Global Development Partners

These partners love creating the “third place” in our stores with responsible practices and sustainable materials.

The Global Development group at Starbucks is responsible for designing our stores, building them and maintaining them. Using sustainable practices is an important part of the way they do business, in order to meet our Starbucks Shared Planet™ goals.

Here’s a little more information about some of the people you’ll meet here, starting with the video above:

Rita L. chose to work at Starbucks because of the opportunities it offered her as a designer. “Although I was happy at the architecture firm I was working at – the people were fantastic – I realized I wasn’t as passionate about the work as I could be,” she says. “Starbucks intrigued me because of the quality of the product, the design of the stores and their sustainability story. Not only are we leading in design retail, we are leading in retail sustainability,” she says.

As a designer who was born and raised in China, De H. says he has a strong desire to bring the Starbucks experience to his native country. “Starbucks represents a lot more than coffee,” he says. “It is the icon of a global coffeehouse that focuses on human connections.” His cup of choice to connect over is brewed, black Sumatra.

Tobi S. came to Starbucks as an intern right out of design school and never left. “I’m working in my dream job, and I’m truly lucky,” she says. The high point of her career thus far was seeing the opening of her first store. “There’s no better feeling than to see a design come to life.” She draws inspiration from a double tall, nonfat Vanilla Latte.

Lionel S. enjoys working at Starbucks because it offers him the opportunity to positively affect design and sustainability on a large scale, but he also appreciates the culture here. “It’s laid back and friendly, and yet at the same time it’s intense and energetic.” His drink, a soy Caffè Latte, encapsulates those contradictions.

And here are some more people behind the scenes in Global Dev.

Brent S. says he wanted to work at a company that values its people, and “Starbucks is a place that values and inspires the human spirit while celebrating diversity.” He’s been here for more than 15 years. His favorite beverage is a grande Caffè Americano.

Before Kim O. worked at Starbucks, she was a customer who visited a store in her neighborhood daily. “One particular partner, Gary, seemed to always be on shift when I came in and he spoiled me rotten,” she says, putting extra whipped cream on her Hot Chocolate. “One day he suggested I work for Starbucks. I applied and got the job, and I’ve been here ever since 13 years later.”

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