“People ask me what's the most important function when you're starting an organization or setting up the kind of culture and values that are going to endure. The discipline I believe so strongly in is H.R., and its the last discipline that gets funded.”

American businessman and author

Howard D. Schultz is an American businessman and author. He led Starbucks as chairman and chief executive officer from 1986 to 2000, returned to those roles from 2008 to 2017, and later served as interim CEO from 2022 to 2023. He is best known for his long association with Starbucks and for helping guide the company over several decades. He also owned the Seattle SuperSonics basketball team from 2001 to 2006, adding sports ownership to a career built in business and writing.