oh boo – oh boo – I would like to begin my time with you today by sharing a
my time with you today by sharing a
my time with you today by sharing a personal story last year Starbucks
personal story last year Starbucks
personal story last year Starbucks Coffee Company opened our first store in
Coffee Company opened our first store in
Coffee Company opened our first store in South Africa and Johannesburg I had I
South Africa and Johannesburg I had I
South Africa and Johannesburg I had I had never been to South Africa before
had never been to South Africa before
had never been to South Africa before did not know what to expect
did not know what to expect
did not know what to expect certainly could not be prepared for the
certainly could not be prepared for the
certainly could not be prepared for the level of poverty and what I saw in the
level of poverty and what I saw in the
level of poverty and what I saw in the townships throughout the city we opened
townships throughout the city we opened
townships throughout the city we opened two stores and lines were out the door
two stores and lines were out the door
two stores and lines were out the door in anticipation of Starbucks coming to
in anticipation of Starbucks coming to
in anticipation of Starbucks coming to the market but before we opened the
the market but before we opened the
the market but before we opened the stores I gathered the 50 young people
stores I gathered the 50 young people
stores I gathered the 50 young people who would grace the green apron and put
who would grace the green apron and put
who would grace the green apron and put on the Starbucks apron and represent the
on the Starbucks apron and represent the
on the Starbucks apron and represent the company i sat with them for a few hours
company i sat with them for a few hours
company i sat with them for a few hours and wanted to hear each one of their
and wanted to hear each one of their
and wanted to hear each one of their personal stories and as they were
personal stories and as they were
personal stories and as they were sharing their stories with me despite
sharing their stories with me despite
sharing their stories with me despite their poverty their plight in life there
their poverty their plight in life there
their poverty their plight in life there was so much joy and gratitude in your
was so much joy and gratitude in your
was so much joy and gratitude in your hearts but what I learned was two things
hearts but what I learned was two things
hearts but what I learned was two things one all 50 of these young people had
one all 50 of these young people had
one all 50 of these young people had never had a job before they were all
never had a job before they were all
never had a job before they were all unemployed for their entire life and you
unemployed for their entire life and you
unemployed for their entire life and you should see the self esteem and the sense
should see the self esteem and the sense
should see the self esteem and the sense of security as they were getting ready
of security as they were getting ready
of security as they were getting ready for their first job but the second
for their first job but the second
for their first job but the second lesson was as they were going around the
lesson was as they were going around the
lesson was as they were going around the room and talking to me about their story
room and talking to me about their story
room and talking to me about their story I kept hearing an African word I had
I kept hearing an African word I had
I kept hearing an African word I had never heard before a word that Nelson
never heard before a word that Nelson
never heard before a word that Nelson Mandela used all the time the word is
Mandela used all the time the word is
Mandela used all the time the word is oom boo – UB u NT u oom boo – and
oom boo – UB u NT u oom boo – and
oom boo – UB u NT u oom boo – and finally I got up the courage and I asked
finally I got up the courage and I asked
finally I got up the courage and I asked what does this word mean that you keep
what does this word mean that you keep
what does this word mean that you keep using and they couldn’t wait to share it
using and they couldn’t wait to share it
using and they couldn’t wait to share it with me and in unison
with me and in unison
with me and in unison they said Howard butoh means I am
they said Howard butoh means I am
they said Howard butoh means I am because of you I am because of you as I
because of you I am because of you as I
because of you I am because of you as I have the honor to speak with you today I
have the honor to speak with you today I
have the honor to speak with you today I ask you to keep that story in mind
ask you to keep that story in mind
ask you to keep that story in mind because everything I’m going to share
because everything I’m going to share
because everything I’m going to share with you today is through the lens of
with you today is through the lens of
with you today is through the lens of Embu – I grew up in Brooklyn New York
Embu – I grew up in Brooklyn New York
Embu – I grew up in Brooklyn New York and public housing the projects as it
and public housing the projects as it
and public housing the projects as it was called back then my parents were
was called back then my parents were
was called back then my parents were both high school dropouts and they could
both high school dropouts and they could
both high school dropouts and they could barely afford $96 a month rent in our
barely afford $96 a month rent in our
barely afford $96 a month rent in our two-bedroom apartment from my brother
two-bedroom apartment from my brother
two-bedroom apartment from my brother and my sister and my parents however for
and my sister and my parents however for
and my sister and my parents however for my earliest of memories my mother
my earliest of memories my mother
my earliest of memories my mother instilled in me her belief in the
instilled in me her belief in the
instilled in me her belief in the American Dream and the promise of
American Dream and the promise of
American Dream and the promise of America that a good education and hard
America that a good education and hard
America that a good education and hard work will open the doors to a better
work will open the doors to a better
work will open the doors to a better life and that provides me with an
life and that provides me with an
life and that provides me with an important lesson to share with you all
important lesson to share with you all
important lesson to share with you all today that your station in life does not
today that your station in life does not
today that your station in life does not define you and the promise of America
define you and the promise of America
define you and the promise of America that is for all of us when I was seven
that is for all of us when I was seven
that is for all of us when I was seven years old I had a defining moment in my
years old I had a defining moment in my
years old I had a defining moment in my life I came home from school one day and
life I came home from school one day and
life I came home from school one day and saw my father laid on a couch with a
saw my father laid on a couch with a
saw my father laid on a couch with a cast from his hip to his ankle he had a
cast from his hip to his ankle he had a
cast from his hip to his ankle he had a series of terrible blue collar jobs as a
series of terrible blue collar jobs as a
series of terrible blue collar jobs as a high school dropout army vet but this
high school dropout army vet but this
high school dropout army vet but this particular job he had in 1960 was
particular job he had in 1960 was
particular job he had in 1960 was probably the worst he was a truck driver
probably the worst he was a truck driver
probably the worst he was a truck driver delivering and picking up cloth diapers
delivering and picking up cloth diapers
delivering and picking up cloth diapers before the invention of pampers he fell
before the invention of pampers he fell
before the invention of pampers he fell on a sheet of ice in March of 1960 and
on a sheet of ice in March of 1960 and
on a sheet of ice in March of 1960 and in March of 1960 if you were a
in March of 1960 if you were a
in March of 1960 if you were a blue-collar uneducated worker you were
blue-collar uneducated worker you were
blue-collar uneducated worker you were dismissed if you had an accident
dismissed if you had an accident
dismissed if you had an accident no workmen’s compensation no severance
no workmen’s compensation no severance
no workmen’s compensation no severance and no health insurance and I saw the
and no health insurance and I saw the
and no health insurance and I saw the fracturing of the American dream and I
fracturing of the American dream and I
fracturing of the American dream and I saw my pair
saw my pair
saw my pair parents go through hopelessness and
parents go through hopelessness and
parents go through hopelessness and despair at the age of seven and those
despair at the age of seven and those
despair at the age of seven and those scars though that shame that is with me
scars though that shame that is with me
scars though that shame that is with me even today as a young boy I could have
even today as a young boy I could have
even today as a young boy I could have never imagined that I would one day
never imagined that I would one day
never imagined that I would one day build a company of my own let alone a
build a company of my own let alone a
build a company of my own let alone a company that would have more than 26,000
company that would have more than 26,000
company that would have more than 26,000 stores in 75 countries and employ more
stores in 75 countries and employ more
stores in 75 countries and employ more than 300,000 people thank you
but from from day one I really wanted to
but from from day one I really wanted to build the kind of company my father
build the kind of company my father
build the kind of company my father never got a chance to work for a company
never got a chance to work for a company
never got a chance to work for a company that honors and respects the dignity of
that honors and respects the dignity of
that honors and respects the dignity of work and the dignity of all men and all
work and the dignity of all men and all
work and the dignity of all men and all women and that is why we became the
women and that is why we became the
women and that is why we became the first company in all of America to
first company in all of America to
first company in all of America to provide comprehensive health insurance
provide comprehensive health insurance
provide comprehensive health insurance 30 years ahead of the affordable care
30 years ahead of the affordable care
30 years ahead of the affordable care act as well as ownership in the form of
act as well as ownership in the form of
act as well as ownership in the form of stock options for all of our employees
stock options for all of our employees
stock options for all of our employees including part-time people because it is
including part-time people because it is
including part-time people because it is my firm belief that success in business
my firm belief that success in business
my firm belief that success in business and in life is best when it’s shared
and in life is best when it’s shared
and in life is best when it’s shared Starbucks Coffee Company went public in
Starbucks Coffee Company went public in
Starbucks Coffee Company went public in 1992 and from 1992 to 2006 we were on a
1992 and from 1992 to 2006 we were on a
1992 and from 1992 to 2006 we were on a magical carpet ride in which everything
magical carpet ride in which everything
magical carpet ride in which everything we did turned to gold but in 2007 the
we did turned to gold but in 2007 the
we did turned to gold but in 2007 the music stopped we had lost sight of our
music stopped we had lost sight of our
music stopped we had lost sight of our shared purpose and our guiding
shared purpose and our guiding
shared purpose and our guiding principles in which growth and success
principles in which growth and success
principles in which growth and success began to cover up mistakes any disease
began to cover up mistakes any disease
began to cover up mistakes any disease set in to Starbucks that disease hubris
set in to Starbucks that disease hubris
set in to Starbucks that disease hubris we lost our way and believe it or not we
we lost our way and believe it or not we
we lost our way and believe it or not we almost lost the entire company during
almost lost the entire company during
almost lost the entire company during this cataclysmic period I was reminded
this cataclysmic period I was reminded
this cataclysmic period I was reminded what it means to love something and the
what it means to love something and the
what it means to love something and the responsibility that goes with it as well
responsibility that goes with it as well
responsibility that goes with it as well as an understanding that leadership and
as an understanding that leadership and
as an understanding that leadership and moral courage is not a passive act my
moral courage is not a passive act my
moral courage is not a passive act my partners and I took it personally and we
partners and I took it personally and we
partners and I took it personally and we transformed the entire company we
transformed the entire company we
transformed the entire company we galvanize the entire organization around
galvanize the entire organization around
galvanize the entire organization around our core values and servant leadership
our core values and servant leadership
our core values and servant leadership every business every organization even
every business every organization even
every business every organization even every family must be true to its values
every family must be true to its values
every family must be true to its values and reason for being
and reason for being
and reason for being our core purpose and reason for being
our core purpose and reason for being
our core purpose and reason for being then and now has always been to achieve
then and now has always been to achieve
then and now has always been to achieve the fragile balance between profit and
the fragile balance between profit and
the fragile balance between profit and humanity today the equity of the
humanity today the equity of the
humanity today the equity of the Starbucks brand has never been stronger
Starbucks brand has never been stronger
Starbucks brand has never been stronger and our track record of creating
and our track record of creating
and our track record of creating shareholder value and social impact over
shareholder value and social impact over
shareholder value and social impact over the last 25 years has virtually been
the last 25 years has virtually been
the last 25 years has virtually been unparalleled we have built one of the
unparalleled we have built one of the
unparalleled we have built one of the most respected and recognized brands in
most respected and recognized brands in
most respected and recognized brands in the world with the view that today the
the world with the view that today the
the world with the view that today the rules of engagement for business and
rules of engagement for business and
rules of engagement for business and business leaders have changed that we
business leaders have changed that we
business leaders have changed that we must do more for our people and the
must do more for our people and the
must do more for our people and the communities we serve and most
communities we serve and most
communities we serve and most importantly that not every business
importantly that not every business
importantly that not every business decision is an economic one and that
decision is an economic one and that
decision is an economic one and that success is not an entitlement it has to
success is not an entitlement it has to
success is not an entitlement it has to be earned and earned every day through
be earned and earned every day through
be earned and earned every day through the lens of humility only in America can
the lens of humility only in America can
the lens of humility only in America can a poor kid from public housing have the
a poor kid from public housing have the
a poor kid from public housing have the privilege and the honor to be the
privilege and the honor to be the
privilege and the honor to be the commencement speaker at the largest and
commencement speaker at the largest and
commencement speaker at the largest and most innovative University in the
most innovative University in the
most innovative University in the country
I stand before you as living proof of
I stand before you as living proof of the American dream joining many of your
the American dream joining many of your
the American dream joining many of your parents your professors and generations
parents your professors and generations
parents your professors and generations of graduates before you but today you
of graduates before you but today you
of graduates before you but today you may question the strength of that dream
may question the strength of that dream
may question the strength of that dream and the promise of America that’s there
and the promise of America that’s there
and the promise of America that’s there my generation has not made it easy for
my generation has not made it easy for
my generation has not made it easy for you
you
you our political leaders on both sides of
our political leaders on both sides of
our political leaders on both sides of the aisle have not acted with enough
the aisle have not acted with enough
the aisle have not acted with enough courage nor honesty in addressing the
courage nor honesty in addressing the
courage nor honesty in addressing the long-term challenges we face
they have been more focused on fighting
they have been more focused on fighting with each other than walking in the
with each other than walking in the
with each other than walking in the shoes of the American people
and vitriol and self-interest rule the
and vitriol and self-interest rule the day in Washington despite all that when
day in Washington despite all that when
day in Washington despite all that when I look to the future
I look to the future
I look to the future I am extremely optimistic especially
I am extremely optimistic especially
I am extremely optimistic especially when I look out and see you because the
when I look out and see you because the
when I look out and see you because the future is not up to them not up to
future is not up to them not up to
future is not up to them not up to Washington it’s up to you this milestone
Washington it’s up to you this milestone
Washington it’s up to you this milestone in your life may come with some anxiety
in your life may come with some anxiety
in your life may come with some anxiety about what tomorrow holds and you may
about what tomorrow holds and you may
about what tomorrow holds and you may have questions that only time can answer
have questions that only time can answer
have questions that only time can answer but as a young man who once sat
but as a young man who once sat
but as a young man who once sat nervously at his own commencement I
nervously at his own commencement I
nervously at his own commencement I encourage you to always trust yourself
encourage you to always trust yourself
encourage you to always trust yourself and to be mindful of these three
and to be mindful of these three
and to be mindful of these three enduring questions how will you respect
enduring questions how will you respect
enduring questions how will you respect your parents and honor your family how
your parents and honor your family how
your parents and honor your family how will you share your success and serve
will you share your success and serve
will you share your success and serve others with dignity and how will you
others with dignity and how will you
others with dignity and how will you lead with humility and demonstrate moral
lead with humility and demonstrate moral
lead with humility and demonstrate moral courage you are leaving this campus as
courage you are leaving this campus as
courage you are leaving this campus as the best prepared generation in the
the best prepared generation in the
the best prepared generation in the history of our country
history of our country
history of our country [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
you’ll each possess entrepreneurial
you’ll each possess entrepreneurial spirit the passion and the commitment to
spirit the passion and the commitment to
spirit the passion and the commitment to create the future you deserve however
create the future you deserve however
create the future you deserve however don’t stop there
don’t stop there
don’t stop there try not to rely only on what you have
try not to rely only on what you have
try not to rely only on what you have learned in the classroom summon your
learned in the classroom summon your
learned in the classroom summon your compassion your curiosity your empathy
compassion your curiosity your empathy
compassion your curiosity your empathy towards others and your commitment to
towards others and your commitment to
towards others and your commitment to service give more than you receive and I
service give more than you receive and I
service give more than you receive and I promise you it will come back to you in
promise you it will come back to you in
promise you it will come back to you in ways you can’t possibly imagine each of
ways you can’t possibly imagine each of
ways you can’t possibly imagine each of you is here today because of someone
you is here today because of someone
you is here today because of someone else a parent a sibling a teacher a
else a parent a sibling a teacher a
else a parent a sibling a teacher a neighbor a mentor someone who had faith
neighbor a mentor someone who had faith
neighbor a mentor someone who had faith and confidence in you like my mother had
and confidence in you like my mother had
and confidence in you like my mother had in me and nurtured your dreams as you
in me and nurtured your dreams as you
in me and nurtured your dreams as you leave here today take a moment to think
leave here today take a moment to think
leave here today take a moment to think of those who have come before you who
of those who have come before you who
of those who have come before you who have helped you along the way who are at
have helped you along the way who are at
have helped you along the way who are at your side today if they are here embrace
your side today if they are here embrace
your side today if they are here embrace them and thank them for the gift of
them and thank them for the gift of
them and thank them for the gift of Education and with the support and the
Education and with the support and the
Education and with the support and the love that they have given you your
love that they have given you your
love that they have given you your generation can bring people together
generation can bring people together
generation can bring people together like no other
like no other
like no other you can innovate create and lead your
you can innovate create and lead your
you can innovate create and lead your generation will transform our economy
generation will transform our economy
generation will transform our economy and create millions of new jobs you will
and create millions of new jobs you will
and create millions of new jobs you will develop cleaner energy you will make it
develop cleaner energy you will make it
develop cleaner energy you will make it so racism only exists in history books
yes you will you will be the generation
yes you will you will be the generation that teaches the world that we are at
that teaches the world that we are at
that teaches the world that we are at our best when we recognize respect and
our best when we recognize respect and
our best when we recognize respect and celebrate our diversity you can and you
celebrate our diversity you can and you
celebrate our diversity you can and you will make your mark on our country and
will make your mark on our country and
will make your mark on our country and our shared humanity dream big and then
our shared humanity dream big and then
our shared humanity dream big and then dream bigger a more innovative dream a
dream bigger a more innovative dream a
dream bigger a more innovative dream a more inclusive dream all of you will
more inclusive dream all of you will
more inclusive dream all of you will preserve and enhance the promise of
preserve and enhance the promise of
preserve and enhance the promise of America the promise that propelled me
America the promise that propelled me
America the promise that propelled me out of public housing the promise that
out of public housing the promise that
out of public housing the promise that will propel you forward regardless of
will propel you forward regardless of
will propel you forward regardless of the color of your skin your religion
the color of your skin your religion
the color of your skin your religion your gender your sexual orientation or
your gender your sexual orientation or
your gender your sexual orientation or your station in life
[Applause]
[Applause] please remember that ASU is because of
please remember that ASU is because of
please remember that ASU is because of you you are because of ASU we are
you you are because of ASU we are
you you are because of ASU we are because of each other
because of each other
because of each other oom boo – oh boo – oh boo – yes say it
oom boo – oh boo – oh boo – yes say it
oom boo – oh boo – oh boo – yes say it with me oh boo – oh boo – oh boo – oh
with me oh boo – oh boo – oh boo – oh
with me oh boo – oh boo – oh boo – oh boo – boo boo – go forward and continue
boo – boo boo – go forward and continue
boo – boo boo – go forward and continue to make your parents and your family
to make your parents and your family
to make your parents and your family proud
proud
proud god bless you and thank you and
god bless you and thank you and
god bless you and thank you and congratulations to the class of 2017
congratulations to the class of 2017
congratulations to the class of 2017 thank you boo – thank you if you had to
thank you boo – thank you if you had to
thank you boo – thank you if you had to think of one word that’s most important
think of one word that’s most important
think of one word that’s most important to you or that sums you Apple
to you or that sums you Apple
to you or that sums you Apple so it would be collect a little beacon
so it would be collect a little beacon
so it would be collect a little beacon hey believe nation if you want to know
hey believe nation if you want to know
hey believe nation if you want to know what the most important one word is for
what the most important one word is for
what the most important one word is for Tony Robbins Gary Vaynerchuk Oprah
Tony Robbins Gary Vaynerchuk Oprah
Tony Robbins Gary Vaynerchuk Oprah Winfrey will.i.am and Howard Schultz I
Winfrey will.i.am and Howard Schultz I
Winfrey will.i.am and Howard Schultz I have a very special secret video for you
have a very special secret video for you
have a very special secret video for you check the description for details
”
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