Leader Quote by Howard Schultz
““It is not the fault of the baristas working behind the counter. It is the responsibility of the leadership team to keep our culture alive, growing and thriving.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Starbucks Leadership Summit, 2015
Leaders must actively nurture company culture, not blame front‑line staff for its decline.
In simple terms: Leadership shapes culture, not baristas.
Invest in culture‑building actions.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- team meetings
- training programs
- performance reviews
- brand initiatives
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can leaders measure cultural health?
- What actions best reinforce desired values?
Culture change is slow and may meet resistance.