James D. White considers himself “an unlikely public company CEO.” His first job out of college was handling sales for Coca-Cola’s Minute Maid division in some of Missouri’s “sundown towns,” where potential customers would imply that, as a Black man, it would be “unhealthy” for him to stick around past sunset. Nevertheless, White rose through the ranks at Coca-Cola and would go on to hold executive positions at Safeway, Gillette, and Nestlé Purina before becoming CEO, chair, and president of Jamba Juice from 2008 to 2016, where he led an impressive effort to reinvent the brand. He has more than 20 years of experience on boards, including The Honest Company, where he serves as chair. Recently, he’s begun sharing his personal journey, and works with today’s leaders to ensure that an anti-racist world becomes the new normal.
Former Jamba Juice CEO James D. White: Empathy Is a Skill That Can Be Taught
James D. White is the coauthor, with his daughter Krista, of the book Anti-Racist Leadership: How to Transform Corporate Culture in a Race-Conscious World. He also led a long and successful business career, serving as CEO, chair, and president of Jamba Juice from 2008 to 2016, where he led an impressive effort to reinvent the brand. Prior to that, he held executive positions at Safeway, Gillette, Nestlé Purina, and Coca-Cola, among others. He has more than 20 years experience on a number of boards, including currently at The Honest Company, where he serves as chair. And recently, he’s begun sharing his personal journey, including the racism and discrimination he faced on his way to the top, as he works with today’s leaders to ensure that an anti-racist world becomes the new normal. He says it begins with strong, empathetic leadership from the C-suite and board.