Brewer rose through senior leadership positions at Walmart, Starbucks and Sam’s Club before becoming the first woman and Black CEO of an S&P 500 company when she assumed her current post as COO/group President at Walgreens Boots Alliance.
Brewer is an ardent proponent of diversity and inclusion, believing that diverse perspectives contribute to innovation and better decision-making processes. She understands the significance of leading with authenticity.
1. Embrace Your Ambition
Rosalind Brewer was one of only two Black women ever to lead a Fortune 500 company (Ursula Burns also held this distinction, holding onto her post as CEO of Xerox until 2016), breaking new grounds in both business and leadership. Most notably as chief operating officer at Starbucks and executive leader for Sam’s Club; now Rosalind is taking on her latest challenge as CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance.
Brewer is well aware of her success, attributing it to hard work, education and an awareness of diversity issues in the workplace. Born to single parentage and one of only a few double minorities to reach senior levels within corporate America, she does not shy away from speaking out about the need for increased diversity in her workplace.
She admits being surprised at the reaction to a speech she gave on corporate diversity – with demands for her resignation and death threats against her and her family members – but refuses to let this hatred derail her goals, instead doubling down on making an impactful contribution and pushing for greater diversity within her own organization.
As an alumna of Spelman College where she majored in chemistry, Brewer understands the value of investing in oneself and your talents. Although it can be easy to become consumed with daily meetings and earnings calls, leaders must set aside time to think about innovation and future growth – as such she incorporates some lessons from Jim Collins’ Good to Great book into her management style.
2. Champion Diversity
Roz has broken through glass ceilings at several leading American companies as an executive, driving sales and profits upward at Kimberly-Clark and Sam’s Club with her strong business acumen and champion for diversity in the workplace. Starbucks implemented her racial bias training, and Roz shared her experiences working within white male-dominated industries with colleagues and the general public alike. Her leadership has garnered her several accolades including being named Forbes and Fortunes “Most Powerful Women” lists.
Roz recently shared her career journey with Spelman graduates during an commencement speech. She recounted how graduation day was an emotional rollercoaster ride ranging from pride in her accomplishments to anxiety over beginning their first job. Furthermore, Roz remembered vowing to make an impactful difference and never giving up her ambitions even when faced with setbacks.
After graduating from Spelman, Roz secured her first job with Kimberly-Clark where she spent 22 years. Over this period she progressed rapidly through the ranks to eventually become president of operations and global chief operating officer. While working here she made an unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion initiatives while fighting hard for equal pay between men and women employees.
Roz made headlines in 2015 during an interview with CNN when she made an outspoken statement regarding the importance of hiring diverse executives, sparking controversy. Unfazed, she continued advocating for diversity within her workplace – as CEO of Sam’s Club she made it her priority to hire more diverse employees while encouraging business partners to do the same; additionally she has worked for increased racial bias training at Starbucks as well as serving on multiple boards.
3. Empower Others
Brewer has worked diligently as a leader to empower those she leads. She believes in leading with both head and heart, making sure to get out into the field to see first-hand what it’s like for employees at her company – from working the drive-thru window at Starbucks to driving night trucks for Walmart; taking the time to understand how best to serve her team members as a result.
Brewer is widely known for her commitment to diversity and inclusion issues throughout her career, which she has actively championed throughout. She believes that diverse perspectives are essential for innovation, while leadership should be openly accessible by everyone. As part of this dedication she always ensured she had teams with diverse composition and spoke openly about this endeavor.
Brewer made history when she became CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance in 2021 – becoming the first Black woman ever to lead an S&P 500 company! Since then she has continued leading by setting an example with her unrelenting ambition, exceptional skills and remarkable achievements.
Brewer took on an even greater role with her company during the COVID-19 pandemic as she oversaw vaccine distribution efforts. Join us as she shares her approach to leadership and shares what lessons have been learned during this incredible journey.
4. Prioritize Customer-Centricity
Rosalind Brewer is a sought-after strategist with extensive experience in global manufacturing operations, research and development, marketing, strategic business unit leadership and turn-around assignments. Known for her relentless focus on revenue growth and customer satisfaction as well as her exceptional expertise at driving change through people, Rosalind is known for being an effective turn-around leader and adept at driving revenue growth through customer satisfaction.
Rosalind Brewer made history when she became the first Black woman ever appointed CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance in 2021. Since then, she has led WBA through several transformational acquisitions such as VillageMD, Shields Health Solutions and CareCentrix – her vision being connecting healthcare with communities they serve while expanding access to clinical trials as well as providing new technology directly into consumers’ hands.
At the same time, she has been an outspoken proponent for gender equality in the workplace. Acting as an advisor and mentor to younger women, she encourages them to reach beyond their current expectations; believing that success lies in understanding your unique strengths.
Brewer’s dedication to meeting her customer’s needs is clear to all those working with her. She is widely revered for her ability to understand and meet consumers needs, helping to deliver a more customized shopping experience through innovative technology.
Ginger Graham will take her place as lead independent director and former executive with Sam’s Club – making her expertise ideal as the pharmacy specialist expands its push into healthcare.
5. Lead With Authenticity
As a leader, Brewer strives to have an impactful impact on her community, actively looking for opportunities to do so. She strongly believes that leaders can influence culture and make an impactful difference by being true to themselves; Brewer has demonstrated this through her leadership style and numerous accomplishments – breaking demographic barriers by becoming one of two Black women CEOs at Fortune 500 companies (Thasunda Brown Duckett of TIAA being the other).
Spelman College was the perfect combination of her love for science and leadership development; there she became the first member of her family to graduate with honors with a major in chemistry. Working summer jobs enabled her to save up for tuition of $5,625-a-year while supporting three siblings through college studies as well.
After graduating, Brewer worked for 22 years as a scientist for Kimberly-Clark Corporation – makers of Kleenex tissues and Huggies diapers – before transitioning into managerial roles within one division and eventually becoming president of it. Her success drove her onto Walmart where she quickly rose through their ranks to become both its first African American president of Sam’s Club as well as first female president overall.
As CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Brewer has stayed true to herself and her values. She spends time on the front lines – visiting stores to understand employees’ challenges – as well as creating an atmosphere in which employees feel comfortable sharing ideas or taking risks – which are critical elements for innovation. At Stanford GSB’s View From the Top speaker series, she shared insights into what makes for an authentic leader.
