Howard Behar

Former President of Starbucks Coffee Company North America and Starbucks Coffee International

Topics: Business Leadership, Inspirational & Motivational, Leadership, Business Growth, Business, Success, Customer Experience

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Biography

Howard Behar is a renowned business leader, author, speaker, and mentor who has influenced the lives of numerous men and women at all stages of their careers and at all levels and roles. Shaped by his experiences working in his parents Seattle market, schooled in operations and management in consumer-oriented retail business, and part of the leadership triumvirate that built the Starbucks brand, Behar is the ultimate “servant leader” who is known for such memorable lessons as “The Person Who Sweeps the Floor Should Choose the Broom” and “Only the Truth Sounds Like the Truth.”

For 21 years Behar led Starbuck’s domestic business as President of North America, and he became the founding President of Starbucks International opening the very first store outside of North America in Japan. During his tenure, he participated in the growth of the company from only 28 stores to over 15,000 stores spanning five continents. He served on the Starbucks Board of Directors for twelve years before retiring.

Howard now serves on the boards of several for-profit and non-profit organizations, including Education Element, iD Tech, The School of Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University. He is on the advisory boards of Anthos Capital, University of Washington Foundation, and a Trustee for The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation.

Howard is committed to the development and education of our future leaders and has been a longtime advocate of the Servant Leadership Model. After the successful publication of his first book, It’s Not About the Coffee: Lessons on Leadership from a Life at Starbucks (Portfolio, 2008), Howard now travels the world speaking to leaders, corporations, and students. His motivational message inspires everyone to be servant leaders and to lead with their values first.

Behar lives in Seattle, Washington, with his wife Lynn, and enjoys spending time with his children and five grandchildren. Boating is his favorite hobby, exploring the waterways from Seattle to Alaska.

Throughout a lifetime of filling his cup, Howard has sustained a work ethic and level of integrity which has had a profound impact on his own life the hundreds and even thousands of people who have been touched by his example.

Videos

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It's Not About the Coffee

During his many years as a senior executive at Starbucks, Howard Behar helped establish the Starbucks culture, which stresses the importance of people over profits. He coached hundreds of leaders at every level and helped the company grow into a world-renowned brand. Now, he reveals the ten principles and the memorable wisdom that guided his leadership and success—and not one of them is about coffee.

Testimonials

Two years ago I sat backstage and watched a ballroom full of Restaurant and Convenience Store executives give Howard Behar a standing ovation for his keynote address. Howard was highly recommended as one of the best speakers in the country, and now I understood why. There was something different, and frankly special, about his defining success in both business and life.

– David Jobe, President Winsight Events

For the first time in the history of the Qdoba Brand, 1000+ restaurant managers and support center team members were convening in Denver, Colorado, for a conference designed to inform minds, inspire hearts, and ignite the passion of the collective team. From my point of view, the only person that could deliver a keynote to achieve these desired outcomes was Howard Behar. And, Howard delivered! His message was delivered with such clarity, conviction, care, and feeling that his impact lives on months after the conference. The team left embracing how critical it is for leaders to focus on their people and being of service to the people they lead. Howard’s story telling and personal leadership experiences bring his message to life in a powerful and meaningful manner. I measure success by the impact on people’s lives and leadership way of being…and Howard was extraordinarily successful. I cannot imagine future conferences without Howard delivering the message that only Howard is capable of delivering!

– Tim Casey, Qdoba Brand President, Qdoba Restaurant Corp

When Howard Behar speaks to my Executive Leadership class he touches students’ hearts, provokes their curiosity, and calms their fears. By sharing his story, by being vulnerable, Howard inspires the next generation. “I found myself fighting back the urge to throw my hands in the air and yell, Yes, preach! Preach! as if I was in church,” exclaimed one student. “I wanted to snap my fingers in agreement as they do during spoken word poetry slams.” Another observed: “Howard wants us to put ourselves in positions where we can succeed while staying true to our authentic selves.” Howard Behar’s presentations are acts of service to everyone in the room.

– Dorothy Bullitt, Senior Lecturer and Distinguished Practitioner, Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance University of Washington