Howard Schultz

The Howard Schultz Life Story

by

Howard Schultz.

Howard Schultz Biography Summary

Howard Schultz is best known for leading Starbucks through the years when it became a global coffeehouse brand. He took a small Seattle company and helped turn it into a modern retail giant, with multiple stretches as chief executive.

His story is not a straight climb. It includes big bets, a sudden exit, a high-pressure return, and another return years later when the company faced a new kind of strain.

Along the way, he became closely linked to a view that business should invest in people as well as products. That idea shaped major choices, including large-scale education support for U.S. employees and other benefit programs.

His public legacy also includes controversy. Starbucks faced intense scrutiny in moments tied to workplace culture, racial bias, and labor organizing, and he was pulled into the national spotlight again during a U.S. Senate committee hearing in 2023.

Profile

Born: July 19, 1953 (Brooklyn, New York, U.S.)

Education: Northern Michigan University (B.A., 1975)

Best Known For: Leading Starbucks’ expansion and serving multiple terms as CEO

Achievements: Helped expand Starbucks nationally and globally; led the company through a major turnaround after returning as CEO in 2008; supported major employee education initiatives with Arizona State University

Title: Former CEO of Starbucks; Chairman Emeritus (company-recognized)

Board member of: Starbucks (former director)

Awards: Fortune magazine’s Businessperson of the Year (2011)

Spouse: Sheri (Kersch) Schultz

Children: Two (Jordan and Addison)

Some leaders build a company once, then walk away for good.

This story is different. It is about a person who left, returned, left again, and returned again—each time at a moment when the business needed a reset.

It starts far from Seattle. It begins in Brooklyn, in a childhood shaped by financial pressure, and a path that depended on opportunity earned the hard way.

By the time his name became tied to Starbucks, the brand was no longer just a store. It was a symbol of how fast a consumer idea can spread—and how quickly public trust can be tested.

Origins

He was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1953. At a young age, his family moved to the Bayview Housing Projects in the Canarsie neighborhood. Born and raised in Brooklyn, with childhood years spent in public housing in the Canarsie neighborhood.

In later retellings of his early life, he pointed to how fragile family finances can be when steady work is disrupted. That background became part of how he explained his long focus on employee support.

He was the first person in his family to graduate from college. For him, that was not a small detail. It was a turning point that changed what was possible next.

  • Born and raised in Brooklyn, with early years tied to public housing and later Canarsie in New York City.
  • First in his family to earn a college degree.
  • Married Sheri (Kersch) Schultz, and they have two children.

Early Growth

His path into business started with sales work. After college, he worked at Xerox, building skills in a role that rewarded persistence and clear communication.

He later joined Hammarplast, a company that sold European coffee equipment in the United States. While working there, he noticed something that surprised him.

One small customer in Seattle was ordering more of the company’s products than some major retailers. That customer was Starbucks, which at the time was still a small, specialty coffee business.

  • Earned an athletic scholarship to Northern Michigan University in the early 1970s and later graduated with a B.A. (1975).
  • Worked at Xerox, then joined Hammarplast, where he noticed Starbucks as a fast-growing customer for coffee-related equipment.
  • Joined Starbucks in 1982 as director of retail operations and marketing.

Breakthrough

In 1982, he joined Starbucks and entered the world that would define his public career. The company had been founded in Seattle in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker.

A pivotal moment came in 1983, when he traveled to Italy and saw café culture up close. The trip mattered because it offered a model Starbucks was not using yet: espresso drinks served in a welcoming café setting.

He pushed for that direction inside Starbucks. When the founders did not share the same vision, he left and built his own company, Il Giornale, to prove the idea could work.

  • Starbucks began in Seattle in 1971, founded by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker.
  • In 1983, an Italy trip shaped his belief that Starbucks could become an espresso-based coffeehouse, not only a coffee retailer.
  • Left Starbucks in 1985 to found his own coffee company, Il Giornale, focused on the café model he wanted to build.
  • In 1987, he led a group of investors to buy Starbucks and merged the two businesses, becoming chairman and CEO.

Early Expansion and the Starbucks Model

After the 1987 deal, the job was no longer about convincing anyone inside the company. It was about proving the model in the real world, city by city, store by store.

Growth came quickly. Within a few years, the store count moved from a small base into triple digits, and the company’s footprint stretched beyond Seattle.

The strategy mattered because it turned a niche product into a repeatable retail experience. The company could open new locations with a consistent identity, and customers could recognize what they were getting.

  • Under his leadership, Starbucks expanded rapidly, reaching more than 100 stores in a few years after the 1987 acquisition.
  • The business grew into a national chain and later a global one, becoming closely identified with the modern coffeehouse concept.

IPO and National Prominence

In 1992, Starbucks went public. The IPO changed the stakes for everyone involved, because it tied the company’s future to public markets and public expectations.

The years that followed were marked by scale. Starbucks grew into thousands of locations by the end of the 1990s, and his public identity became tightly tied to the brand.

In 2000, he stepped down as chief executive. Even then, the story did not end. It simply shifted into a new chapter where the company would eventually call him back.

  • Starbucks held its IPO in 1992.
  • By the end of the 1990s, Starbucks had grown into a large chain, and his role was widely associated with the brand’s expansion.
  • Stepped down as CEO in 2000.

Turning Points That Shaped the Story

His career has a handful of clear pivots. These are the moments when a choice created a new path, either for him or for Starbucks.

Some turning points were strategic, like the decision to push for the café experience. Others were about leadership timing, like stepping away and later returning when the company faced pressure.

Seen together, they explain why his biography is often told as a cycle of building, leaving, and rebuilding.

  • 1982: Joined Starbucks and moved from outside sales into retail leadership.
  • 1983: Italy trip that reshaped the company vision toward espresso-based cafés.
  • 1985: Left Starbucks to found Il Giornale and prove the café concept.
  • 1987: Led investor group to acquire Starbucks and became CEO and chairman.
  • 1992: Took Starbucks public, locking in a faster pace and higher expectations.
  • 2000: Stepped down as CEO, ending the first long chapter of his leadership.
  • 2008: Returned as CEO during a period of business strain and led a turnaround.
  • 2022–2023: Returned as interim CEO and handed leadership to Laxman Narasimhan.

Challenges

In 2008, he returned as CEO, years after stepping aside. The context matters: the company was facing serious business pressure, and the leadership change signaled urgency.

That return became a defining part of his legacy. It turned his public image from a growth-era leader into a crisis-era leader.

In 2011, Fortune named him its Businessperson of the Year. The recognition reflected how closely his leadership was linked to Starbucks’ ability to recover and keep growing.

  • Returned as CEO in 2008 and led Starbucks through a major turnaround period.
  • Named Fortune magazine’s Businessperson of the Year in 2011.
  • Stepped down as CEO in 2017 and became executive chairman, focusing on long-term innovation and social impact priorities.

Reinvention

Even during growth, his public message often returned to opportunity. That theme became more visible through programs aimed at employee support, education, and long-term mobility.

In 2014, Starbucks partnered with Arizona State University to launch the Starbucks College Achievement Plan. The program was designed to help eligible U.S. employees earn a bachelor’s degree through ASU’s online programs.

He also told parts of his story through books, framing Starbucks as both a company and a leadership case study.

  • 2014: Starbucks and Arizona State University launched the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, offering tuition support for eligible U.S. employees.
  • Co-authored or authored multiple books tied to Starbucks and leadership, including “Pour Your Heart Into It” (1997) and “Onward” (2011).
  • Published “From the Ground Up” (2019), focused on civic and national themes.

Where It Stands

In 2022, Starbucks announced a leadership transition that included his return as interim CEO while the board searched for a new chief executive. It was the third time he stepped into the top role.

Later in 2022, Starbucks named Laxman Narasimhan as the next CEO, with a planned transition that set April 2023 as the handoff point. In March 2023, he stepped down as interim CEO as Narasimhan began his tenure.

In September 2023, Starbucks announced changes to its board that included his retirement as a director. The company described him as a lifelong chairman emeritus.

  • March 16, 2022: Starbucks announced a leadership transition and said he would return as interim CEO while a CEO search continued.
  • September 1, 2022: Starbucks named Laxman Narasimhan as the next CEO, with a transition plan that included his continued interim role until the handoff.
  • March 20, 2023: Stepped down as interim CEO as Laxman Narasimhan assumed the role of chief executive officer.
  • September 13, 2023: Retired as a Starbucks director as part of a planned board transition, while remaining chairman emeritus in title.

Public Reputation and Legacy

His name remains closely tied to Starbucks’ modern identity. For many people, the brand’s rise and his rise are hard to separate.

Part of that legacy is scale. Under his leadership in multiple periods, Starbucks grew far beyond its early Seattle roots and became a global company with tens of thousands of stores.

Another part is the message he repeated for decades: that the people inside the company matter, and long-term strength depends on investing in them.

  • Often credited with transforming Starbucks from a small Seattle business into a global coffeehouse chain.
  • Associated with employee-focused initiatives, including the Starbucks College Achievement Plan with Arizona State University.
  • Continues to be linked to the company publicly through the chairman emeritus designation.

Controversies and Disputes

With visibility comes scrutiny. Starbucks faced major public pressure in moments tied to race, workplace culture, and labor issues.

In 2018, the company responded to a widely publicized incident by closing U.S. stores for racial-bias education. The decision was unusual in its scale and became part of the broader story of how Starbucks handled public accountability.

In 2023, he appeared at a U.S. Senate committee hearing focused on labor practices at Starbucks. The hearing reflected how the company’s labor conflicts had moved into national politics.

  • 2018: Starbucks announced it would close about 8,000 U.S. company-operated stores for racial-bias training, following public backlash over an incident in Philadelphia.
  • 2018: Starbucks carried out the store closures for anti-bias training, affecting thousands of locations in a single day.
  • March 29, 2023: Testified at a Senate HELP Committee hearing titled “No Company is Above the Law: The Need to End Illegal Union Busting at Starbucks.”

Timeline of Key Events

This timeline highlights key shifts in his life and career. It focuses on documented turning points rather than smaller day-to-day details.

Each entry uses a year-only format to keep the sequence easy to scan. When a specific date is well documented, the event is still summarized here as its year.

The story is best understood as cycles of building, stepping away, and returning when the company faced a new phase.

Timeline.

1953

Born in Brooklyn, New York.

1970

Entered Northern Michigan University on an athletic scholarship.

1975

Graduated from Northern Michigan University with a B.A.

1982

Joined Starbucks as director of retail operations and marketing.

1983

Traveled to Italy, strengthening his vision for an espresso-based café model.

1985

Left Starbucks and founded Il Giornale.

1987

Led an investor group to purchase Starbucks and became chairman and CEO.

1992

Starbucks went public in an IPO.

2000

Stepped down as Starbucks CEO after leading the company’s expansion era.

2008

Returned as CEO during a period of business strain and led a turnaround.

2011

Named Fortune magazine’s Businessperson of the Year.

2014

Starbucks and Arizona State University launched the Starbucks College Achievement Plan.

2017

Stepped down as CEO and became executive chairman.

2018

Starbucks closed about 8,000 U.S. stores for anti-bias training.

2022

Returned as interim CEO as Starbucks began a leadership transition.

2023

Stepped down as interim CEO as Laxman Narasimhan began as Starbucks CEO.

FAQs

People often search for the same core facts about his life, work, and leadership. These FAQs focus on the most common questions and give direct answers in plain language.

Question: Who is Howard Schultz?
Answer: He is a businessman best known for leading Starbucks through major growth and multiple leadership transitions. He served as Starbucks CEO in more than one period, including a return as interim CEO in 2022–2023. His public reputation is closely tied to the company’s global expansion.

Question: When and where was Howard Schultz born?
Answer: He was born on July 19, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York. That is consistently stated in major biographical sources.

Question: Where did Howard Schultz go to college?
Answer: He attended Northern Michigan University. He graduated in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree.

Question: Was Howard Schultz the founder of Starbucks?
Answer: Starbucks was founded in Seattle in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker. Howard Schultz later led an investor group that bought the company in 1987 and became its chairman and CEO.

Question: When did Howard Schultz join Starbucks?
Answer: He joined Starbucks in 1982. His early role is described as director of retail operations and marketing.

Question: What inspired Howard Schultz’s Starbucks vision?
Answer: A trip to Italy in 1983 is widely described as a major influence. He saw café culture there and believed Starbucks could adopt an espresso-based coffeehouse model.

Question: What is Il Giornale, and why did he start it?
Answer: Il Giornale was a coffee company he founded after leaving Starbucks in 1985. He started it to build the café approach he wanted to pursue.

Question: When did Howard Schultz buy Starbucks?
Answer: In 1987, he led a group of investors that purchased Starbucks. He then became chairman and CEO.

Question: When did Starbucks go public?
Answer: Starbucks held an initial public offering in 1992. This IPO became a major milestone in the company’s growth story.

Question: When did Howard Schultz step down as Starbucks CEO?
Answer: He stepped down in 2000 and later again in 2017. He also stepped down as interim CEO in March 2023 when a new CEO took over.

Question: Why did Howard Schultz return as CEO in 2008?
Answer: He returned during a period of serious business pressure for Starbucks. His return is commonly described as part of a broader turnaround effort.

Question: What award did Howard Schultz receive from Fortune?
Answer: Fortune named him Businessperson of the Year in 2011. This recognition is tied to his leadership and Starbucks’ performance in that period.

Question: What is the Starbucks College Achievement Plan?
Answer: It is an education program launched with Arizona State University. It offers tuition support for eligible U.S. Starbucks employees and is designed to help them earn a bachelor’s degree through ASU’s online programs.

Question: Did Starbucks close stores for racial-bias training?
Answer: Yes. In 2018, Starbucks announced and carried out the closure of about 8,000 U.S. stores for anti-bias training in response to a public controversy.

Question: Did Howard Schultz testify before Congress or the U.S. Senate?
Answer: He testified at a U.S. Senate committee hearing in March 2023. The hearing focused on labor issues and allegations involving Starbucks’ labor practices.

Question: Is Howard Schultz married?
Answer: Yes. He is married to Sheri (Kersch) Schultz.

Question: Does Howard Schultz have children?
Answer: Yes. He has two children, Jordan and Addison.

Question: What books has Howard Schultz written?
Answer: He is the author or co-author of multiple books, including “Pour Your Heart Into It” and “Onward.” He also published “From the Ground Up.”

Question: Is Howard Schultz still on the Starbucks board?
Answer: No. Starbucks announced his retirement as a director in September 2023 as part of a planned transition.

Question: What is Howard Schultz’s legacy?
Answer: He is often credited with transforming Starbucks into a global coffeehouse company. He is also linked to large employee-focused initiatives, including education support programs, and to major public controversies that shaped how the brand is perceived.

Quotes

“I am convinced that most people can achieve their dreams and beyond if they have the determination to keep trying.” ~ Howard Schultz

“If you dream small dreams, you may succeed in building something small. For many people, that is enough. But if you want to achieve widespread impact and lasting value, be bold.” ~ Howard Schultz

“Treating employees benevolently shouldn’t be viewed as an added cost that cuts into profits, but as a powerful energizer that can grow the enterprise into something far greater than one leader could envision.”~ Howard Schultz

“Success is empty if you arrive at the finish line alone. The best reward is to get there surrounded by winners.”~ Howard Schultz

“When you’re surrounded by people who share a passionate commitment around a common purpose, anything is possible.”~ Howard Schultz

“The challenge of the retail business is the human condition.”~ Howard Schultz

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