Starbucks Green Apron Alliance Alumni Network Partners with Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership

The Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership at Seton Hall University (the Center) is pleased to announce an exciting new collaboration with a network of former Starbucks company executives, managers, and employees. Formerly known as the Green Apron Alliance (GAA), alumni of the coffee giant recently joined forces with the Center to engage in meaningful opportunities to promote better ways to lead, manage, and support others to strengthen organizations and communities. The aim of this new partnership is to elevate the understanding and practice of servant leadership in ways that generate a wider use and adoption of an approach that incorporates empathy, fostering growth in others, and stewardship to forge a better society.

Synergistic efforts envisioned for the future include such activities as targeted workshops and conversations for professionals across multiple sectors, co-sponsorship of convenings for the broader public and general audiences, as well as the joint recognition and celebration of servant-leader exemplars and/or servant-led organizations.

About the Greenleaf Center: Established in 1964 by its namesake, Robert K. Greenleaf, the Greenleaf Center is a non-profit organization working to promote the awareness, understanding and practice of servant leadership. Through his seminal 1970 essay, The Servant as Leader, Greenleaf launched the modern movement of Servant Leadership, challenging the traditional hierarchical approach to leadership by placing the primary emphasis on the well-being of others. Since 2019, the Center has been housed on the South Orange, New Jersey campus of Seton Hall University. Greenleaf maintains its independence and 501(c)(3) status, while benefiting from the University’s rich tradition of service and preparing students to be leaders in a global society. The Center's signature programs include the Greenleaf Virtual Academy, Outside Consultative Engagements, Greenleaf Research Scholars, the Coffee With Webinar Series, Next Generation Initiative, and Robert K. Greenleaf Public Policy Lecture. More information is available at www.greenleaf.org.

About the Green Apron Alliance: The Green Apron Alliance (GAA) was founded by passionate Starbucks alumni who value and reflect servant leadership in all of their post-Starbucks endeavors. Howard Behar is a beacon of these values for so many alumni; helping global former partners remain committed to the community and principles of inspiring leadership. GAA’s mission – to help alumni be their greatest good – and our values of meaningful connection, uplifting each other, and being of service to others, will endure through the lens of partnership and collaboration with the Greenleaf Center. GAA will continue to provide mentorship, community, and leadership through their work with the Center and through the love of servant-leaders everywhere.