When Howard Schultz founded Starbucks, he had only one goal. He wanted to create a coffee shop franchise where people could enjoy high-quality coffee and spend time relaxing and reconnecting. If you look at the current growth of the company, Starbucks is the world’s largest coffee brand, with more than 25,000 outlets worldwide. In this blog, we will discuss how Howard Schultz, a graduate of Northern Michigan University created the most popular coffee brand in the world.
Howard Schultz: Journey from Coffee Salesman to Starbucks CEO
Howard Schultz’s story is full of determination and confidence. His educational journey started at Canarsie High School. After completing his school life, Howard went to Northern Michigan University, which is one of the most prestigious universities in the USA. As he was great at studying, Howard didn’t face any problem graduating from this reputed university with a B.A. in Communications. In 1975, he completed his graduation, unlike many Americans who dropped out of college.
After completing his graduation, Howard started staying in Michigan where he worked at Sky Lodge for almost a year. After that, he joined Xerox in New York City as a salesman. In 1979, Howard was recruited by Swedish kitchenware PAI Partners as a general manager.
As he has a communications degree from one of the top universities in the USA, Howard was able to build professional connections very easily. The degree also helped him pitch investors. Northern Michigan University has undoubtedly provided the world with a great business owner.
In 1984, he started his career as a coffee salesman and after three years, became the CEO of Starbucks. Howard helped Starbucks become the most famous coffee chain with his leadership skills. Additionally, Howard’s strategic thinking helped him come up with numerous traits to boost the popularity of Starbucks. His contribution to the worldwide coffee industry is undoubtedly remarkable.
How Howard Made an Empire
Howard’s other eye-catching success is his journey from the CEO of Starbucks to motivation and public speaker. He used to be a coffee salesman in Brooklyn, New York before he opened his first Starbucks store in Seattle in 1971. With top-quality customer service, flavourful coffee, and proper involvement in the community, Starbucks was quickly established as one of the biggest names in the American Coffee industry.
Howard paid close attention to his journey as well as the growth of the company. As a result, Starbucks has stores in more than 30 countries worldwide. Starbucks generates more than $32 billion in annual revenue. Howard is also considerate about social activities and he never hesitates to help others achieve their goals.
In 2016, Howard and his wife co-founded The Schultz Foundation which works with the primary goal of promoting mental wellness and happiness all over the world. The foundation is also super focused on education.
This is everything you need to know about Howard Schultz, the owner of Starbucks. Consider visiting our website to know more.