Some would argue that how a person starts the day is a critical process for overall productivity. Whether it’s a gym routine or roasting your favorite coffee blend, the morning typically sets the tone for how people kick off their day. Starbucks’ new CEO Laxman Narasimhan begins his busy days by delaying his morning brew and opting instead to start with a moment of reflection through meditation. Narasimhan’s future plans for the global coffee brand include more than his approach to each day. He intends to fully immerse himself in the organization’s inner workings to “earn his green apron.”

Shaquille O’Neal once turned down what later became a lucrative deal for someone else.

Fast-food selling salad chain sweetgreen values providing real food to communities. After over a decade in the business, they are hoping to propel restaurant operations with the help of Woeleta Ayele, who served 16 years as a Starbucks executive, according to a press release. “Sweetgreen is a truly innovative company that is paving the way for a healthier future. The way that they approach the intersection of food and tech is unlike any other restaurant brand out there,” shares Woeleta in a press statement. “I’m excited and grateful to be joining the sweetgreen team as they lead the charge of changing the fast food industry for years to come.” Woeleta began her new position on Aug. 17 — replacing Paul Horvath. As Chief Technology Officer, she will scout promising talent, and revamp digital platforms to advance sweetgreen’s supply chain model. The company’s hope is that she will help cultivate the continuous effort of the chain to create a unified experience with technology and...

Walgreens joins various companies in its latest effort to diversify their board. Starbucks Corp. operating chief Roz Brewer is set to be named Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.’s new chief executive officer, according to inside sources, reports The Wall Street Journal. Once set in stone, the new appointment will reportedly make Brewer the only Black female leading a Fortune 500 company today. Brewer will replace CEO Stefano Pessina who mentioned that he would step down as the drugstore company’s CEO once they found a new leader. As regulators, investors and activists continue to push for more diversity in Corporate America, Brewer’s appointment comes just on the heels of Nasdaq’s prediction that proposed changes will continue to push for greater gender and racial diversity on the boards of publicly-traded companies listed on its exchange. Upon joining Starbucks’ board in 2017, Brewer became its chief operating officer later that year after she served as CEO of Sam’s Club, owned by...

Here’s something to raise your coffee cups to! Starbucks just named Mellody Hobson as the new chair of its board of directors, making her the first Black woman to hold the role at the company, reports CNN Business. Hobson is currently the co-CEO of Ariel Investments, an asset management firm, and will step into her new position this forthcoming March. Since 2005, she has been a director at the company and will now replace Myron E. Ullman, III who has been the chair since 2018. Hobson has been among the many who’ve called for companies to put action behind increasing diversity among their leaders. “Companies right now have to get their houses in order,” she said during an appearance on “CBS This Morning” in June. “The board of directors have to hold the leaders of these organizations accountable around these issues of diversity.” As a woman that wears many hats, Hobson is also a director of JPMorgan Chase and previously held positions as a director of Estée Lauder, and was the chair...