Starbucks Alumni Community

For many, the new year signals a time of transition. Whether you’re looking to make a change in your career, life, or location, you’re not alone, there is a whole community behind you. Leverage our directory and sort via location, company, or both to catch up with old friends or forge new connections. Your community awaits, once a partner, always a partner. https://lnkd.in/eZfk-siX #Networking #CareerDevelopment #WelcomeBack #Starbucks #StarbucksAlumni #OnceAPartnerAlwaysAPartner

On August 13th, Starbucks named cfo, Rachel Ruggeri, as interim ceo. Knowing she’d have big shoes to fill, the shoes Rachel wore on that day weren’t standard-issue ceo shoes, but rather Nike Pegasus 41 Electrics — a gift from Starbucks Alumni Community member, Sam Shin.    Sam spent 12 years at Starbucks in various finance roles, supporting store development, retail operations, siren retail, rewards & loyalty, and numerous other aspects of the Starbucks business. Sam attributes much of his success to his connection to leaders like Rachel.    Traditionally, finance can be considered black and white — numbers are either right or wrong. But the learnings he derived from his time at Starbucks allowed him to develop a broader and deeper understanding, and a different way of approaching the business, beyond just the face value of the numbers.    “Starbucks taught me that culture matters, and that it’s not just about what you do, but how you do it. As a leader you’re taught that true success is about winning with your teams, and never at the cost of them.”   These are the principles Sam now applies to his teams at Nike, where they lead Global Finance for Nike Direct. Growing up as an athlete and sneakerhead, Sam is literally following “a dream beyond a dream.”    Someday Sam might have the opportunity to fill the same type of shoes Rachel has, and you can be certain they will be fresh out the box with swooshes on the sides.   Interested in connecting with Sam? Reach out to him directly on our website. https://lnkd.in/eZfk-siX

A look back on the Starbucks cult classic commercial, “PSL Days,” from Pumpkin Spice historian and alumni member, Randy Walker. 🎃☕️🎥  #ToBeAPartner #Advertising Community Note: While Randy may have been the mastermind behind this moment countless alumni, partners, and Pumpkin Spice friends made this moment come to life. 🍁🍂

“What is the Starbucks of grief?”    A deep and nuanced question Alumni member, Michelle Desmond, is trying to get to the bottom of.   Death and grief are topics many people shy away from. Unfortunately, they are an aspect of life everyone has to deal with. Michelle sadly has experienced her fair share of loss and the wake it leaves behind. In 2022, after losing yet another loved one, this time her mom, she decided to make a shift in her career.   “I could focus on translating my experiences of loss to helping others.”   Michelle set out to get a Master of Science degree in Thanatology, the study of death, dying, and bereavement. In 2023, she completed her studies and is now focused on providing workshops, classes, coaching, and consulting on topics essential to the death and grief experience. Most recently, she offered a week-long set of workshops at a renowned wellness resort, meant to help people learn more about why and how we grieve — especially in the digital age.   “This is a sensitive, emotional space, but also an area that demands new and modern approaches.”   At Starbucks, Michelle enjoyed many roles over the course of her 15-year career, working on Starbucks Card, the Blended Team, and Siren Systems to name a few. Among her most treasured roles were those that centered on coffee — including the launch of Blonde Roast brewed coffee and introducing new whole bean coffees, such as Ethiopia single origin.    She admits that “my life could not be more different from my time at Starbucks,” but says there is a thread of passion, innovation, and human connection that she still carries with her from her Siren days.     She always knew it was “the people that make Starbucks what it is.” And she says that not a week goes by where she doesn’t have a coffee, happy hour, or at least exchange a text with a current or former partner.   “While I gave my heart and soul to the company for fifteen years, Starbucks gave me a lifetime of connections with people I value so much.”   Interested in connecting with Michelle? Reach out to her directly on our website. https://lnkd.in/eZfk-siX    #NationalGriefAwarenessDay #ToBeAPartner

Alumni member, Vivienne Long, on the importance of having the conviction to see your ideas through. #OnceAPartnerAlwaysAPartner #ToBeAPartner #Development

“Don’t ever underestimate the Starbucks network.” Starbucks Alumni Community member, Rodney Hines, on his success at Métier Brewing Company, and the people who helped shape it. #OnceAPartnerAlwaysAPartner #ToBeAPartner #Development 

Did you know that in 2017 hundreds of thousands of people tuned in over the course of 4 days to watch the first PSL pumpkin hatch. 🎃🐣 Starbucks Alumni Community member, Skye Patterson (Pascall), remembers it like it was yesterday. Skye joined Starbucks in 2015 as a social community manager focusing on loyalty and partnerships. Partner to customer connection has always been a tentpole for Starbucks success, and the 2010s brought forth new mediums for connection through the proliferation of social media. These connections weren’t always rosy, Skye recalls. “I was behind the scenes responding to tweets and comments when Starbucks Rewards changed from being transaction-based to spend-based. That gave me some seriously thick skin.” But her favorite memory came in 2017 when the Starbucks social team came up with the wild idea to livestream the birth of the first PSL. Inspired by the recent fame of April the Giraffe, whose pregnancy videos garnered 1.2M on YouTube, the team set into action. “The livestream featured celebrity guests, musical performances, puppies, a guided meditation, and even my own dog, Rye made an appearance and became affectionately known by fans as #sweaterpup” Fans created their one Facebook group called “Great Pumpkin Watch 2017” which remains active until this day. “I really don’t think I’ll ever have a chance to work on something as weird as this, it was a once-in-a-career opportunity and I’ll never forget it.” Skye now leads Digital Communications and Retention for Vans in her hometown of Laguna Beach, CA.  Interested in connecting with Skye? Reach out to her directly on our website.

Join former Starbucks leaders Vivienne Long and Rodney Hines for an inspiring discussion and live Q&A on life and leadership beyond Starbucks. 📆 Thursday, 8/15 from 12-1 (PT) 🖥️ Alumni register here https://lnkd.in/gWwQS7MV

The science behind a smile 🙂 Psychologist, Ed Deiner, explains his research on finding happiness 👇 Dr. Deiner’s study shows that the frequency of your positive experiences is a much better predictor of your happiness than is the intensity of your positive experiences. When we think about what would make us happy, we tend to think of intense events—going on a date with a movie star, winning a Pulitzer, buying a yacht. But Diener and his colleagues have shown that how good your experiences are doesn’t matter nearly as much as how many good experiences you have. The former baristas in our community are acutely aware of the impact they can have on a customer with even the briefest moment of connection. Channel that same spirit today and help raise the happiness levels of those around you. #NationalHappinessDay #ToBeAPartner #OnceAPartnerAlwaysAPartner

“I believe in doing the thing you feel is right. If it looks right, it is right.” - Dorothy Draper Everything that “looks right” at Starbucks has a wildly creative team behind it. That’s something Starbucks Alumni Community members Tobi Wray, and Kelsey Hanson know quite well.  The two first met during their collaborations at Starbucks, Kelsey in the Global Creative Studio, and Tobi on the Global Concept Design team. It was around this time that Starbucks was focusing efforts on reinfusing coffee heritage back into the store experience. With that in mind, Tobi and Kelsey got to work. Tobi designed new furniture, finishes, artwork, and lighting that rolled out globally, ushering in a new era of Starbucks store experience. Kelsey took part in the 40th anniversary brand redesign, reshaping one of the world’s most iconic brands. Reflecting on their time at Starbucks, “brand” is a word they use often. “The biggest gift was the absolute masterclass I got in developing a brand … the process taught me endless lessons in creating a brand with authenticity, craft, and soul,” Kelsey says. “Leaders of the company during that time knew that we were all part of making the magic at Starbucks,” recalls Tobi. A rebrand is about bringing a company into a new era while retaining the foundational elements that make it special. Both Tobi and Kelsey are embarking on a new era as leaders at interior design and consulting firm, Design Well Spent Company. The creative partnership they formed at Starbucks set a strong foundation that’s sure to serve them well. Interested in learning more about their journeys or Design Well Spent? Reach out to Tobi or Kelsey directly on the Starbucks Alumni Community website. https://lnkd.in/eZfk-siX