Rosalind Brewer, 62, is the former CEO of Sam's Club, a retail chain owned by Walmart. Her most recent senior leadership role is CEO of Walgreens, the second-largest pharmacy chain in the U.S.
Born in 1962 in Detroit, Michigan, Brewer was the youngest of five children. Growing up in a working-class family, she was instilled with values of hard work and perseverance. As the first in her family to attend college, Brewer greatly valued the opportunity to pursue a higher education .
In 1980, she graduated from Cass Technical High School in Detroit, and then pursued a bachelor's degree in chemistry at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. With an early passion for mathematics and science , Brewer initially aspired to become a doctor. A turning point in her career came when she worked as a research technician at the personal care company Kimberly-Clark.
Brewer's journey, though different from her initial aspirations, has become a testament to seizing new opportunities. In March 2021, Brewer became the first woman of color to lead Walgreens. This was at a time when the pharmacy chain was struggling due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking to Fortune in October 2022, Brewer viewed leading Walgreens during the pandemic as an opportunity despite the challenges.
Rosalind Brewer shared: “I want young girls to realize that the opportunities are immense. They could be race car drivers. They could be astronauts. They could be CEOs.”
"You learn so much in a crisis. I quickly had the opportunity to observe the company from the inside out. I really love this company. It has so much room for growth, especially in an industry that's in a period of change," the CEO said.
When asked about her leadership style, Brewer said it was "listening and being an open communicator." This characteristic reflects her commitment to fostering collaboration, transparency, and a corporate culture where the voices of every team member are heard.
This female CEO's formula for achieving high work performance is regular exercise, along with about 6-6.5 hours of sleep per day. "I'm not a fitness fanatic, but I feel much healthier when I exercise, about three times a week," she said.
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