Target’s incoming CEO, Michael Fiddelke, is living proof that internships are more than just grabbing coffee for middle managers and doing drudge work—sometimes they can be career catapults.
“In a fast-moving world that often feels divided, kindness is nourishing,” he said.
Fortune has contacted Fiddelke for comment.
Walmart’s top boss followed a similar path. Doug McMillon started unloading trailers for $6.50 an hour at age 17 in the summer of 1984, before working his way through a string of promotions. Since then, he’s scaled the retail giant’s ranks to become the company’s youngest CEO since its founder, Sam Walton.
Likewise, Pano Christou only started working at Pret because his McDonald’s coworker left the company to join the food chain—intrigued by the very new sandwich shop, he quit his McDonald’s job to join him. “I just thought: this looks like a fun environment to work in—so I joined them at 22,” Christou told Fortune. “The rest is history.” He’s now its CEO and earning millions in the top job.
“I’m in a very different situation now—but I don’t forget that £2.75 ($3.40) an hour was the starting point of my career.”
