More Than a Headcount: Lessons From Lunch with Jim Donald

Recently, I got the honor of being nominated to join a group of students for lunch with Jim Donald. If you don’t recognize his name, you certainly know his work. Donald has been the CEO of Starbucks, Albertsons and Pathfinder, and in the business world he’s known as the “Turnaround King,” having successfully saved multi-million-dollar companies from bankruptcy. 

Going into the lunch, I was both excited and nervous, primarily because I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I found was a charismatic and down-to-earth leader who spoke from real-life experience. He wasn’t reading from a script, filled with stories of his successes, but rather invited students to ask their burning questions. He dedicated time to each of us, and for me, the experience felt like a looking glass into the world of business leadership. 

One thing he shared with us really stood out to me: “No one wants to be a headcount, but everyone wants their head to count.” 

It’s easy in the professional world to focus solely on maximizing efficiency and logistics, as if companies were machines. But companies are made of real people, and every individual is valuable. He explained that you can’t save a company from the top down; you have to change it from the inside out by making every single employee feel seen, heard and incentivized. He attributed his success to this mindset.

I, for one, plan to carry this lesson with me throughout my final years at George Fox and into my professional career. 

As our time came to an end, you could tell that no one wanted to leave; everyone was trying to think of one last question, hoping to gain at least one more wise insight. But Jim turned the tables and had a question for us …

“There seems to be something different about the professors at this school,” he said. “I can’t quite put my finger on it. What is it that makes them so special?” 

Without hesitation, the room unanimously agreed that it’s because our professors genuinely care about us and invest in our lives. Our professors are thrilled to see us succeed and are there when we need support. Their investment in us is what brought me to the lunch in the first place. I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity, and I’m grateful to be a part of a community that has a culture so tangible that it is evident even to our visitors.

Lunch with Jim Donald is just one example of the many speakers and connection opportunities George Fox brings to campus throughout the year. By inviting respected CEOs, political leaders, theologians and creatives, the university makes a real effort to challenge our minds and the way we see the world.

If you want to find out more, I encourage you to check out the speaker series page and learn about the incredible speakers our campus has hosted and will host.