Walmart CEO Doug McMillon Retirement: Gen Z Advice
- Walmart’s CEO Doug McMillon is set to retire at the end of this month, and has spent his entire four-decade career climbing the ranks from the warehouse to...
- “Career-wise, the first thing I tell anyone who asks for guidance is to do today’s job well, be present, drive change, deliver results, and do it the right...
- McMillon knows a thing or two about leveraging loyalty to leapfrog in his career.The retiring CEO got his start at Walmart back in 1984 picking up orders and...
Walmart’s CEO Doug McMillon is set to retire at the end of this month, and has spent his entire four-decade career climbing the ranks from the warehouse to the C-suite. Reflecting back on his whirlwind of a run at the $938 billion retail giant, McMillon had three lessons for Gen Zers first stepping into the workforce—and the first doesn’t require a fancy degree, only determination.
“Career-wise, the first thing I tell anyone who asks for guidance is to do today’s job well, be present, drive change, deliver results, and do it the right way,” McMillon told graduates during his commencement address at the University of Arkansas in 2024. “Being present in today’s role and earning trust leads to the next job prospect.”
McMillon knows a thing or two about leveraging loyalty to leapfrog in his career.The retiring CEO got his start at Walmart back in 1984 picking up orders and unloading trailers at a warehouse for just just $6.50 an hour. This summer job blossomed into a four-decade journey at the buisness; after earning his MBA from the University of Tulsa, he transitioned to corporate work at walmart in 1991 as a fishing-tackle buyer and worked his way up to CEO in 2014.
Dedicating one’s entire career to one employer is no easy feat, but McMillon has said he’s never “been bored one single day”—and advised Gen Zers to find a career they love,too.
“My second piece of advice is to pursue a career that does not feel like work. life is too short to invest so much time doing something you don’t enjoy,” McMillon continued. “I hope you find your spot quickly like I did,but if you don’t,my advice is that you shouldn’t give up until you do…If you’re in the right place,moast days,work won’t even feel like work.”
For the young generation rocked by AI jobs automation, tariff wars, sky-high housing costs, and crushing student loans, McMillon’s last takeaway rings especially true. Be compassionate towards others, even when the going gets tough.
“My third and final piece of advice is to assume positive intent from others and show them some grace. Know that you’ll get more joy from what you give than what you get,” McMillon added. “There’s a lot of conflict in our world today. Lots of worrying and too much suffering.We have a lot of challenges to be solved.”
fortune reached out to Walmart for comment.
CEOs who say it’s vital to love what you do
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McMillon isn’t the only business leader who has encouraged Gen Zers to do what will fill their souls, not their bank accounts. Late Apple cofounder and CEO Steve Jobs once advised graduates to not settle for a job they’re dispassionate about; Jobs’ love for his career kept him going thru being ousted from the company he built,and Apple’s near-bankruptcy. Young workers should find their calling too, he encouraged, even if that means rejecting opportunities that don’t feel right.
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do,” jobs The Boeing 737 MAX Grounding
The Boeing 737 MAX grounding began on March 13, 2019, after the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, which followed the crash of Lion Air Flight 610 in October 2018. Both crashes involved the Maneuvering characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), a software feature designed to automatically push the nose of the aircraft down if it detects a stall. Investigations revealed flaws in the MCAS design, including reliance on a single angle-of-attack sensor and a lack of sufficient pilot training on the system.
Detail: The grounding impacted airlines globally, causing significant disruptions to travel schedules and financial losses. The federal Aviation Management (FAA) initially defended its certification process but faced criticism for its close relationship with Boeing and for delegating some certification tasks to Boeing employees. The grounding triggered numerous investigations by regulatory bodies and congressional committees.
Example or Evidence: The FAA issued a worldwide airworthiness directive on March 13, 2019, ordering the grounding of all 737 MAX aircraft. FAA Airworthiness Directive 2019-03-13 details the specific requirements for the grounding.
Recertification and Software Updates
The 737 MAX was recertified to fly by the FAA on november 18, 2020, after Boeing implemented software updates to address the MCAS flaws. These updates included redundant angle-of-attack sensors,revised flight control software,and enhanced pilot training requirements. other aviation authorities, including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Transport Canada, followed suit with their own recertifications.
Detail: The recertification process was not without controversy. Some critics argued that the FAA moved too quickly and that the software updates did not fully address the underlying safety concerns. Families of the victims of the crashes also voiced their concerns and called for greater accountability.
Example or Evidence: Boeing released a detailed description of the MCAS software updates in a report submitted to the FAA. Boeing 737 MAX Software Update Report outlines the changes made to the system.
Legal and Financial Consequences for Boeing
Boeing faced significant legal and financial consequences consequently of the 737 MAX crashes. The U.S.Department of Justice (DOJ) reached a deferred prosecution agreement with Boeing in January 2021, requiring the company to pay a $2.5 billion penalty and establish a $500 million fund for the families of the victims. Boeing also faced numerous civil lawsuits from the families and airlines.
Detail: The DOJ inquiry found that Boeing employees had concealed details from the FAA about the MCAS system. The deferred prosecution agreement required Boeing to cooperate fully with the DOJ and to implement a compliance program to prevent future misconduct.
Example or Evidence: The DOJ press release announcing the deferred prosecution agreement details the terms of the settlement. Department of Justice Press Release – Boeing Deferred Prosecution Agreement provides specifics on the penalties and requirements.
Current Status (as of January 26, 2026)
As of January 26, 2026, the Boeing 737 MAX is back in service with