Listen and communicate openly

Rosalind Brewer, 62, was the former CEO of Sam's Club, a retail chain owned by Walmart. Her most recent senior leadership role was as CEO of Walgreens, the second-largest drugstore chain in the United States.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1962, Brewer is the youngest of five children. Growing up in a working-class family, she was raised with values of hard work and perseverance. As the first generation in her family to attend college, Brewer cherished the opportunity to access higher education.

She graduated from Cass Technical High School in Detroit in 1980 and then went on to earn a bachelor's degree in chemistry at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. With an early interest in math and science, Brewer initially wanted to become a doctor. Her career breakthrough came when she worked as a research technician at personal care company Kimberly-Clark.

Brewer’s journey, while different from her original dream, has become a testament to seizing new opportunities. In March 2021, Brewer became the first woman of color to lead Walgreens, at a time when the pharmacy chain was struggling due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Brewer told Fortune in October 2022 that leading Walgreens during the pandemic was an opportunity despite the challenges.

Nữ CEO công ty điều hành chuỗi cửa hàng dược phẩm lớn thứ 2 tại Mỹ: Lắng nghe và giao tiếp cởi mở- Ảnh 1. — “I want young girls to realize that the opportunities are huge,” Rosalind Brewer said. “They can be racers. They can be astronauts. They can be CEOs.”

"You learn a lot in a crisis. I quickly had the opportunity to see the company from the inside out. I really love this company. It has a lot of room to grow, especially in an industry that is ripe for change," the CEO said.

When asked about her leadership style, Brewer said it is “listening and being an open communicator.” This trait reflects her commitment to fostering collaboration, transparency, and a corporate culture where every team member’s voice is heard.

The CEO's formula for achieving high performance at work is regular exercise, along with about 6-6.5 hours of sleep a day. "I'm not a fitness fanatic, but I feel much better when I exercise, about three times a week," she said.

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