Shira Goodman

Below is a biographical, SEO-oriented article on Shira Goodman — her life, career, leadership, values, and impact.

Shira Goodman – Life, Career, and Leadership Insights

Shira Goodman: explore the journey of the American businesswoman, former CEO of Staples, leader in corporate transformation, and advocate for purpose-driven leadership. Learn her story, philosophy, and lessons.

Introduction

Shira D. Goodman is an accomplished American businesswoman best known for her tenure as President & CEO of Staples, Inc. She has built a reputation as a thoughtful, values-driven leader who balances strategy and human-centered leadership. Over decades in corporate and nonprofit roles, she has influenced organizational culture, gender equity, and executive development.

Early Life & Education

Shira Goodman was born around 1961 or 1962 (sources vary) and is American by nationality.

From an early stage, she displayed drive and ambition. An anecdote she shares from her younger years is that one of her first jobs was working as a waitress in a local deli — a role that likely taught her early lessons in work ethic and service.

Her academic credentials are strong and multidisciplinary:

• Bachelor’s degree from Princeton University

• Master’s in Management Science (strategy & marketing) from the MIT Sloan School of Management

• Juris Doctor (JD) from Harvard Law School

This blend of business, strategy, and legal training would later help her navigate the complexities of leading large enterprises.

Career & Major Roles

Early Career & Entry into Staples

After completing her studies, Shira Goodman began her professional career at the consulting firm Bain & Company (1986 to 1992).

In 1992, she joined Staples. first director of marketing and merchandising for the catalog business — a small $30 million unit, peripheral to the core retail business.

Ascent Through the Ranks

Over more than two decades, Goodman progressed through a series of leadership roles across marketing, HR, growth, and operations. Some notable roles include:

• Executive Vice President, Marketing (2001 to 2009)

• Executive Vice President, Human Resources (2009 to 2012)

• Executive Vice President, Global Growth (2012 to 2014)

• President, North American Commercial (2014 to 2016)

• President, North American Operations (Feb to June 2016)

This breadth allowed her to acquire cross-functional perspective: marketing, people & culture, growth strategy, operations.

CEO of Staples (2016 – 2018)

In June 2016, Goodman became Interim CEO, and in September 2016 she was officially named President & CEO of Staples. 75,000 employees and the company’s network of nearly 1,900 stores.

Her leadership came during challenging times for the office supply retail sector, which faced pressure from e-commerce, shrinking margins, and changes in how businesses purchase supplies. Staples was navigating how to integrate digital, logistics, and physical store operations.

On January 26, 2018, Staples announced that Goodman would step down immediately from the CEO role and be succeeded by J. Alexander “Sandy” Douglas Jr.

Post-CEO Roles & Board Leadership

After stepping down, Goodman continued her involvement in business and nonprofit leadership. Advisory Director to Charlesbank Capital Partners, a private equity firm.

She also holds or has held board roles at companies including CarMax, Henry Schein, and Burlington Stores, and she has been listed as a Lead Independent Director at CBRE Group in more recent data.

In the nonprofit sphere, she’s been deeply involved with Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston (CJP), including board leadership and strategic planning.

She also founded or offers executive coaching under her personal brand, guiding leaders to integrate purpose, performance, and values.

Leadership Style, Values & Influence

Shira Goodman is often praised for combining strategic rigor with empathy, humility, and authenticity. Some key aspects of her leadership and values:

• “Head & heart” balance — She seeks to lead with both intellect and compassion, believing that high performance and humanity should coexist.

• Equity & representation — At Staples, she championed initiatives to hire, develop, and retain more women throughout the ranks, striving for representation at all levels.

• Community & faith — Her Jewish identity is important to her. She has invested energy in Jewish communal life, philanthropy, and leadership through organizations such as CJP, serving in governance roles and shaping strategic direction.

• Coaching & personal growth — Goodman often speaks of her own “transformation” via coaching and self-reflection. She encourages others to lead from purpose, not just pressure.

• Low ego, strong presence — People who know her often highlight her ability to give credit away, stay grounded, and lead decisively without needing the limelight.

In interviews, she has also spoken about the challenge of juggling professional demands with family life, and how leaders must find ways to be whole, not compartmentalized.

Challenges, Milestones & Legacy

Challenges

• Taking the helm of Staples at a turbulent time in the retail sector was a major test: declining foot traffic, disruptive e-commerce competition, and shifting business customer behavior.

• Navigating a leadership transition out of the CEO role could have been difficult, but Goodman pivoted into roles where she could continue to influence.

• Balancing public expectations, boards, family life, and community commitments is an understated but real tension many leaders face.

Milestones

• Her promotion from within to CEO marked one of the few occasions where a longtime executive (rather than outside hire) was elevated to lead Staples.

• Leading major transformations of Staples’ catalog/delivery business into a core growth driver.

• Recognition among Fortune’s “Most Powerful Women” (2017)

• Serving as board leader across multiple major corporations, influencing governance and strategy beyond just operational roles.

Her legacy is still evolving. But already, she stands out as a model for modern leadership that blends performance, purpose, and integrity.

Notable Quotes

While Shira Goodman is not as widely quoted in popular media as some public figures, a few remarks attributed to her reflect her priorities and leadership ethos:

• “The most important item on my desk is a picture of my husband and three kids making kooky faces at my niece’s wedding. We all look silly and happy.”

• From her narrative: at age 40, she felt she was getting a “B” in everything — in leadership, community, home — and considered stepping back; but coaching and reflection enabled her to recommit.

• In conversation about leadership: she has advised to look for “strong presence, low ego” in leaders, and she aims to embody that herself.

These quotes emphasize her grounding in family, humility, self-awareness, and the quest to lead with meaning.

Lessons from Shira Goodman

1. Breadth builds strength — Moving through multiple domains (marketing, HR, growth, operations) gives a leader depth and flexibility.

2. Purpose matters — Leadership driven by values and community creates greater resilience than mere ambition.

3. Growth via self-reflection & coaching — Even high achievers benefit from deliberate work on self, to lead more fully.

4. Lift others as you climb — Investing in representation, mentoring, and equitable culture is part of legacy.

5. Transition is part of leadership — Stepping down or shifting roles doesn’t mean the end of influence; it’s a change of chapter.

6. Balanced life is elusive but vital — Leaders must constantly negotiate priorities, boundaries, and identity.

Conclusion

Shira Goodman is a compelling example of how a business leader can integrate vision, values, and humanity. From her early days in consulting to leading a major corporation and then becoming a coach, board leader, and community figure, she has exemplified a modern, purpose-led leadership path. Her story resonates not just for what she achieved, but how she has chosen to lead, reflect, evolve, and give back.

If you’d like, I can also create a timeline of her career or collect extended leadership quotes. Would you like me to do that?