THE NARRATIVE ARC

I Started as a Bean Counter at Peet’s and Left as a Chief Financial Officer

My lessons working at the venerable coffee company

At Peet’s, I learned how to appreciate good coffee—and how to lead with quality. Photo property of author.

Each morning, as far back as I can remember, I’ve had a coffee mug in hand. During 5 a.m. commutes, while jet-lagged overseas, and in my life’s most stressful moments, coffee has been a steadying force, infusing me with energy and perspective to soldier on.

As I’ve grayed, ironically my coffee has gone black. Today I refrain from the sugar and half-and-half I once poured freely into my cup. Taking the time to appreciate coffee’s true flavors has aptly paralleled my own journey of self-acceptance. As someone who prefers to blend in, I’ve learned to embrace and show off the distinct notes of my personality — to be bold.

What drove this transformation, in both how I take my coffee and how I take on this world? For answers, I need only look back at my time at Peet’s Coffee.

I joined the finance team at Peet’s in 2007, the same year its founder, Alfred Peet, died. A Dutch immigrant, Mr. Peet was aghast at the mud water Americans drank in the 1960s. So he began selling beans he roasted by hand, touting the virtues of quality and freshness. His artisanal approach would spark the Starbucks revolution and…