Former Starbucks CEO to Share Leadership Secrets at George Fox University April 8

NEWBERG, Ore. — George Fox University will welcome world-class executive and former Starbucks CEO Jim Donald to campus for a dynamic discussion, titled "What They Don’t Teach You in Business School: Real-World Leadership for the Future."

Donald’s talk will start at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, in the university’s Canyon Commons, and is open to the public. 

This event offers a masterclass in the human element of industry. Donald will provide the “missing link” between classroom theory and the grit of “front-line” leadership – lessons he learned directly from legendary figures like Sam Walton. He will deep dive into an “old school” playbook that validates the daily professional challenges of the modern age through the lens of a servant-leadership model. 

With a 50-year career in the retail and service industries, Donald is widely known as the “Turnaround King” for his unique ability to revitalize financially ailing organizations and lead through uncertainty. During the event, he will share actionable strategies on innovation, risk-taking, and his signature “Freshman Mentality.”

Donald has held the top leadership spots at some of the most recognizable brands in the world, including Starbucks, Albertsons, and Extended Stay Hotels. His tenure as CEO of Starbucks was marked by a period of historic global expansion and record financial performance, driven by a deep belief in the power of human connection. 

A veteran of the supermarket industry, Donald was personally recruited by Sam Walton to scale Walmart’s Super Center concept. He also led a successful $565 million Initial Public Offering for Extended Stay Hotels and reversed declining sales trends at Safeway and Pathmark. He most recently served as the CEO and co-chairman of the board for Albertsons Companies and currently serves on the board of directors for Nordstrom. He was recognized as one of the “Top 25 CEOs in the World” by the Best Practice Institute. 

George Fox University is Oregon’s largest private university. It is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a “Best National University.” More than 4,000 students attend classes on the university’s campus in Newberg, Oregon, and at teaching centers in Portland and Redmond, Oregon. George Fox offers more than 60 academic programs at the undergraduate level, accelerated online degrees for working adults, and 21 master's and doctoral degrees.

Contact: 

Carly Reumann

creumann@georgefox.edu

503-554-2101