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Katie Young is senior vice president, Global Growth and Development for Starbucks. In this newly created role, Katie is responsible for driving enterprise-wide trade area transformation, transforming the Starbucks store portfolio through the integration of the physical and digital experience. The store portfolio transformation includes new store formats such as the expansion of the new Starbucks Pickup stores, the launch of curbside, innovative drive-thru models, and future café formats. She is also responsible for accelerating the data-driven optimization of store locations across the United States and expanding this approach globally.

Katie joined Starbucks in 2012 and has held numerous leadership positions, including driving urban market strategy and leading the food category and innovation teams. She attributes much of her success over the years to her ability to unlock co-creation and speed of innovation in a large organization through shared briefs, integrated teams, customer-led insights, obsession with data, and relentless focus on joyful learning.

Prior to Starbucks, Katie as an Associate Principal at McKinsey & Company, specializing in the social sector, CPG, and agribusiness. Her strategic focus was growth under uncertainty. She was part of the team that developed the first-ever agriculture strategy for the Gates Foundation. Other strategy work included: food security for 16 countries and creating transformational frontline change for the Ethiopian Government’s 60,000 extension agents.

Katie holds a master’s degree in public policy (MPP, International Development) from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and honors political science from Kenyon College. She currently serves on the boards of Global Washington, Trust for Public Land, and University of Washington Bothell business school.

Katie, her husband, and two children enjoy constantly exploring what Seattle has to offer. She can often be found at her local West Seattle Starbucks enjoying the daily dark roast or indulging with a Caramel Macchiato.