We’ve all wished for employers who will join us and work with us, but not everyone is so fortunate. However, Laxman Narasimhan, the new CEO of Starbucks, intends to accomplish precisely that. According to a letter he issued to Starbucks staff, Narasimhan will try his hand at becoming a barista and will work at Starbucks locations for half a day once a month. He apparently had a six-month “immersive” training session before becoming Starbucks CEO, during which he also learned how to be a barista.
On March 20, he took over as CEO of the American international coffeehouse chain Starbucks
“I have learned so much about the retail experience from working in our stores.” “To keep us close to the culture and our customers, as well as to our challenges and opportunities, I intend to continue working in stores for a half day each month, and I expect each member of the leadership team to also ensure our support centers stay connected and engaged in the realities of our stores for discussion and improvement,” he wrote in the letter published on Starbucks website. “We are a team of partners, and as CEO, I will continue to earn my green apron every day,” he added.
Narasimhan previously worked as an executive at PepsiCo. On March 20, he took over as CEO of the American international coffeehouse chain. His nomination comes at a time when Starbucks is facing significant strikes by its workers, who are asking that the multinational coffee company end its anti-union coercion.