The naming of Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol as the new Starbucks CEO on Tuesday gives the Seattle-based coffee giant a new leader from the restaurant and fast casual industry with experience leading a digital transformation. We discuss what that could mean on this special mid-week episode of the GeekWire Podcast.

Related Coverage: Starbucks’ new CEO brings extensive digital experience from prior role leading Chipotle

The naming of Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol as the new Starbucks CEO on Tuesday gives the Seattle-based coffee giant a new leader from the restaurant and fast casual industry with experience leading a digital transformation. We discuss what that could mean on this special mid-week episode of the GeekWire Podcast.
Related Coverage: <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2024/brian-niccol-who-led-chipotles-digital-push-named-new-ceo-at-starbucks/">Starbucks’ new CEO brings extensive digital experience from prior role leading Chipotle</a>

GeekWire brings you the week's latest technology news, trends and insights, covering the world of technology from our home base in Seattle. Our regular news podcast features commentary and analysis from our editors and reporters, plus interviews with special guests.

GeekWire reporters John Cook, Todd Bishop and guests talk about the latest tech news and trends.

GeekWire

What the new Starbucks CEO could mean for the coffee giant's digital future

Brian Evergreen worked in AI at Microsoft from 2016 to 2023, including a role helping Fortune 500 executives develop their AI strategies. He kept seeing the same pattern: most of those projects were failing. He set out to figure out why, and the answer became his book, Autonomous Transformation. In this live recording for GeekWire's Agents of Transformation series, presented by Accenture, Evergreen explains what companies keep getting wrong, and why vision matters more than technology.

With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop. Edited by Curt Milton.

<a href="https://brianevergreen.com/">Brian Evergreen</a> worked in AI at Microsoft from 2016 to 2023, including a role helping Fortune 500 executives develop their AI strategies. He kept seeing the same pattern: most of those projects were failing. He set out to figure out why, and the answer became his book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Autonomous-Transformation-Creating-Artificial-Intelligence/dp/1119985293">Autonomous Transformation</a>. In this live recording for GeekWire's <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/special-coverage/agents-of-transformation/">Agents of Transformation series</a>, presented by <a href="https://www.accenture.com/us-en/services/data-ai">Accenture</a>, Evergreen explains what companies keep getting wrong, and why vision matters more than technology.
With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop. Edited by Curt Milton.

AI is not your strategy: Author and business advisor Brian Evergreen explains why vision comes first

This week: As the Musk v. OpenAI trial heads to the jury, we dig into what Microsoft's internal board memos and executive testimony revealed about the origins of the company's massive bet on AI, and why this case matters beyond the billionaire drama. Plus, Howard Schultz, a former Washington governor, and the tech community weigh in on whether Seattle is squandering its edge as an innovation capital. And Todd owes John and the United Kingdom an apology.

RELATED STORIES AND LINKS
Microsoft's CTO testifies about email at the heart of Elon Musk's allegations against the tech giant
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's stake in Helion Energy draws scrutiny in Musk trial and on Capitol Hill
'Strong, strong no': New filing reveals who Microsoft favored — and opposed — for OpenAI's board
Musk v. Altman: Satya Nadella was worried about Microsoft being 'the next IBM' in OpenAI deal
Are we on a Road to Nowhere? Seattle's growth masks deeper anxieties about its future
Microsoft's multi-agent AI system tops Anthropic's Mythos on cybersecurity benchmark
Seattle Turns Hostile to the Great Businesses It Made (Wall Street Journal, by Howard Schultz)
Association of Washington Business 2026 Spring Summit (TVW, featuring former Gov. Chris Gregoire and former AG Rob McKenna)

With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook

This week: As the Musk v. OpenAI trial heads to the jury, we dig into what Microsoft's internal board memos and executive testimony revealed about the origins of the company's massive bet on AI, and why this case matters beyond the billionaire drama. Plus, Howard Schultz, a former Washington governor, and the tech community weigh in on whether Seattle is squandering its edge as an innovation capital. And Todd owes John and the United Kingdom an apology.
RELATED STORIES AND LINKS
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/microsofts-cto-testifies-about-email-at-the-heart-of-elon-musks-allegations-against-tech-giant/">Microsoft's CTO testifies about email at the heart of Elon Musk's allegations against the tech giant</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/openai-ceo-sam-altmans-stake-in-helion-energy-draws-scrutiny-in-musk-trial-and-on-capitol-hill/">OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's stake in Helion Energy draws scrutiny in Musk trial and on Capitol Hill</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/strong-strong-no-new-filings-reveal-who-microsoft-favored-and-opposed-for-openais-board/">'Strong, strong no': New filing reveals who Microsoft favored &mdash; and opposed &mdash; for OpenAI's board</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/musk-v-altman-satya-nadella-was-worried-about-microsoft-being-the-next-ibm-in-openai-deal/">Musk v. Altman: Satya Nadella was worried about Microsoft being 'the next IBM' in OpenAI deal</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/are-we-on-a-road-to-nowhere-seattles-growth-masks-deeper-anxieties-about-its-future/">Are we on a Road to Nowhere? Seattle's growth masks deeper anxieties about its future</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/microsofts-multi-agent-ai-system-tops-anthropics-mythos-on-cybersecurity-benchmark/">Microsoft's multi-agent AI system tops Anthropic's Mythos on cybersecurity benchmark</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.wsj.com/opinion/seattle-turns-hostile-to-the-great-businesses-it-made-ea82b65c">Seattle Turns Hostile to the Great Businesses It Made</a> (Wall Street Journal, by Howard Schultz)</li>
<li><a href="https://tvw.org/video/association-of-washington-business-2026-spring-summit-2026051024/?eventID=2026051024">Association of Washington Business 2026 Spring Summit</a> (TVW, featuring former Gov. Chris Gregoire and former AG Rob McKenna)</li>
</ul>
With GeekWire co-founders Todd Bishop and John Cook

What we learned about Microsoft in the OpenAI trial, and is Seattle squandering its edge?


This week on the show: Conversations with finalists and special guests at the annual GeekWire Awards about AI, innovation, startups, and the forces reshaping their industries, plus a special trivia challenge marking GeekWire's 15th year hosting the event. Guests include:
Luis Poggi, CEO of HouseWhisper AI, winner of CEO of the Year
Tracy Drinkwater, founder of the Seattle Universal Math Museum, STEM Educator of the Year honoree
Ryan James, CEO of Dopl Technologies, finalist for Startup of the Year
Laura Ruderman, CEO of the Technology Alliance
Ross Finman, CEO of Augmodo, finalist for Hardware/Robotics/Physical AI of the Year
Mohammad Rastegari, CEO of ElastixAI, finalist for Startup of the Year

Related stories
2026 GeekWire Awards revealed: Big winners — and big love for Seattle — at annual tech celebration
Photos: Inside the 2026 GeekWire Awards

With GeekWire co-founders John Cook and Todd Bishop

This week on the show: Conversations with finalists and special guests at the annual&nbsp;<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/2026-geekwire-awards-revealed-big-winners-and-big-love-for-seattle-at-annual-tech-celebration/">GeekWire Awards</a> about AI, innovation, startups, and the forces reshaping their industries, plus a special trivia challenge marking GeekWire's 15th year hosting the event. Guests include:
<ul>
<li>Luis Poggi, CEO of <a href="https://www.housewhisper.ai/">HouseWhisper AI</a>, winner of CEO of the Year</li>
<li>Tracy Drinkwater, founder of the <a href="https://seattlemathmuseum.org/">Seattle Universal Math Museum</a>, STEM Educator of the Year honoree</li>
<li>Ryan James, CEO of <a href="https://www.dopltechnologies.com/">Dopl Technologies</a>, finalist for Startup of the Year</li>
<li>Laura Ruderman, CEO of the <a href="https://www.technology-alliance.com/">Technology Alliance</a></li>
<li>Ross Finman, CEO of <a href="https://www.augmodo.com/">Augmodo</a>, finalist for Hardware/Robotics/Physical AI of the Year</li>
<li>Mohammad Rastegari, CEO of <a href="https://www.elastix.ai/">ElastixAI</a>, finalist for Startup of the Year</li>
</ul>
Related stories
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/2026-geekwire-awards-revealed-big-winners-and-big-love-for-seattle-at-annual-tech-celebration/">2026 GeekWire Awards revealed: Big winners &mdash; and big love for Seattle &mdash; at annual tech celebration</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/photos-inside-the-2026-geekwire-awards/">Photos: Inside the 2026 GeekWire Awards</a></li>
</ul>
With GeekWire co-founders John Cook and Todd Bishop

What the new Starbucks CEO could mean for the coffee giant's digital future

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