Northern Michigan University President Brock Tessman invited a small group of alumni and friends to meet to learn more about the university's new strategic plan, Our Compass, and its grand challenges, goals and success measurements. Several were on campus Sunday and Monday (Oct. 20-21) to tour facilities; meet with students, faculty and staff; and discuss strategic plan goals and ideas. The group included Howard Schultz, former CEO of Starbucks and a 1975 NMU communications graduate, who hosted a “fireside chat” with selected students in Reynolds Recital Hall.
“As NMU's president, I have the frequent opportunity to meet alumni and other supporters of the university who have a strong wish to share with Northern their talent, time, experience, resources and connections developed throughout their very successful careers,” Tessman said. “I was excited to bring this small group together to have some in-depth discussions about some of our ideas for the future and to get that external perspective that can be so valuable in planning big projects and goals.”
Schultz has supported several NMU student programs and university initiatives in the past. He was last on campus in 1998 to receive an honorary degree and serve as the keynote speaker at spring commencement. He took advantage of this Marquette visit to stop by the Starbucks in Jamrich Hall and meet employees and customers. During his “fireside chat” early Monday afternoon, he answered student questions and shared his Northern experience.
“I think Northern gave me something I did not have before I came, which was self-confidence and lifelong friendships,” Schultz said. “And coming from New York, it also introduced me to Midwest values that have stood with me for the rest of time. A lot of those values are steeped into Starbucks: building a company that has a conscience; and building a company that wants to do good in the world and balance profitability with benevolence. I think all those things are steeped in the U.P., and many of those things I learned as a student, so I look back on those years at Northern with great fondness and respect.”
Schultz told students the three most appealing qualities he has looked for in potential hires—in reverse order—are: IQ—not the smartest person in the room, but those who possess a desirable level of intelligence, insight and perspective; EQ, or emotional intelligence, with the ability to relate to different kinds of people, have interpersonal relationships and not be judgmental; and most importantly, CQ, or curiosity.
“In terms of leadership and related skills, the goal is to create servant leadership,” he added. “Servant leadership is defined by creating a sense of belonging and emotional attachment where everyone is facing in the same direction, everyone is pulling for each other, and everyone leaves their ego outside of the room.”
Starbucks had 11 stores and 100 employees when Schultz acquired it with investor support in 1987. He told NMU students his experience growing up in a family without much money and no health insurance made him determined to build a unique kind of company. Under his leadership, Starbucks gave every employee stock options in the company, comprehensive health insurance and free college tuition through a partnership with Arizona State University. He stepped down as both CEO and member of the Board of Directors in 2023.
“Howard's fireside chat was a great opportunity for members of NMU's Student Leader Fellowship Program and some business and communication classes to be able to hear the advice of such a globally successful entrepreneur,” Tessman added. “We are so thankful he was able to carve out that extra time to meet with students during this visit to campus.”
Tessman said part of his own work related to Northern's Our Compass strategic plan is to ensure that alumni and university friends who can help NMU “dream big and achieve big” know about the plan and its three grand challenges—investing in people, partnering with place, and helping students reach their full potential—along with the desired success outcomes of each.
“These are people with tremendous expertise in many areas, and many of them want to help us reach that ‘Superior' level we have made as our vision for NMU's future,” Tessman said. “I am truly grateful for their thoughts, ideas, and especially their time.”
The new strategic plan was first announced at Fall Convocation in August. A public review of the work to date will take place at the fall semester University Forum at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, at the Northern Center. Featured speakers will be the three grand challenge executive sponsors: NMU vice presidents Anne Dahlman (Academic Affairs), Rhea Dever (People, Culture and Wellbeing) and Gavin Leach (Finance and Administration). The event is open to the public.