Former Starbucks executive and MSU grad Dave Olsen to speak Nov. 9
MSU News Service
BOZEMAN — Former Starbucks executive Dave Olsen will speak to Montana State University during a virtual webinar at 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 9. “How to Become Who You Believe You Can Be” will touch on the lessons and challenges Olsen encountered personally and professionally during his time with the company. The webinar is free and open to the public.
The goal of Olsen’s webinar will be to encourage MSU students and community members to reflect on personal strengths and challenges that will bring them to a new level in leadership development.
“I was challenged, I learned and grew, I made mistakes and had successes, and have great appreciation for the opportunities and great admiration for the people with whom I worked,” Olsen said.
Dave Olsen is an MSU alumnus and former Starbucks executive.
An MSU alumnus, Olsen joined Howard Schultz, the company’s former chairman and chief executive officer, at Starbucks in 1986. The team began with six stores and now has more than 20,000 locations. During his time with Starbucks, Olsen held the title senior vice president of culture and leadership development.
Since then Olsen has served on several boards, including CARE USA, CARE International, Pike Place Market Foundation, the Patient Safety Movement, the Argyros Performing Arts Center and the Eastern Congo Initiative, which focuses on reviving the coffee-growing industry in the eastern portion of the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo. Recently, Olsen was named Puget Sound Business Journal’s 2020 Director of the Year for his work as the board chairman at Providence Hospitals.
The webinar is presented by the MSU Leadership Institute. It is co-sponsored by the Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship, as well as sponsored by the Office of the Provost, Associated Students of MSU, Murdoch’s Ranch and Home Supply, and the MSU Alumni Foundation.
Registration is required for the webinar and can be done at https://tinyurl.com/StarbucksExecutiveMSU. For more information, contact MSU Leadership Institute at 406-994-7275 or visit montana.edu/leadership or facebook.com/MSULeadershipInstitute. •
