In this episode, I sit down with Howard Behar, the former president of Starbucks, to discuss the meteoric rise of the coffee giant and the philosophy that drove its success. Howard shares his insights about the importance of putting people before the product and how this mindset transformed Starbucks into an $80B business.
The conversation delves deep into Howard's early influences, including his time working in his parent's grocery store in Seattle and the lessons he learned about leadership, empathy, and the value of human connection.
Discover more about Howard's journey and his perspective on servant leadership: http://howardbehar.com/
In this episode, you will learn,
- The pivotal shift in Starbucks' philosophy: "We're not in the coffee business serving people; we're in the people business serving coffee."
- Howard's early experiences shaped his leadership style and the importance of empathy in business.
- The challenges and triumphs of integrating a people-centric approach in a product-driven industry.
- Insights into the dynamics between Howard and Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz, and their shared vision for the company.
- The significance of staying true to one's values and commitments, even in the face of adversity.
