Starbucks CEO Almost Never Works Past 6 p.m.
About Laxman Narasimhan
Laxman Narasimhan, CEO of Starbucks, has emphasized work-life balance, stating he is "very disciplined about balance" and rarely works past 6 p.m. when in town, reserving that time for family. He also schedules 150 to 250 minutes of personal exercise per week. Narasimhan has spoken about his leadership approach, which includes focusing on mindsets such as empathy and resilience, and he has described meditation as a tool for centering himself before meetings. In public appearances, Narasimhan has addressed Starbucks' financial performance and strategy. Following a weak Q2 in 2024, he attributed the results to "unexpected pressures on our locational customers," a "more intense price war" in China, and challenges in the Middle East, stating the company needed to better communicate value to occasional customers. He has outlined a "triple shot reinvention" strategy aimed at 5% long-term comparable sales growth and double-digit revenue growth, with a plan to reach 55,000 stores globally over five years, three-quarters of which would be outside the U.S. Narasimhan has also expressed long-term confidence in China, describing the market's potential, and highlighted India as a key growth market, noting a plan to open a store there every three days and to scale up coffee sourcing from the country.