Camille Hymes (Smoothie King, Starbucks, Jack In The Box, ExxonMobile) The Power of a Career Pause, How to be a Better Leader & Creating Presence at Home #032

In this episode of CEOs & ABCs, Kevin sits down with Camille Hymes, former Chief Operating Officer of Smoothie King and former executive leader at Starbucks, Jack in the Box, and ExxonMobil, to explore what it means to lead with intention, both at work and at home. Camille shares how a deeply personal mission statement became the compass for her career: “to live in peace and bliss and to help others succeed beyond what they ever imagined.” From navigating executive leadership roles at some of the world’s most recognizable brands to raising a family through constant relocations, career transitions, and personal tragedy, Camille reflects on the moments that reshaped her definition of success. Now in what she calls a “power pause” between roles for the first time in her career, Camille opens up about learning to slow down, reconnect with her family, and become more intentional about the opportunities she says yes, and no, to. Kevin and Camille also discuss executive coaching, building a personal board of advisors, the importance of presence, and how leadership rooted in humanity creates stronger teams, cultures, and families. This is a conversation about ambition, grief, service, leadership, and the courage to align your life with what matters most. In this episode• Camille’s journey from ExxonMobil to the C-suite at Smoothie King• How her personal mission statement guides her decisions• Why she chose to take a “power pause” between leadership roles• Learning to say no to opportunities that don’t align with purpose• The role executive coaching played in her growth as a leader• Building a personal “board of directors” for support and guidance• Navigating motherhood while leading at major global brands• How the loss of her daughter transformed her understanding of presence Key takeaways• A clear personal mission statement creates clarity in both life and career• Leadership is less about authority and more about service to others• Presence is a practice and small rituals can create meaningful connection• Executive coaching can accelerate both personal and professional growth• Great cultures are built through humanity, not just performance metrics• You don’t have to do everything alone, it truly takes a village• Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is pause and reflect• Saying no becomes easier when you know your purpose About the guestCamille Hymes is a transformational executive leader and former Chief Operating Officer of Smoothie King. Over her career, she has held senior leadership roles at Starbucks, Jack in the Box, and ExxonMobil, leading large-scale operations, culture transformation, and organizational growth. Known for her people-first leadership style, Camille is passionate about helping others succeed beyond what they imagined possible. She also serves on the boards of Reading Is Fundamental and Blessings in a Backpack, supporting children’s literacy and nutrition initiatives. Charitable Organisations that Camille Supports: https://secure.rif.org/page/97851/donate/1 https://www.blessingsinabackpack.org/category/donating/  Chapters (00:00:00) - CEO and ABCs: How to Lead(00:00:39) - CEO and ABCs(00:01:55) - Steve Kroffat on His Sabbatical(00:04:26) - Power Prison: Saying No to Opportunities(00:10:22) - The Mission of Service(00:12:32) - The Professional Journey of ExxonMobil's Women(00:15:16) - In the Elevator With ExxonMobil's(00:18:54) - Being More Present With Your Child(00:23:27) - Jack in the Box CEO on Why He Left ExxonMobil(00:25:40) - When Did Leadership Become More About Service than Appointment?(00:27:52) - How to Stay Connected With Your Family(00:29:46) - In the Elevator With Co-workers(00:32:08) - The Personal Element of Company Culture(00:35:57) - Why I Left Starbucks for Domino's(00:37:14) - In the Elevator With Starbucks'(00:39:44) - In the Elevator With Smoothie King's Executive Team(00:41:59) - Tom Cruise on His Strengths and Weaknesses(00:45:21) - Bringing People Along(00:47:55) - Kevin McKinnon on His Next Chapter(00:49:15) - Nonprofits that support literacy and nutrition