San Francisco, California, USA: Laxman Narasimhan, the former CEO of Starbucks, emphasized the importance of inner resilience and human connection as the foundation for long-term achievement.
Speaking at the Lam-Larsen Distinguished Lecture Series, organized by the Lam Family College of Business at San Francisco State University in California, USA, Narasimhan encouraged attendees to cultivate inner strength. “I urge everyone to find this inner strength within themselves. Ultimately, what sustains success over the long run is how strong you are inside,” he said.
In a discussion with Chris Larsen, co-founder and executive chairman of Ripple, Narasimhan explored evolving career trajectories, the growing influence of artificial intelligence, and the significance of hands-on frontline experience.
Originally from India, Narasimhan moved to the United States as a first-generation college student, attending the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. Reflecting on his journey, he stated, “I’ll be honest: if I had ended up in any other country, I probably wouldn’t have achieved what I did. America gave me that opportunity.”
Addressing the rise of AI, he noted that conventional career paths are rapidly transforming. “We will witness careers that are non-linear, with people learning unconventional skills and continuously adapting in new ways,” he said.
Narasimhan shared insights from his six-month period working across 38 Starbucks cafEs after becoming CEO, an experience that gave him a firsthand appreciation for the challenges faced by frontline employees. “The first day was rough—my lattes were terrible, and they told me, ‘Try again!’” he recalled. He spent evenings connecting with staff, hearing their stories, and building trust.
He stressed that being human-centered and fostering genuine connections is key to inspiring teams. “If you can engage with people at scale and win their hearts and minds, you’ll also gain their hands to achieve your goals,” he explained.
Throughout the lecture, he encouraged students to focus on self-improvement rather than comparing themselves with others. “The path to fulfillment is not comparison; the path to success is competing with yourself,” he advised.
Before his tenure at Starbucks and Reckitt, Narasimhan served as PepsiCo’s global chief commercial officer. He became Starbucks’ interim CEO in October 2022, officially assumed the CEO role in April 2023, and departed from the company in August 2024.
His educational background includes a degree in mechanical engineering from the College of Engineering, Pune, a master’s in international studies from the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA in finance from Wharton.
