In the pantheon of CEOs, few people have the visibility, charisma, and hunger of Bill McDermott. His career is a classic story of ambition and drive: from the hard-knock streets of his youth in Long Island, to his first forays in business behind the counter of a deli he bought and then operated at the age of 17, to his extraordinary rise through the Xerox Corporation where he pleaded for his first job, to his emergence as the co-CEO of one of the most celebrated and admired global companies of our age. His stories, at turns hilarious and moving, but always inspiring, offer invaluable lessons in self-direction, management, and leadership.
In 2008, Howard Schultz, the president and chairman of Starbucks, made the unprecedented decision to return as CEO eight years after he stepped down from daily oversight of the company to become chairman. Concerned that Starbucks had lost its way, Schultz was determined to help it return to its core values and restore not only its financial health, but also its soul. In Onward, he shares the remarkable story of the company's ongoing transformation under his leadership revealing how, during one of the most tumultuous economic times in history, Starbucks again achieved profitability and sustainability without sacrificing humanity.
A compelling, candid narrative documenting the maturing of a brand as well as a businessman, Onward represents Schultz's central leadership philosophy: It's not just about winning, but the right way to win.