American coffee-shop chain Starbucks recently announced the appointment of Rosalind "Roz" Gates Brewer as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Group President. This made Brewer one of the most powerful women in the global coffee chain business. Brewer assumed office last month, making her her the first woman to fill the COO role at Starbucks.
The 54-year-old is no stranger to the coffee giant, as she previously served on the Starbucks board of directors. Brewer started her career as a chemist in 1984. Over the last three decades she has climbed up the ladder and taken up senior management roles at American multi-national personal care corporation Kimberly-Clark and the global retail chain Walmart
Her last job was at Sam's Club, the $56 billion membership-only retail warehouse clubs operated by Walmart, where she spent five years as CEO and President. Brewer was last year ranked one of the world’s most powerful women by both Fortune and Forbes magazines.
She is the boss
Brewer is now in charge of operating Starbucks' businesses across the Americas, which includes Canada,the U.S. and Latin America. She also oversees the global functions of supply chain, product innovation, and store development organizations.
Brewer, who has made history by becoming the 'first woman' and 'first Black person' to fill some senior management roles at both Walmart and Starbucks, is a vocal advocate for diversity. In a 2015 CNN interview, Brewer said she makes diversity in her executive team a priority.
Diversity Champion
"Every now and then you have to nudge your partners. And you have to speak up and speak out and I use my platform for that to remind people. I try to set an example. I mentor many woman inside the company and outside the company, because I think it's important," she said.
When asked if she demands diversity when hiring, she replied: "Absolutely. And not only that. I talk to my suppliers about it."
During that interview, she shared a story from a meeting with suppliers earlier that day, in which she found herself in a room where the entire opposite side consisted of just "caucasian males". Brewer thought that was interesting, and said she would "place a call" to the supplier about it.
These comments caused some backlash on social media from people, who saw them as "racist". Nonetheless, Brewer continues to make it a point to speak her truth.
At Starbucks, Brewer's colleagues are impressed with her skills and talents. Kevin Johnson, the company's president and CEO has praised Brewer for "insight, business acumen, and leadership expertise," as well as for her strong stance on important issues.
"Starbucks is a culture-first company focused on performance and Roz is a world class operator and executive who embodies the values of Starbucks," Johnson said.