Hello, my name is Nathan Cooley and I am a student of Organizational Leadership at ASU. Currently, I work for Starbucks Coffee – a company that is investing in my future by sending me back to school. I have been a manager with Starbucks for eight years now, but have also worked in other management roles for the past sixteen years. Along the way I have learned a lot about being a leader and being a follower. ASU is helping me to become more efficient in each of those roles. Once I’ve completed my degree program, I hope to continue my development path within the company. More specifically, I aspire to become a district manager and build skills in multi-unit management. This goal, however, is under constant consideration - not because I doubt my interest or ability in the role, but because each course I complete with ASU builds my interest in other elements of the business world.

 

For sixteen years I have worked primarily in the world of corporate casual dining. Six years with Einstein Bagels, three years with Carrabba’s Italian Grill, and eight years with Starbucks Coffee have given me a fair perspective of how those businesses operate. While the majority of my technical experience has been nestled in the world of food service, my role as a manager has focused on employee development, goal achievement, and systems of communication. My time with each of these companies has resulted in an intimate understanding of how the upper levels of organizational leadership communicate with the lower levels and how each person within the organization must learn these methods in order to be effective and efficient. Unfortunately, while this system brings a certain level of consistency to the employee experience, it sometimes works to stifle creative perspectives and organizational innovation. Instead, people get caught up in processes and ultimately lose sight of the importance of novel concepts and their ability to lead positive organizational change. My studies here will hopefully allow me to inspire innovation and change in all of my current and future endeavors.