016: A Template for Crisis Management with Andrew Alfano
By Aline Wealth Management on June 17, 2020
The Coronavirus pandemic is putting the crisis management skills of business owners to the test. During these uncertain times, leadership is more invaluable than ever for those looking not only to survive but to thrive. Andrew Alfano has had his share of experience helping businesses navigate through times of crisis.
Andrew spent 16 years at Starbucks Coffee Company going from district manager back in 1999 to Sr VP of US Business. He was accountable for $3.5 Billion of revenue and helped develop their Blueprint for Growth, a 5-year strategic plan. Andrew subsequently joined Learning Experience in 2015 as COO and was quickly promoted to President and COO. He helped engineer growth as he crafted strategies to help double new openings and drive record sales. Today he is CEO of Retro Fitness, a leader in high value, low price fitness with more than 140 gyms.
Today, Andrew joins the podcast to discuss how he draws upon his experience at Starbucks as an applicable template for success in all his business pursuits. Having navigated the 2008 crisis at Starbucks and now at the helm Retro Fitness in the middle of a pandemic, he also imparts some wisdom on crisis management.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Why Andrew took the risk of joining Starbucks in its ‘early days’ and what attracted him to the opportunity. How is the Starbucks model of transforming business applicable across industries?
- What he learned about branding and leadership from Howard Schultz.
- How navigating the 2008 crisis at Starbucks was one of the greatest learning opportunities of his career.
- Why he moved on to the Learning Experience and how he helped the company navigate an exit.
- What are Andrew’s thoughts on the qualities and strategies demanded of a leader to manage effective teams?
- Andrew is at the helm of one of the hardest-hit industries by COVID-19. How has he adapted and what are some of the lessons he is learning?
INSPIRING QUOTE
“Your ability to pivot, your ability to be nimble in the moment, and, as crisis occurs and problems arise, big or small, the approach is really quite similar. You surround yourself with really smart people and recognize all of us are always smarter than one of us.” – Andrew Alfano
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