For Starbucks partners who may not initially qualify for admission to Arizona State University through the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, Pathway to Admission offers the ability to work toward admission, with credit conversion costs fully covered.
This month, more than 1,000 Starbucks partners (employees) representing 47 states graduated from the Starbucks College Achievement Plan through our partnership with Arizona State University.
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Alyssa and Kristen are sisters who grew up together in a small Pittsburgh-area town, just five minutes from the Starbucks where Kristen is now the coffeehouse leader. But for many years, they were on their own separate paths, until Starbucks brought them back together.
“We’re sisters,” Kristen said. “But growing up, there was a lot going on. There were years when we weren’t close.”
Finding independence and a place that feels like home
Alyssa moved out of her family home at a young age and learned independence early. “I was in survival mode for a long time,” she said. Before joining Starbucks, she worked at a local coffee shop in her town, so coffee became the first place she felt useful.
But she needed health insurance, especially because she was suffering from an autoimmune disorder and couldn’t afford the medical care she needed to treat it. She turned to Starbucks and, in addition to getting benefits, also found a place where she belonged.
I came because I needed healthcare. I stayed because the mission matched who I already was.
Alyssa, Coffeehouse Leader
She was inspired by having her talents and skills truly recognized, and by the fact that she was never judged for her past. “I am proudly a person in recovery and struggled with addiction in my younger years,” she said.
She sees the power of the journey she has made from addiction to fully supporting herself and finding her place in the world, she said. Now, as a seven-year partner (employee) and a coffeehouse leader, she draws on her experiences to inspire the people around her to grow every day.
Reaching out and sharing an opportunity
Alyssa knew her sister was struggling and she wanted her to have this opportunity to work somewhere she could find stability and grow in a positive environment. This was the exact environment she wanted for her sister, Kristen. So, she reached out.
Kristen initially resisted her sister’s recruitment efforts. “I said no for months,” she laughs. But when her partner was severely injured and she became his caregiver while navigating her own issues with depression and an addiction relapse, the seed Alyssa planted finally took root.
“I didn’t know I needed Starbucks. But I needed it,” said Kristen, who is now a six-year partner and, like her sister, is a coffeehouse leader.
Not long after she began her Starbucks journey, Kristen realized she needed to take the time and space to get some support. “Alyssa actually helped me approach my store manager and tell her, ‘Hey, I’m not doing well. I need some time.’ She helped me ask for help.”
She was afraid she’d lose her job or be replaced, but instead, “they helped me take a leave, get treatment and come back.”
Finding their way back to each other
Both sisters rebuilt their lives and as they grew from baristas to coffeehouse leaders and along the way they also rebuilt something else — their relationship.
“Us working both working at Starbucks helped us relax, put our guard down and get to know each other again,” said Kristen. “The positive environment helped us rebuild our relationship in a way we never had before.”
Alyssa agrees.
“Nothing grows in toxic soil,” she said. “Starbucks gave us ground where healing and possibility, could take root.”
Life-changing benefits
Alyssa and Kristen say that the benefits were turning points, not perks. At Starbucks, they had access to health insurance, mental health support and other benefits that are available to eligible partners who work 20 hours a week or more. They also found financial stability.
“It literally changed my life,” Alyssa said. “I own my house now. That used to feel impossible.”
“I know who I am now,” Kristen added. “I know I add value.”
When asked what advice they’d share if they were supporting another partner going through a similar situation, Kristen said “If you’re looking for a second chance, you don’t have to do it alone.”
7-year Starbucks Partner Future biochemistry grad
Chantel joined Starbucks seven years ago and aspires to become a physician. Through the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, she’s well on her way to achieving that dream by pursuing a biochemistry degree from Arizona State University. As a SCAP partner, she receives 100% upfront tuition coverage and is set to graduate next year.
Alongside her husband — also a Starbucks partner! — Chantel has embraced the company’s support every step of the way. A shift supervisor in Georgia, she benefited from Starbucks paid parental leave of up to 18 weeks, allowing her to spend more time with her growing family. When they recently relocated, she leveraged Starbucks’ Bean Stock program to help ease the cost of the transition.
With Starbucks behind her, Chantel is brewing a bright future and proving that anything is possible with the right support.
When I first started at Starbucks, I was 18 years old and didn’t fully realize what an amazing benefits package I was being offered. I wasn’t thinking about health insurance at the time because I was still covered under my parents’ plan. As I got older, had kids and began providing for my family, I realized I had access to benefits my mom never had during her entire working life.
That’s when I really saw how important benefits are, and started comparing the Starbucks benefits package to other companies. Not just the medical, dental and vision, but also 401(k) options and stock grants that make us partners and not just employees. I shared all this with my mom, and was thrilled in 2016 when she became a barista. At 50 years old, for the first time in her life, she has access to the benefits and insurance everybody deserves. She had been missing out on this her whole life.
A year later, those benefits literally saved our family.
My mom had been a partner for about a year and a half when she was diagnosed with tongue and neck cancer. The cancer was taking up two-thirds of her tongue. She needed to have immediate surgery. Reconstructing her tongue involved multiple surgeons and a 17-hour surgery. Having that health insurance allowed us to seek the best treatment and to be fierce fighters against the cancer.
She just celebrated seven years of remission!
I’ve been a Starbucks partner for 22 years, and during that time I’ve taken full advantage of the financial wellness benefits available to us, including savings through Fidelity, the 401(k), Stock Investment Plan (SIP) and Bean Stock. Starbucks provides many financial benefits, but the most important part of becoming a partner is knowing about the benefits and taking steps to enroll.
These benefits helped our daughters graduate from college debt‑free and supported important life moments, like weddings, through a combination of Bean Stock and SIP.
Financial responsibility has always been a priority in our family. Part of parenting is teaching them solid financial responsibility. We did this by talking about and modeling sound financial decisions. We have always been committed to being debt-free, aside from our home. We have modeled a commitment to saving 10-15% of our income, investing for our future and maximizing our 401(k). We have taught them that if your company offers any matched funds, that is free money, and at the very least, you should invest enough to receive the full match!
I have been a partner since May 2014, and I am currently contributing 10% of my salary to my 401(k). This year, my goal is to start my savings account through Starbucks.
I was fortunate to have a mentor early in my career who taught me the fundamentals of financial stability and how to plan wisely for retirement. Compounded interest, supplemental income and IRAs were all new to me at the time, and it made my head spin. But those lessons stuck. Now, I want to be remembered for helping partners understand how to use their financial benefits from Starbucks to build real security for themselves.
My advice is simple: start young.
I love Bean Stock and make sure my partners know how to accept the grant every November. We are owners of this business! I have used this benefit myself. I sold stock and was able to gift my son money for his wedding. I also bought a brand new air conditioning unit. Living in Florida, that was a huge win for my monthly budget.
Starbucks has amazing benefits, 401(k) matching up to 5%, Stock Investment Plan (SIP), a savings program matching contributions up to $250 and reimbursement for $5,000. When I sit down with newly hired partners, I make sure to highlight all the amazing benefits we offer and how to get started. I also always follow up at the 90-day check-in to see if I can answer any questions.
19 years ago, I began this part-time coffee journey…What started as a 42-year-old father needing best in class health care benefits has turned out to be the very best group of supporters, advocates, trusted business partners, storytellers and coffee lovers.”
Larry S., barista, WA
Outside the U.S., we provide locally relevant benefits to baristas, such as illness insurance for parents of partners in China, mental health and family expansion benefits in Canada, healthcare benefits in Japan, and a five-day work week in India.
When I started working in an all-women store, we were open about everything, like sharing anything with our team. When we have our store briefings, we could talk openly. So that was one thing which I loved the most about an all-women store. And I love how the customers also observed us… it was like, they were surprised. They’ve never seen this thing.”
Sneha, store manager, India
Our Barista First 30 program gives new partners essential training in their first month, with more training at 90 and 190 days. Partners can also become Barista Trainers and take advantage of continuous learning and mentorship programs.
Today, between 59% and 83% of our U.S. retail leadership roles (shift supervisor on up) were filled internally, depending on role and level. We aim to increase that to 90% within three years.
As I reflect on the past 20 years, never had I imagined as a young 19-year-old I’d grow up with Starbucks, let alone make a career out of it. Coming from a broken family, I was looking for security, community and sense of purpose, and through Starbucks I found that.
I started [at Starbucks] right out of high school looking for health benefits and it’s lead me to my second family. Starbucks has taught me grit, perseverance, kindness, empathy and leadership skills I didn’t even realize I was capable of.”
Michelle G., store manager, OR
Through the Starbucks College Achievement Plan (SCAP), U.S. partners can get 100% tuition coverage for a first-time bachelor’s degree at Arizona State University (ASU).
For those needing extra support, the Pathway to Admission program helps partners work toward admission to ASU, and veterans can extend SCAP benefits to a family member.
I was an [shift supervisor] for four years before joining SCAP in 2017. Finally, in December 2021, I graduated and wanted to leverage my hard work and take advantage of my degree. Through networking and perseverance, I was offered a time-limited assignment in retail communications in March 2022, and currently work as a communications associate manager at Starbucks. SCAP has empowered me to pursue my aspirations.”
Elyssa H., Class of 2021, communications associate manager at Starbucks
I am currently a 911 dispatcher [in Tennessee] where we process 911 calls and dispatch fire, police and EMS for the entire county… The SCAP program is one I recommend to anyone within Starbucks with career aspirations. I know I never could have gone back to school without this program, and it has absolutely changed my life!”
Sarah A., Class of 2022, 911 Dispatcher
The Coffee Master program awards a coveted Black Apron to partners with deep coffee knowledge with the opportunity for select participants to visit one of three Starbucks coffee farms around the world to learn the origin story of coffee.
Picking coffee cherries was very emotional. I thought back to my mom telling me stories how her dad would pick cherries on Oaxaca trees and would go and sell his coffee. When I went to Mexico last summer, I talked to my uncles, and told them I was applying to go to Costa Rica for the Origin Experience. And they’re like, ‘Oh, your grandpa would be so proud.’”
Rosa L., store manager, CA