Young and Profiting (YAP) with Hala Taha

Howard Behar: Former Starbucks President Reveals How Starbucks Grew to 15,000 Stores | E272

Feb 12, 2024

Former North American president of Starbucks, Howard Behar, shares his leadership philosophies on putting people first, wearing one hat as a leader, and the importance of character assessment when hiring. Discover how Starbucks shifted to a people-centric mentality as it scaled from 28 to over 15,000 stores worldwide.

01:16:29

Episode guests

Howard Behar

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Prioritizing people over products leads to success in business by building strong customer relationships.

Open communication, honesty, and integrity are essential for building trust and strong relationships in the business world.

Understanding different cultures, customizing products, and forming partnerships drive success when expanding internationally.

Deep dives

The Importance of Putting People First

Howard Behar, former president of Starbucks International, emphasizes the significance of prioritizing people over products or services. He believes that in any business, whether it's retail or service-based, the key to success lies in serving and building relationships with customers. By focusing on serving customers and treating them with respect and personalization, businesses can foster loyalty and create a strong customer base. Behar's philosophy highlights the importance of recognizing that businesses are ultimately in the people business, rather than just serving a specific product or service.

Introduction

2min

Scaling Starbucks and the Importance of Putting People First

4min

Lessons from the Furniture Business

19min

Two Sponsor Ads: Shopify and Indeed

5min

Initial Expectations and Values

18min

Personal Leadership: Leading Oneself

9min

The Concept of Wearing One Hat as a Leader

2min

The Importance of Character Assessment

15min

Howard Behar was the North American president of Starbucks for more than two decades. During his tenure, the franchise grew from 28 stores to more than 15,000 across five continents, making the company into a worldwide phenomenon. In today’s episode, Howard and Hala will discuss how he became the “ultimate servant leader” and why you should always put people first in business.

Howard Behar is a speaker, advisor, mentor, and bestselling author. For 21 years Behar led Starbucks’s domestic business as President of North America, and was the founding President of Starbucks International, opening the first store outside of North America in Japan. He served on the Starbucks Board of Directors for twelve years before retiring. He is also the author of It’s Not About the Coffee and The Magic Cup.

In this episode, Hala and Howard will discuss:

- How Howard got his foot in the door at Starbucks

- Why Howard doesn’t like the word customer

- Putting people first

- Why you should always say yes

- Howard’s leadership philosophies

- Why a leader should wear one hat

- How to not get stuck in inaction

- And other topics…

Howard Behar’s career in business spans over 50 years, all in consumer-oriented businesses, most recently as a speaker, advisor, mentor, and bestselling author. His wisdom, generosity, and level of integrity have had a profound impact on thousands of people who have been touched by his example, books, and speaking.

Behar 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 Starbucks’s domestic business as President of North America, and was the founding President of Starbucks International, opening the first store outside of North America in Japan. He served on the Starbucks Board of Directors for twelve years before retiring.

Resources Mentioned:

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

Howard’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-behar-24ba274/

Howard’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hpbehar

Howard’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/NotAboutCoffee

Howard’s Book, It's Not About the Coffee: Lessons on Putting People First from a Life at Starbucks: https://www.amazon.com/Its-Not-About-Coffee-Starbucks/dp/1591842727

Howard’s book, The Magic Cup: A Business Parable About a Leader, a Team, and the Power of Putting People and Values First: https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Cup-Business-Parable-Putting/dp/1455538973/

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