In August, the University of Tulsa was honored to welcome back one of its most prominent alumni: Doug McMillon (MBA ’91), president and CEO of Walmart. McMillon joined UTulsa President Brad Carson for a conversation in front of a packed audience of students who asked thoughtful—and sometimes provocative—questions.

The hour-long discussion ranged from McMillon’s time as a fellow at UTulsa’s Collins College of Business to the successes and challenges he faced during his 40 years at Walmart, a company that is consistently ranked No. 1 on the Fortune 500 list because of its willingness to listen, learn and evolve.

McMillon began working at a Walmart distribution center in 1984 as an hourly employee, picking orders for stores and unloading trailers from suppliers. Over the decades, he worked in a variety of positions, including becoming a fishing tackle buyer just weeks after graduating from UTulsa. He climbed the corporate ladder, working in all three of the company’s business units. He was chief buyer for Sam’s Club US before being named president and CEO of Sam’s Club in 2005. He became CEO of Walmart International in 2009 and CEO of Walmart Inc. in 2014.

“This job has been so unusual. My previous job was like that too, but this role is so unusual in terms of the things you end up being involved in,” said McMillon. “It’s very varied and it’s a lot of fun.”

In 2024, the global retailer faces very different problems than the company Sam Walton founded over 60 years ago. The technology is miles away from that of the first store in Rogers, Arkansas.

McMillon said Walmart will continue to be led by capable, smart people who know how to responsibly use technologies like generative AI (artificial intelligence) and robotics. “We’re doing really cool things with physical automation in our distribution centers,” he said. “We want to use technology, the best technology … And so far we’re learning how to do that in a really productive way. Our technical capabilities are dramatically better than they used to be, so we have to keep changing.”

McMillon sees his role as solving problems and surrounding himself with the right team.

“At Walmart, we say, ‘You can’t run it. It’s too big to run, but you can lead it,'” he told the students. “My biggest responsibility is to focus on working with great people. Who you spend your time with and who you surround yourself with has a big impact on your success. If I have the wrong person for the wrong job, everyone suffers. If you have the right team, your job becomes a lot easier.”

McMillon attributes this to his years at UTulsa, where he says he learned to step out of his silo and realized there were valuable connections to be made in departments across campus. He also shared another important lesson he learned in Tulsa: “You have to be more thoughtful about your life plan. Especially in these types of jobs, you have to be disciplined. But you also have to find a lifestyle that energizes you and that you’re happy with, that you love.”

When asked what has influenced him most in his career, McMillon says it was his all-in mentality. “Go into a job thinking, ‘I’m going to make the most of the job I have today, and I’m not going to think about the next job. I’m going to think about this job. I’m not just going to keep it, I’m going to get it. I’m going to take some risks and try to make things better.'”

McMillon emphasized that he looks for character, integrity and hard work in new hires. He also noted that teamwork, servant leadership and diversity are critical to running a successful company and maintaining a positive company culture.

Cecil Wall, an incoming freshman in UTulsa’s College of Engineering & Computer Science, attended the event and was one of several selected to ask the famous alumnus a question. “The question-and-answer session was such an exciting opportunity,” he said. “As an aspiring entrepreneur, I was amazed by the quality of Doug McMillon’s advice and his character. The event was beautiful, accessible, and the moments I got to speak with Mr. McMillon after the presentation were a joy and a privilege. I’m so glad my class and I were invited to this event, and I can’t wait to see what amazing things TU does next.”