Howard Behar

Howard Behar is an internationally recognized leader in the business world and was an executive at Starbucks. Born in Tacoma, Washington in 1949, he graduated from high school in 1967 and then attended the University of Washington, where he graduated with a B.A. in Business Administration in 1971. Behar spent more than two decades inside the walls at the Starbucks Corporation, beginning in 1989 when the specialty coffee company was still in its infancy.

As the President of the Starbucks Corporation in the early 2000s, Behar had a significant impact on the growth of the company and on its values as a business. He was known for keeping the company’s core values at the heart of Starbucks’ success and ensuring that they remained its priority no matter what changes occurred within the business. He was also credited with encouraging the involvement of employees and providing transparency in the decision-making process.

Behar is an advocate of the ‘servant leader’ philosophy, which is based on the belief that leaders should build trust and respect among their colleagues by serving them in faithful ways. This leadership style was instrumental in driving the success of the company during his time at Starbucks. He has also written and spoken frequently about the importance of seeing things from people’s perspectives, living and working with a purpose, and the power of collaboration among teams.

Behar officially retired from Starbucks in 2003, but since then he has worked as a consultant and speaker. He has authored two books, ‘It’s Not About the Coffee’ and ‘The Magic Cup: Asard Beverage Company Adventure’. The former focuses on the development of an effective and successful business culture through values-based management and the latter explains how Asard Beverage Company brought excellence to the industry by implementing a one-team approach.

In his books and speeches, Behar shares his experiences and beliefs that have helped him achieve success. He believes that a successful business is one with a commitment to values, principles and ethics that guides every aspect of its operations. He also advocates for developing trusting relationships among customers and employees, and creating a healthy and positive work environment to enhance productivity and motivation. In addition, he firmly believes in creative problem solving and staying ahead of the competition.

In 2008, Behar was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award from the Puget Sound Business Journal in recognition of his career achievements, including at Starbucks and in other ventures. He was also inducted into the American Business Hall of Fame in 2018 for inspiring others and providing valuable advice.

Behar has had a tremendous impact on the business world and is an inspiring figure for those striving for success. Through his books and speeches, he continues to offer his insights and wisdom in an effort to educate and motivate others.