Walmart CEO: Trust Your Gut
Outgoing Walmart CEO Doug McMillon says intuition is just as important as data in the C-suite. In a recent Harvard Business Review interview, he emphasized the value of listening to your gut alongside analytics when making major executive decisions. It's a timely message for leaders navigating an increasingly volatile and ambiguous business environment.
Under Doug McMillon's leadership, which began in February 2014 and concluded in January 2026, Walmart's annual net sales saw a significant increase of 43%, growing from approximately $473 billion to over $674 billion. This period also saw the company's consolidated net income rise by 21%. McMillon, who started his Walmart career in 1984 as an hourly associate, has been credited with transforming the retail giant into a "people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer." A cornerstone of McMillon's strategy was a massive investment in e-commerce and technology to compete with digital-first rivals. This focus led to a dramatic 1,110% increase in e-commerce sales, from $10 billion in fiscal year 2014 to $121 billion in fiscal year 2025. Key moves included the $3 billion acquisition of Jet.com in 2016 and a significant investment in the Indian e-commerce company Flipkart in 2018. Beyond digital transformation, McMillon's tenure was marked by substantial investments in Walmart's workforce. Within his first two years as CEO, he initiated wage increases for hourly workers in the U.S. and expanded employee benefits and educational opportunities. These moves were aimed at improving customer service and positioning the company for long-term growth, even at the cost of some short-term profits. McMillon's leadership style is often described as a blend of transformational and servant leadership. He is known for emphasizing the company's core values while embracing change and calculated risk-taking. This approach included a commitment to sustainability, with Walmart setting a goal to achieve zero emissions by 2040. He also led the company through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which Walmart's revenue grew significantly. In 2020, the company launched its Walmart+ membership program to better compete with Amazon Prime. McMillon retired as CEO at the age of 59 and was succeeded by John Furner, who previously led Walmart's U.S. division. McMillon is staying on as an advisor to the company until early 2027. His leadership saw Walmart's shares rise over 400%, adding more than $576 billion in market capitalization. The transition in leadership comes as Walmart continues to focus on integrating artificial intelligence into its operations. In late 2025, the company announced a partnership with OpenAI to create "AI-first shopping experiences" for its customers. John Furner, who also started his career as an hourly associate, is expected to continue this focus on digital innovation.
