Coffee, Culture, Courage: The Untold Story of Starbucks' First Employee Dawn Pinaud

In our second episode of the 'Bolder and Wiser' podcast, we are joined by Dawn Pinaud, coffeepreneur and the first employee of Starbucks working under Howard Schultz. Dawn shares her incredible journey from opening the first Starbucks beverage store in downtown Seattle to her latest venture, a new cafe on Whidbey Island focusing on the best ingredients. A few nuggets of wisdom: 1. Being on the field (or behind the coffee bar) with your employees can greatly impact your team's experience. They’ll tell you everything that works and doesn’t work if you are in the trenches with them. 2. Overreliance on customization can be a source of stress for employees who face time pressure to deliver products and services. 3. You know you’re doing something right when your staff brings friends and family to their workplace. 4. Transparency can be a powerful business and retention driver. Being open about the numbers means staff members know what’s working and what constraints you’re operating under. 5. Say yes more than you say no to opportunities for growth, especially at the beginning of your career. Raise your hand if you want to move up. Don’t just sit there and be quiet. 6. Fun will get you a long way. Invest in fun to bring your team together, and don’t undervalue the relationship between fun and productivity. She shares stories from Starbucks’ early days, being fearless and centering the employee experience to deliver a great customer experience. Grab a cup of coffee and join us for an unforgettable conversation that explores the power of transparency, fun, and connection, making a business feel small as you scale up, and the importance of not compromising on quality. 🔗 ENGAGE WITH MICHELLE KRAEMER Interested in Coaching? Reach out to schedule consultation: https://michellekraemercoaching.com/ Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlkraemer/ 🔗 FOLLOW PETER WANG LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuchunwang/ 🔗 CONNECT WITH DAWN PINAUD https://www.dawnpinaud.coffee/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coffeeatdawnco/ Shop Coffee at Dawn wholesale products: https://www.faire.com/brand/b_2fmve7mmje ⌚️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to the Bold and Wiser Podcast 00:08 Meet Dawn Pinot: Starbucks' First Employee 00:46 The Early Days of Starbucks 05:25 Challenges and Changes at Starbucks 11:03 Creating a Positive Work Culture 29:21 Transparency and Team Management 34:33 Transforming Lives Through Coffee 34:50 Building a Dedicated Team 35:57 Managing Multiple Stores 40:07 Prioritizing Quality Over Cost 52:34 The Importance of Work-Life Balance 57:52 Final Thoughts and Advice