Howard Behar

Howard Behar

Keynote Speaker: Renowned Business Leader & Author, "It's Not About the Coffee"; Former President of Starbucks Coffee Company

Howard Behar Biography

Howard Behar, former president of Starbucks Coffee Company International, has a significant background in expanding retail businesses. Joining the company in 1989 when it had just 28 stores, Behar was instrumental in growing the business to over 400 stores. Making his mark on the international stage, he opened the first Starbucks location in Tokyo in 1996, successfully introducing the brand across Asia and the United Kingdom. This achievement was a stepping stone to his role as President of Starbucks North America, a position he held until his retirement in March 2007.

In his tenure at Starbucks, Behar demonstrated strong leadership skills, which he has shared through his book, "It's Not About The Coffee: Leadership Principles from a Life at Starbucks." His leadership philosophy is deeply rooted in the Servant Leadership Model, a principle he firmly advocates. His commitment to leadership is evident in his current roles on the boards of several for-profit and non-profit organizations. These include Education Element, iD Tech, The School of Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University, Anthos Capital, and the University of Washington Foundation. He also serves as a trustee for The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation.

Behar's travles globally to share his insights on leadership with corporations, leaders, and students. His integrity and strong work ethic have not only shaped his own life but also impacted many others. Residing in Seattle, Washington, with his wife Lynn, Behar enjoys boating and exploring the waterways from Seattle to Alaska in his free time.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Howard Behar and other top speakers and celebrities.

Howard Behar Speaking Topics

It's Not About the Coffee

During his many years as a senior executive at Starbucks, Howard Behar helped establish the Starbucks culture, which stresses the importance of people over profits. He coached hundreds of leaders at every level and helped the company grow into a world-renowned brand. Now, he reveals the ten principles and the memorable wisdom that guided his leadership and success—and not one of them is about coffee.

Howard Behar Videos

Former President Howard Behar on Starbucks Employees Union
How Howard Behar Used Company Values to Build
Howard Behar - 2016 PhD, MBA, Evening MBA Graduation Keynote ...

How do I book Howard Behar to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Howard Behar for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Howard Behar, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Howard Behar or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Howard Behar for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Howard Behar, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Howard Behar, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Howard Behar speak about?

Howard Behar is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Authors, Ethics & Integrity, Executive Leadership, Retail, Leadership, Business Leadership, Business, College, Corporate Strategy, Thought Leadership and Food & Beverage.

Where does Howard Behar travel from?

Howard Behar generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Howard Behar?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Howard Behar for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Howard Behar for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Howard Behar or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Howard Behar is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Authors, Ethics & Integrity and Executive Leadership. Please contact us for live or virtual event fee details. Howard Behar generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Cheryl Bachelder, Gisel Ruiz and Afdhel Aziz. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Howard Behar for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/09/2024.

Howard Behar Speaking Topics

  • It's Not About the Coffee

    During his many years as a senior executive at Starbucks, Howard Behar helped establish the Starbucks culture, which stresses the importance of people over profits. He coached hundreds of leaders at every level and helped the company grow into a world-renowned brand. Now, he reveals the ten principles and the memorable wisdom that guided his leadership and success—and not one of them is about coffee.

Howard Behar Videos

Former President Howard Behar on Starbucks Employees Union
How Howard Behar Used Company Values to Build
Howard Behar - 2016 PhD, MBA, Evening MBA Graduation Keynote ...
Howard Behar speaks at Hollins, Part 1 - YouTube
Heartfelt Leadership: A Conversation with Howard Behar - YouTube

Howard Behar News

  • How do I book Howard Behar to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Howard Behar for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Howard Behar, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Howard Behar or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Howard Behar for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Howard Behar, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Howard Behar, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Howard Behar speak about?

    Howard Behar is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Authors, Ethics & Integrity, Executive Leadership, Retail, Leadership, Business Leadership, Business, College, Corporate Strategy, Thought Leadership and Food & Beverage.
  • Where does Howard Behar travel from?

    Howard Behar generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Howard Behar?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Howard Behar for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Howard Behar for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Howard Behar or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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HOWARD BEHAR

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