Jacob Schram, Industry Veteran: developing a unified leadership language

In the latest episode of the Future of Convenience podcast, hosts Carolyn Schnare and Dan Munford welcome Jacob Schram, a seasoned executive with 35 years of experience across major brands including McDonald’s, Statoil, Circle K, McKinsey, and Norwegian Airways. This insightful conversation offers valuable perspectives on leadership, business transformation, and the future of convenience retail.

Drawing from his extensive career, Schram shares his leadership philosophy centered on creating alignment across management layers while maintaining operational speed. He emphasizes the importance of developing a unified leadership language that enables teams to move cohesively in the same direction. Schram’s approach prioritizes collaboration, commitment to decisions, and the ability to focus and prioritize in complex environments.

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the energy transition in the convenience and roadside retail sector. Schram offers a nuanced view of the global shift toward electric vehicles, highlighting the varied market maturity across regions. While Norway leads with nearly 100% of new car sales being electric, countries like Spain lag at just 1.1%, primarily due to infrastructure challenges.

Schram predicts that traditional fuels will remain relevant for years to come, with hybrid vehicles serving as an important transitional technology in markets with less developed charging infrastructure. He also suggests that advanced e-fuels could emerge as a “joker” in the energy mix, especially as German automakers look to leverage their combustion engine expertise.

When discussing the future of roadside retail, Schram remains optimistic: “Whatever society we develop, there will always be room for retail… people are more and more on the go. People demand fast solutions. But people not only demand fast solutions, they demand quality in the fast solutions they get.”

For convenience retailers looking to maintain competitive advantage, Schram emphasizes two difficult-to-copy elements: exceptional people and consistent operational excellence across multiple locations. These fundamentals, he argues, will continue to distinguish successful retailers regardless of evolving consumer demands or technological changes.

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