Target's incoming CEO started as an intern at the $44 billion retail giant 20 years ago-he advises Gen Z who want to copy him to 'embrace feedback'

"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."

Michael Fiddelke began as a Target intern in 2003 and will become CEO on Feb. 1 after more than 20 years at the company. He rose through roles in merchandising, finance, operations, and HR at the $44 billion retailer. He advises recent graduates to embrace feedback and be "kind curious" amid a challenging entry-level market. Fiddelke grew up on a small Iowa farm, studied engineering at the University of Iowa, worked as a Deloitte consultant, and earned an MBA from Northwestern. He found Target's people and pace an immediate fit and has stayed with the company ever since.

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