In the cup

Jan 28, 2010

I interviewed Howard Schultz, the founder and current CEO of Starbucks, on stage for the Marketing Society this week. The tennis player Peter Fleming used to say that his doubles partner, John McEnroe, would win with anyone, and that Fleming was just lucky to be on the same side of the net. Likewise, me alongside Howard Schultz who speaks both eloquently and with passion about business with responsibilities. Having written a book on Betfair - You Bet: The Betfair Story - subtitled "how two men changed the world of gambling" I like to think I have a sense of which entrepreneurs have revolutionised not only their own sectors but markets beyond. Schultz is certainly one such individual and it is easy to make a compelling case for including him in this group. Moreover, tremendous company. Over coffee, naturally.