz believes contributed to its growth from a small coffee retailer to a corporate giant.

In May 1998, Howard Schultz gave an interview to Entrepreneur magazine where he modestly discussed his business philosophy.

In June 2000, Howard Schultz stepped down as CEO of Starbucks, moving to the new position of chief global strategist to help the company expand internationally.

In January 2001, Howard Schultz led a group of investors to buy the Seattle SuperSonics and Seattle Storm for $200 million. Schultz faced criticism for his business-oriented approach rather than focusing on the sports aspect of the franchises.

Howard Schultz was presented with the 'International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award' in 2004 by the University of Manitoba in recognition of his exceptional success and conduct at Starbucks.

On July 18, 2006, Howard Schultz sold the Seattle SuperSonics to Clay Bennett for $350 million after failing to secure public funding for a new arena in Seattle. The sale raised speculation about the team's potential relocation.

In 2007, Howard Schultz was honored with the FIRST Responsible Capitalism Award.

After an eight-year break, Howard Schultz came back as the CEO of Starbucks in the midst of the 2008 financial crisis. He implemented various changes including a $100 million settlement in back tips, mass-firing of executives, and emphasis on fair trade policies.

On July 2, 2008, the city of Seattle reached a settlement with the new ownership group, leading to the relocation of the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City, where they became the Thunder for the 2008–09 NBA season. The move significantly impacted Schultz's reputation in Seattle.

In 2011, Howard Schultz was recognized as Fortune magazine's 'Businessperson of the Year' for his impactful initiatives in the economy and job market.

In 2012, Howard Schultz published his memoir 'Pour Your Heart Into It', where he shared his vision on unions and their place at Starbucks.

In his third book, co-written with Rajiv Chandrasekaran, Schultz explores the lessons on citizenship and sacrifice that can be learned from veterans, receiving positive reviews for its well-written and moving content.

In 2015, Fortune magazine acknowledged Howard Schultz as the most generous CEO for his contributions towards Starbucks' healthcare coverage, educational opportunities, and employee stock options.

In November 2017, Howard Schultz was presented with the National Equal Justice Award by the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

On January 27, 2019, Howard Schultz announced in an interview with 60 Minutes that he was exploring a run for president as an independent candidate, considering a centrist approach.

By September 6, 2019, Howard Schultz officially ruled out a presidential run, stating that it wasn't the best way to serve the country at that time.

On September 14, 2020, Howard Schultz endorsed Joe Biden for the presidency, urging Americans to vote for Biden for the future of the republic.

On March 16, 2022, Starbucks announced that Howard Schultz would take over as interim CEO until a new CEO, Laxman Narasimhan, assumed the role in April 2023.

On March 20, 2023, Howard Schultz announced that he would be stepping down early from his position as interim CEO of Starbucks.

On March 29, 2023, Schultz testified before the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, addressing questions about Starbucks' stance on unions.

Cui Tiankai, in a recent news article from South China Morning Post on March 22, 2024, urged Howard Schultz to try and improve China-US ties through Starbucks.