CEO at GFU
Illustration by Breanna Newburn
Article by Jayden Forsyth
Newberg, OR. – In George Fox University’s (GFU) Canyon Commons banquet rooms on the evening of April 8, former Starbucks CEO Jim Donald held an event titled “What They Don’t Teach You in Business School: Real-World Leadership for the Future.” This free lecture provided masterful insights on how a successful businessman operates and how that experience extends beyond any textbook.
Since 1996, Donald has served as the CEO for five major companies, including Pathmark Stores, Starbucks, Haggen, Extended Stay America and Albertsons Companies. He revived several of these from bankruptcy or a brink of collapse.
His performance as the leader of these companies has earned him international renown and he has been ranked by Chief Executive Magazine as a top 25 brand leader CEO in the world. Though Donald is no longer in the CEO business, companies still call him and ask for advice. At 7 p.m. on the aforementioned date, Donald shared some of his business expertise for GFU students and staff alike.
Sophomore business student Ana Rodriguez had the opportunity to meet with Donald personally. Upon getting to know him, Rodriguez described him as “personable, down to earth and genuine.”
She learned that, when taking charge of an operation, Donald places an emphasis on understanding people. “[Donald] works by improving a company from the outside in, focusing on the people specifically,” said Rodriguez.
John Ruston, an engineering student with a minor in business, also attended Donald’s evening talk. He recalled that Donald’s “secret to success was servant leadership” and that he “never wishes to be bigger than the front line people.”
According to Ruston, Donald placed an importance on humility with a “freshman mentality” and that he valued taking risks, as a person without them falls to complacency.
One quote that both Ruston and Rodriguez remember from Donald is: “No one wants a headcount but everybody wants their head to count.” This describes the human nature of wanting to be more than just a number and the desire to have ideas and values seen as important by others.
Above other admirable qualities, Donald promotes an ability to relate with and value people, an effective tactic when turning companies around for the better. The encouragement to always be working towards knowing others is something seen routinely in Donald’s professional life.
