How Jim Sinegal Revolutionized Retail
The Costco co-founder will speak at the annual Provosts Distinguished Lecture Series on March 1.
When Costco co-founder Jim Sinegal (’59) was a 19-year-old student at what was then San Diego State College, he got a job working for retail icon Sol Price at the discount store FedMart. He worked for Price for nearly 30 years before ultimately venturing out on his own to start Costco Wholesale with his business partner Jeff Brotman.
Sinegal will speak on the San Diego State University campus as the keynote speaker for the Provost’s Distinguished Lecture Series at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1 in the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union’s Montezuma Hall. Sinegal will speak about creating Costco and the first 35 years of the company that is now the largest member-only warehouse retailer in the United States.
“Jim Sinegal is a distinguished business leader with a track record of building and sustaining a company that has revolutionized the retail experience,” said SDSU Provost and Senior Vice President Chukuka Enwemeka. “His visit and lecture present a unique opportunity for our students, faculty and staff to interact with a business genius, learn from his life experiences and gain new insights into possibilities.”
Well-known for his benevolent management style, Sinegal ranked No. 5 on the Forbes Magazine “Favorite Bosses” list and his leadership consistently earned Costco a reputation as a fair and progressive employer for its more than 200,000 employees worldwide.
While he retired in 2012 from his role as CEO for Costco Wholesale Corporation, Sinegal remains a company advisor. He also gives back to SDSU as an Executive in Residence for SDSU’s Fowler College of Business and volunteers on The Campanile Foundation Board and the Fowler College of Business Advisory Board.
The event is free and open to the public. Register for the event here.
