Roz Brewer

Roz Brewer is an American business executive who became one of the most prominent Black women in corporate America, serving as chief executive of Walgreens Boots Alliance and, before that, as chief operating officer of Starbucks and chief executive of Sam's Club. Born in 1962, Brewer trained as a chemist before building a remarkable career across retail and consumer companies, breaking barriers as one of the very few Black women ever to lead a Fortune 500 company. Her career is a notable story of rising to the highest levels of business while championing diversity and opportunity.

This profile covers who Roz Brewer is, her early life and education, her career across major companies, her leadership of Sam's Club, Starbucks and Walgreens, her net worth and her current role.

Early Life and Education

Rosalind Gates Brewer was born in 1962 in Detroit, Michigan, into a working family. She has spoken about her upbringing and the values of education and hard work that shaped her. She pursued her higher education at Spelman College, the historically Black women's college in Atlanta, where she studied chemistry, an unusual academic foundation for a future retail and consumer goods leader.

Her background in chemistry gave her an analytical, scientific mindset that she would carry into her business career. After Spelman, she began her professional life in the corporate world, initially in scientific and technical roles, before moving into the operational and leadership positions that would define her career.

Career at Kimberly-Clark and Walmart

Roz Brewer began her career at Kimberly-Clark, the consumer products company, where she spent many years and rose through the ranks, including into senior leadership roles. This long tenure gave her deep experience in the consumer goods industry, in manufacturing, operations and management, building the foundation for her later move into retail.

She then joined Walmart, the world's largest retailer, where she held senior operating roles and ultimately became the chief executive of Sam's Club, Walmart's membership warehouse division. Leading Sam's Club, a major business in its own right, made her one of the most senior executives at Walmart and a prominent figure in American retail, and it marked her as a trailblazer as a Black woman leading a major division of the country's largest company.

Starbucks and Walgreens

After Walmart, Roz Brewer became the group president and chief operating officer of Starbucks, the global coffee company, taking on responsibility for major parts of its operations. In this role she helped run one of the world's most recognizable consumer brands and further broadened her experience across retail and consumer services.

In 2021, Brewer was named chief executive of Walgreens Boots Alliance, the pharmacy and retail giant, becoming one of the few Black women ever to lead a Fortune 500 company and the only Black woman leading one at the time of her appointment. As chief executive of Walgreens, she took on the enormous challenge of steering a major pharmacy chain through a difficult period for the industry, including efforts to expand into healthcare services. She led the company until 2023, when she stepped down.

Roz Brewer Net Worth

Roz Brewer net worth is estimated in the range of $70 million to $100 million, with figures varying by source. Her wealth comes from years of senior executive compensation and stock at major companies, including Kimberly-Clark, Walmart, Starbucks and Walgreens. Her pay in her most senior roles ran into the millions and tens of millions of dollars per year, weighted toward stock.

Because much of her wealth is held in shares accumulated across her career, its value moves with the relevant stock prices. Her financial position reflects a long and distinguished career at the top of corporate America rather than a founder's stake.

Personal Life and Advocacy

Roz Brewer is married and has a family, and she has been an outspoken advocate for diversity and inclusion in business throughout her career, using her own trailblazing path to push for greater opportunity for women and people of color. She has served on corporate boards, including high profile technology and consumer companies, and she returned to her alma mater, Spelman College, to serve as its interim president, reflecting her commitment to education. Her advocacy and her example have made her a role model for a generation of business leaders.

Achievements and Influence

Roz Brewer's achievements include leading Sam's Club, serving as chief operating officer of Starbucks, and becoming chief executive of Walgreens, breaking barriers as one of the few Black women ever to lead a Fortune 500 company. Her influence extends across retail and consumer business, and as a prominent advocate for diversity, where she has been a powerful example and voice. She is consistently ranked among the most powerful women and most influential Black executives in business.

Roz Brewer in 2026

As of 2026, Roz Brewer, having stepped down from Walgreens in 2023, remains an influential figure in business and education, including her leadership role at Spelman College and her board service. The themes around her include her continued advocacy for diversity and opportunity, her contributions to education, and her enduring legacy as a trailblazing executive who reached the summit of corporate America.

She is profiled alongside other leaders in the Retail sector on Founder Canon, the executives shaping how the world shops.