Howard Behar, Former Starbucks President: Putting People Over Profits for Lasting Impact

Howard Behar went from making $300,000 a year to working at Starbucks for a third of that. Driven by his passion for the business, he rose to become president of Starbucks North America and later the founding president of Starbucks International, helping grow the company from 28 to over 15,000 stores worldwide. Despite these achievements, Howard faced a deep depression after retiring, prompting him to reevaluate his life’s purpose. He realized that his true calling is to serve and uplift others, with or without a formal title. In this episode, Howard chats with Ilana about redefining purpose after retirement, finding identity beyond titles, and why he believes in putting people before profits.

Howard Behar is a speaker, advisor, mentor, bestselling author, former president of Starbucks North America, and founding president of Starbucks International. He champions the philosophy that businesses should focus on people rather than products.

In this episode, Ilana and Howard will discuss:

(00:00)Introduction to Howard Behar

(01:12)Howard's Rock Bottom Moment

(02:31)Rediscovering Life's Work

(06:29)Childhood and Family Background

(08:27)Lessons from the Family Grocery Store

(09:40)Joining Starbucks

(14:25)The People-Centric Philosophy

(17:39)Reviving the 'We' Culture at Starbucks

(25:51)The Four Rules of Leadership

(26:06)Listening to Your Team

(26:43)The Birth of the Frappuccino

(30:15)Overcoming Challenges as a Leader

(37:29)The Importance of Core Values

(43:11)The Six P's of Success

Howard Behar is a speaker, advisor, mentor, bestselling author, former president of Starbucks North America, and founding president of Starbucks International. He champions the philosophy that businesses should focus on people rather than products. His impactful leadership principles include memorable lessons like, “The person who sweeps the floor should choose the broom.” He is the author of It’s Not About the Coffee and The Magic Cup, and he continues to share his insights globally with leaders and students.

Connect with Howard:

Howard’s Website: http://howardbehar.com/

Howard’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-behar

Howard’s Email: hb@howardbehar.com

Howard’s Phone: 206-972-7776

Resources Mentioned:

Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness by Robert K. Greenleaf: https://www.amazon.com/Servant-Leadership-Legitimate-Greatness-Anniversary/dp/0809105543

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