Lowe's CEO Marvin Ellison's Secret to Success: Volunteering for Jobs 'Nobody Else Wanted'

Ellison, one of only 10 Black Fortune 500 CEOs, credits his rise to the top to taking on challenging roles early in his career.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Marvin Ellison, the president, CEO, and chairman of Lowe's, a $161 billion home-improvement giant, got his start making just $4.35 per hour working part-time at Target while in college. Ellison, one of only 10 Black Fortune 500 CEOs, credits his rise to the top to taking on challenging roles that 'nobody else wanted' early in his career, which helped him differentiate himself from other candidates. Ellison also leads Lowe's diversity and inclusion efforts, focusing on creating a pipeline of diverse talent throughout the organization.

Why it matters

Ellison's story highlights the challenges that Black professionals often face in reaching the highest levels of corporate leadership, with only 2% of Fortune 500 CEOs being Black. His approach to diversity and inclusion, which emphasizes creating opportunities and developing talent from within, provides a model for other companies looking to build a more diverse executive pipeline.

The details

Ellison got his start at Target, eventually reaching a director-level position before moving to Home Depot, where he spent 12 years in senior-level operations roles. He then served as chairman and CEO of J.C. Penney before being recruited by Lowe's. Ellison credits his success to taking on jobs and assignments that 'nobody else wanted,' which helped him differentiate himself from other candidates despite not having an Ivy League education or stellar international experience on his résumé.

  • Ellison started working part-time at Target while in college, making $4.35 per hour.
  • Ellison spent 12 years in senior-level operations roles at Home Depot from 2008 to 2014.
  • Ellison served as chairman and CEO of J.C. Penney before being recruited by Lowe's.
  • Lowe's is now developing AI technologies for use in its retail stores, with more than 50 active AI models.

The players

Marvin Ellison

The president, CEO, and chairman of Lowe's, a $161 billion home-improvement giant and one of only 10 Black Fortune 500 CEOs.

Daymond John

A Black entrepreneur most famous for his hip-hop apparel company FUBU and serving as an angel investor on Shark Tank.

Lowe's

A Fortune 50 company with more than 1,700 stores and 300,000 associates in the U.S., ranked No. 52 on the Fortune 500 and appearing on Fortune's lists of America's Most Innovative Companies and the World's Most Admired Companies.

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What they’re saying

“On one hand, I feel incredibly privileged and blessed to be in this role because it gives me a chance to hopefully be a positive role model and create a pathway for other people who look like me.”

— Marvin Ellison, President, CEO, and Chairman of Lowe's (Daymond John interview)

“I'm really disappointed that … we still have such a significant gap in the capability that exists out there and the opportunities of individuals that look like me to be in a role like this.”

— Marvin Ellison, President, CEO, and Chairman of Lowe's (Daymond John interview)

“We're preparing to be at our best when the cycle turns up, and we know that's going to happen. When it happens, we're going to take meaningful market share based on the work and investments we've put into the business.”

— Marvin Ellison, President, CEO, and Chairman of Lowe's (CNBC interview)

What’s next

Lowe's is continuing to invest in AI technologies and developing its diverse talent pipeline to position the company for future growth.

The takeaway

Marvin Ellison's story demonstrates that with hard work, determination, and a willingness to take on challenging roles, it is possible for Black professionals to overcome the significant barriers they face in reaching the highest levels of corporate leadership. His approach to diversity and inclusion at Lowe's provides a model for other companies to follow.