Howard Schultz

Like when I go to an airport or a city and there's not an easy way to get to a store, I'm like, what? What is this place? What backwoods place am I in? Like it's expected. And when you live with something, you know, most of your life, you forget that it was once a crazy idea.

Like when I go to an airport or a city and there's not an easy way to get to a store, I'm like, what? What is this place? What backwoods place am I in? Like it's expected. And when you live with something, you know, most of your life, you forget that it was once a crazy idea.

What's the stat that you have on, I've heard you say it a number of times, on employee tenure at Starbucks versus others in the category? It's a 2x is what I believe. That employee tenure is 2x longer or turnover is half of what it is industry-wide? It makes a huge difference.

What's the stat that you have on, I've heard you say it a number of times, on employee tenure at Starbucks versus others in the category? It's a 2x is what I believe. That employee tenure is 2x longer or turnover is half of what it is industry-wide? It makes a huge difference.

And you've talked about Beanstalk. You've talked about comprehensive health insurance. When I think about the most important thing we probably have done in the last 20 years, it's been the unique relationship that we established with Arizona State University and its president, Michael Crowe.

And you've talked about Beanstalk. You've talked about comprehensive health insurance. When I think about the most important thing we probably have done in the last 20 years, it's been the unique relationship that we established with Arizona State University and its president, Michael Crowe.

Could we create free college tuition, a four-year free college tuition through Arizona State for every single partner at Starbucks? And we did it. And thousands of Starbucks partners are engaged and going to school, and thousands have graduated.

Could we create free college tuition, a four-year free college tuition through Arizona State for every single partner at Starbucks? And we did it. And thousands of Starbucks partners are engaged and going to school, and thousands have graduated.

The College Achievement Plan demonstrates going back to the early years of the speeches I was giving about what is the responsibility for a for-profit company in the world we're living in. And it's not just to make money.

The College Achievement Plan demonstrates going back to the early years of the speeches I was giving about what is the responsibility for a for-profit company in the world we're living in. And it's not just to make money.

Here's one that we haven't talked as much about. You were part of this secular trend of gourmet coffee. And I'm curious if you view that to be a true statement, or if you're saying, no, we created this entire wave. It wasn't going to happen.

Here's one that we haven't talked as much about. You were part of this secular trend of gourmet coffee. And I'm curious if you view that to be a true statement, or if you're saying, no, we created this entire wave. It wasn't going to happen.

Yeah, that's a lot of people who have gone on to do other things after. And I think one thing that's always been missed is that Starbucks has always been a great first job.

Yeah, that's a lot of people who have gone on to do other things after. And I think one thing that's always been missed is that Starbucks has always been a great first job.

So in your mind then, let's say there's a parallel universe where Howard Schultz doesn't exist. The year is 1995. Is there a... nationwide chain not called Starbucks with gourmet coffee taking off in the United States because the conditions were perfect for it?

So in your mind then, let's say there's a parallel universe where Howard Schultz doesn't exist. The year is 1995. Is there a... nationwide chain not called Starbucks with gourmet coffee taking off in the United States because the conditions were perfect for it?

I would assume that there would have been a national franchised business that would have occupied the coffee space but would have been more commoditized.

I would assume that there would have been a national franchised business that would have occupied the coffee space but would have been more commoditized.

Yeah, I don't think anything would have been executed like Starbucks. But I think someone would have showed up. The opportunity was just too much white space.

Yeah, I don't think anything would have been executed like Starbucks. But I think someone would have showed up. The opportunity was just too much white space.