Howard Behar’s career in business spans over 50 years, all in consumer oriented businesses covering several industries. He retired from Starbucks Coffee after 21 years where he led both the domestic business, as President of North America, and was the founding President of Starbucks International. He was responsible for taking... Read more
Howard Behar’s career in business spans over 50 years, all in consumer oriented businesses covering several industries. He retired from Starbucks Coffee after 21 years where he led both the domestic business, as President of North America, and was the founding President of Starbucks International. He was responsible for taking the coffee giant from a small regional chain to an international powerhouse. During his tenure, he participated in the growth of the company from only 28 stores to over 15,000 stores spanning five continents. He served on the Starbucks Board of Directors for twelve years before retiring.
He served as a Director of Sterling Financial Corp. in 2011. The qualifications considered in his appointment as a Director of Sterling included his broad multi-unit retail experience, management and leadership experience, national recognition and relationships within the global business community.
Howard now serves on several Boards including for-profit and non-profit organizations. They include Anna’s Linens, Sterling Savings Bank, Wild Ginger Restaurants, EZ Grill, Inc. and the advisory board of Anthos Capital. His non-profit commitments are to the University of Washington Foundation, The Robert Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership and the Washington Business Alliance.
Howard is committed to the development and education of our future leaders and has been a longtime advocate of the Servant Leadership Model. He has also authored two books on leadership titled “It’s Not About the Coffee” and a new one called “The Magic Cup”. He says it’s a parable about the power of putting people and values first. The book outlines the principles he followed to help Starbucks maintain its unique culture as the business scaled exponentially.
Tell us about your event, one of our consultants will reach out within 24 hours.
You can book Howard Behar through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Howard's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Howard Behar's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Howard tailored to your event.
Howard Behar speaks on Entrepreneurs. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Howard to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Howard Behar for events worldwide, subject to Howard's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Howard Behar is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Howard can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Howard Behar on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Howard can offer.
Howard Behar delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Howard Behar's areas of expertise include Entrepreneurs. To get a clear sense of Howard's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Howard Behar can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Entrepreneurs is relevant. Details of Howard's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Howard Behar is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Howard Behar, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Howard's current availability for your dates.