Schultz's entrepreneurial journey began when he joined Starbucks in 1982 as the Director of Retail Operations and Marketing. At that time, Starbucks was a small chain with only four stores. Schultz was inspired by a trip to Italy, where he noticed the vibrant coffee culture and the communal experience of Italian espresso bars. This trip was pivotal, as it sparked his vision to bring a similar coffee culture to America, focusing not just on quality coffee but also on creating a community-centric experience.