How Howard Schultz Brought Starbucks Back From the Brink
The CEO Diary with Fexingo: Leadership Lessons, Executive Decisions, and Corner Office Stories · 2026-06-06 · 6 min
Episode notes
In 2008, Starbucks was bleeding customers and closing stores. Howard Schultz returned as CEO and made a series of unpopular decisions that saved the company. This episode breaks down his specific moves: closing all US stores for retraining, killing breakfast sandwiches, and betting on the Clover machine. Lucas and Luna discuss what Schultz's turnaround teaches about leadership conviction and listening to customers versus analysts. #HowardSchultz #Starbucks #BusinessTurnaround #Leadership #CEO #Retail #CustomerExperience #BrandStrategy #BusinessDecisions #CorporateCulture #TransformationalLeadership #ThirdPlace #CoffeeIndustry #Business #BusinessPodcast #FexingoBusiness #LeadershipLessons #CornerOffice Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo