Rosalind Brewer facts for kids

Rosalind G. Brewer (born 1962) is a well-known American businesswoman. She has led some very big companies. Rosalind Brewer was the CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance until September 2023.

She made history as the first woman to become CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance. She was also the first woman and first Black person to be a group president and COO (Chief Operating Officer) at Starbucks. Before that, she was the CEO of Sam's Club. Today, she helps advise the President of the United States on trade as part of the President's Export Council.

People often call her one of the most important women and Black female leaders in American business. Magazines like Forbes and Fortune have named her a "Highly Powerful Woman."

Early Life and Education

Rosalind Brewer was born in 1962 in Detroit, Michigan. She was the youngest of five children. Her family was the first in their history to go to college. When she was young, Rosalind loved math and science. She first thought about becoming a physician (doctor).

After finishing Cass Technical High School in Detroit in 1980, she went to Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. There, she earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry. She decided not to become a doctor. Instead, she started working as a research technician at a company called Kimberly-Clark.

Rosalind Brewer also continued her education at top business schools. She studied at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Stanford Law School, and The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Rosalind Brewer's Career Journey

Rosalind Brewer has held important leadership jobs at several major companies. These include Kimberly-Clark, Walmart, Sam's Club, Starbucks, and Walgreens Boots Alliance. She also served on the board of directors for Amazon. A board of directors helps guide a company.

She has also been a director for other companies like Lockheed Martin and Molson Coors Brewing Company. Today, she is the chair of the board of trustees at Spelman College, her old school.

Starting at Kimberly-Clark (1984-2006)

Rosalind Brewer began her career in 1984 at Kimberly-Clark. This company makes paper products used all over the world. She started as a research technician. Over 22 years, she held many leadership roles. These included market manager and vice president of a special division.

Leading at Walmart and Sam's Club (2006-2017)

In 2006, Brewer joined Walmart, a very large retail company. She quickly moved up to different executive roles. She became a vice president and then an executive vice president. She was in charge of Walmart stores in the eastern United States.

In 2012, she became the president and CEO of Sam's Club. This is a membership-only store owned by Walmart. As CEO, she focused on health and wellness. She doubled the number of organic products available. Rosalind Brewer was the first Black person to lead a major division of Walmart. She retired from Sam's Club in 2017.

Becoming a Leader at Starbucks (2017-2021)

In 2017, Rosalind Brewer joined the board of directors at Starbucks. Later that year, she became the COO (Chief Operating Officer) and group president. She was the second-highest-ranking executive at Starbucks. She was also the first Black person and the first woman to hold this role. She managed Starbucks' business in the United States, Canada, and Latin America.

Leading Walgreens Boots Alliance (2021-2023)

On March 15, 2021, Rosalind Brewer was named the CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance. This made her the only Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company at that time. A Fortune 500 company is one of the 500 largest companies in the U.S. by revenue.

In September 2023, Rosalind Brewer decided to step down from her role as CEO. She had led the company for two years.

Honors and Recognition

Rosalind Brewer has received many awards and honors for her work.

• In 2020, Fortune magazine named her the 27th Most Powerful Woman in the World.
• Forbes magazine ranked her 48th on their list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women.
• In 2015, Fortune included her in its Most Powerful Woman rankings.
• Working Mother magazine named her one of the Most Powerful Working Moms in 2013.
• In 2017, she received the Legacy of Leadership award from Spelman College.
• In 2021, Forbes included her in their "50 Over 50" list. This list celebrates successful leaders over 50 years old.
• The same year, she was added to the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.
• In 2022, USA Today named her one of their Women of the Year.

Personal Life

Rosalind Brewer is married to John Brewer. They have two children together.

Working for Fairness and Inclusion

Rosalind Brewer is a strong supporter of diversity and inclusion. This means making sure people from all backgrounds have equal chances.

In 2015, when she was CEO of Sam's Club, she spoke about this topic. She said she expects her teams to be diverse. She believes it's important to speak up for fairness. She once noticed a meeting where everyone on the other side of the table was a Caucasian male. She decided to call the supplier later to discuss the lack of diversity.

Some people on social media criticized her comments. However, Doug McMillon, the CEO of Walmart, supported her. He said that diverse teams make businesses stronger.

Later, when she was at Starbucks, a difficult event happened. Two Black men were arrested at a Starbucks store. In response, Rosalind Brewer and her team worked to make changes. They put new rules in place and started special training for employees. This training helped staff understand and prevent racial bias.