How One Of The Most ‘Woke’ CEOs In The U.S. Went From Unloading Trucks To Earning $25 Million
Carl Doug McMillon has spent most of his life working for Walmart Inc WMT .
Starting as a truck unloader at one of Walmarts distribution centers at 16, McMillon worked his way up the chain of command at the company to be namedthe youngest CEO since company founder Sam Walton. McMillonisalso part of a new group of CEOswho are "who are more woke than their pusillanimous predecessors in the executive suite,"stateda Bloomberg profile.
McMillon at Walmart: McMillon beganhis lifelong career at Walmart in 1984. He workedseveral roles at the company, with his first semi-executive role being in charge of buying the companys fishing tackle which led to his buying for other departments including food, clothes, crafts and furnishings.
The University of Arkansasand University of Tulsa graduate was named president and CEO of Sams Club (owned by Walmart) in 2005.
After working at Sams Club for four years, he was named CEO of Walmart International, where he was until 2014.
He was named president and CEO of Walmart in 2014 and has served as its CEO since.
Read Also:This Day In Market History: Sam Walton Opens The First Walmart
How is McMillon a "woke"CEO?His sensibility. After he was named CEO of Walmart in 2014, McMillion wasted no time taking stands on national hot-button issues.
The charismatic CEO limited ammunition sales in the aftermath of two fatal shootings at Walmart stores, condemned former President Donald Trump's comments following Charlottesville, promised changes to the company's supply chain that would be environmentally friendly, and urged Congress to raise the minimum wage.
When teen vaping became a contentious topic, he also stopped selling e-cigarettes in about 5,300 U.S. locations.
After theBloomberg profile in 2019,McMillon earned the highest score on the Connected Leadership Index, which subsequently named him the most connected CEO in the U.S.
Following thedeath of George Floyd, McMillon vowed Walmart would offer funds and mentorship to improve racial justice. He also denounced racial violence.
The company donated a total of $14 million to 16 different nonprofit organizations and set a goal to donate $100 million over five years to fight systemic racism.
McMillon earned $25.7 million in total compensation in fiscal 2022, according to Business Insider, and as a philanthropist,he donated millions to various causes.
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Photo: Courtesy Walmart
