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.
What started as a summer placement in Target’s finance department two decades ago has turned into the top job: On Feb. 1, the 49-year-old will succeed Brian Cornell as CEO.
While Gen Z have an affinity for job hopping, Fiddelke said he instantly liked the people and the pace at the $44 billion retail giant. He quickly realized he was “built for” operating in its fast-paced environment, and hasn’t looked back since.
Looking back, the incoming CEO admits he probably wouldn’t have guessed he’d still be here today: “As I started my Target career as an intern, I never anticipated or even imagined the path my career would take,” the incoming CEO said of the experience in a recent post on LinkedIn. “Where you start is almost never where you’ll finish.”
Fiddelke’s work ethic was forged long before he set foot in corporate retail, growing up on a small farm in Iowa. His family farmed beef, sheep, corn, and soybeans. After that, they spent time building small businesses, including a liquor store and Super 8 hotels.
