Whole Foods CEO Jason Buechel on the Challenges and Opportunities of Following a Visionary Leader

Jason Buechel, the CEO of Whole Foods, faced a unique challenge when he took over from cofounder John Mackey, who had been the company's CEO for 42 years. Buechel, who became CEO in 2022, had the opportunity to work closely with Mackey for nine years and had an 11-month transition period to prepare for the role. However, stepping into the shoes of a larger-than-life executive like Mackey was not only a personal challenge but a significant adjustment for Whole Foods employees, from the C-suite to the hundreds of local stores.
Buechel recognized the importance of connecting with the team members, addressing their concerns, and assuring them that the company's culture, quality standards, and core values would remain intact under his leadership. He emphasized the need for authenticity and being true to oneself while also supporting the company's vision and direction.
For this episode of our video series “The New World of Work”, HBR editor in chief Adi Ignatius sat down with Buechel to discuss:
• How authenticity is crucial in leadership and sustainability efforts, as companies need to ensure their actions align with their core values and mission
• How focusing on the happiness, growth, and development of employees not only leads to higher employee retention but improves customers’ experience
• While CEO roles can vary depending on the company, for Buechel the focus is primarily on internal leadership and supporting the vision and growth of the organization

This interview part of a series called “The New World of Work,” which explores how top-tier executives see the future and how their companies are trying to set themselves up for success. Each week, Adi will interview a leader on LinkedIn Live — and then share an inside look at those conversations and solicit questions for future discussions in a newsletter just for HBR subscribers. If you’re a subscriber, you can sign up for the newsletter here: https://hbr.org/my-library/preference....

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