10.10.2024 Today's inspiration from Rodney McMullen, Multibillion Dollar Kroger CEO, in the Wall Street Journal
Dear Students,
"You don't want anyone to have the fear I had growing up."
These are the words of Rodney McMullen, now CEO of $150B American grocery retailer Kroger, since 2014. As the first in his family to attend college, McMullen was born in a tiny (just 1.7 square miles) town in Kentucky to two blue-collar working parents, who continually worried about "making ends meet." Originally, McMullen aspired to be a lawyer, and chose to major in business, thinking this would be a good training ground. Yet his strength in working with figures led him to ultimately finish an undergraduate degree in finance, another in accounting and then to quickly complete a Master's in Accounting, as well. (Side note: While growing up on a farm, McMullen was once asked by his father to negotiate the sale of a family cow!)
As McMullen's passion for numbers grew, though, he shifted from school-year jobs like bagging groceries, tagging items and running the register at a local Kroger store to becoming a Financial Analyst in the company's corporate headquarters. At 34, McMullen became the company's CFO, leading the firm through a sizable merger in 1999, then became COO, and later Vice Chairman, foreshadowing his CEO (and then Board Chairman) appointment(s). Today, McMullen is facing a new challenge - the proposed merger with $72B+ supermarket giant Albertson's - and fighting antitrust regulators. The merger under consideration is designed to position the two established grocery chains against forces like Walmart, while the status of the arrangement is currently blocked (but still under review).
The nearly 400K associates at Kroger know McMullen as a "truly nice guy," a reputation that hails from his high school days, built on "integrity, humility, and kind, easy-going humor." His principles reflect a "beyond-the-financial" perspective that may be partly responsible for his success, when he says: “Every day you have to earn customers’ trust and serve their needs, and the second we stop doing that, we won’t like our results. If employees deliver the shopping experience customers are looking for, they will buy more, go away happy and come back soon.”
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That's some simple wisdom for ambitious international students like you, who are hoping to forge a successful career in the West, that is valuable whether you uncover your dreams where you buy your groceries or where you lunch with your lawyer (McMullen's intended profession).
Our coaches are eager to help candidates like you to realize just how fortunate you are to not have to worry about selling livestock to pay for your dinner!
Best,