20 Questions With Laura Brady, Vice President, Global Merchant Services, Foot Locker

Laura Brady is the vice president overseeing global merchant services at Foot Locker. She’s also a Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) member! In this member spotlight, we asked Brady a series of questions about both her professional role and personal life, including the woman that inspires her, her leadership style, her advice for the next generation of female leaders, and much more.

1. What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
   “Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner was my holiday read.  An honest story around family, food and grief. The connection of certain foods with her relationship to her parents was very relatable.
2. What is a tip you have for productively leading a WFH or hybrid team?
   1. Set expectations.
   2. Communicate regularly using the right tools that work for your team (i. .Teams, Email, SharePoint, etc.)
   3. BE FLEXIBLE!
3. What’s a mistake you made early on in your career?
   Early on — in a rush to hit a tight deadline — I had some bad data sneak its way into my presentation. It was something I could have easily caught, had I not been sprinting towards my deadline. This reminded me the importance of prioritization, validation, and time management.
4. What’s the toughest part of being in charge?
   Developing a curtailed leadership model that works for a diverse team. We have all heard that different styles are most likely needed to engage the team. Understanding what each person needs and learning what makes them excited takes time and dedication as a leader.
5. What’s the best way to motivate team members?
   Recognition is always a big one. Everyone appreciated a shout out, especially in a team setting. Giving team members the opportunity to stretch in some new projects that they have shown interest in. I have also sent personal notes (via snail mail!) and have received some positive feedback on those.
6. What woman inspires you right now and why?
   Michelle Obama, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Tina Fey have always been the top of my list. They all hit the mark with purpose, empathy & encouraging others. More recently I have been watching the impact that Taylor Swift is having with Gen Z and Millennials and that has been extremely interesting. As Time’s Person of the Year, she sticks to her values, is an advocate for fellow artists, and brings joy to a wide audience of fans. And don’t forget the impact to Chiefs’ product!
7. What are you looking forward to the most for the industry over the next year?
   “PHY- GITAL”. Even with the continued advancement of digital, physical stores still hold value. I’m excited to see how we can continue to integrate the omni experience in a way that offers our customers the best of both digital and physical.
8. What is one thing you look for when interviewing a potential candidate?
   Self-motivation. An independent problem solver is at the top of my list.
9. What’s something that you learned about yourself in the past year?
   The ability to jump into a new environment and adaptability. Whether it was moving from a suburban lifestyle home for 20 years to a studio apartment in the city for a year taking on a new role. or jumping from the merchant side of the business to the technology side. Getting out of my comfort zone is always an amazing experiment and opportunity.
10. What’s your favorite podcast?
    The most recent top spot is “SMARTLESS” hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett. A bit of levity is always a plus.
11. What values are most important to you as a leader?
    Integrity, collaboration, and resilience.
12. What’s the most important thing people should know about you?
    I’m up front, honest, and trust my intuition.
13. What practices or boundaries have you implemented in your personal life to create more work/life balance?
    During COVID-19, when we found ourselves working from home, I could easily be sitting at my desk from 7 a.m,-8 p.m. I did not have the break – the moment of separation and disconnection – that the commute previously provided me. I then signed up for a workout class at 6:30 p.m. This ensured that I pulled myself away from the desk and took care of myself.

14. How would you describe yourself in a single sentence?
    A creative, innovative individual who can adapt to change & is always willing to go above and beyond.
15. What’s your favorite app?
    If I look at my screen time,  top spot goes to TikTok. The creativity and breadth of interesting things to discover has won me over.

16. What do you do to recharge?
    Walking and hiking. I have a goal to hit all the National Parks. There are 63 and I’ve visited 12 so far.
17. What is your biggest accomplishment?
    Outside of raising two amazing kids, I am going to say that managing a team and hitting targets through the COVID-19 pandemic was a big accomplishment.
18. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
    1. Take risks — don’t be afraid to make a leap. Amazing opportunities can be found outside of your comfort zone.
    2. Surround yourself with solid partners. It is amazingly beneficial to have a community to lean on throughout your career journey.
    3. Take care of yourself. Use boundaries to maintain a balance between work and personal life.
19. What gets you up in the morning?
    About four different alarms from two different cell phones. I am not a morning person; I am more of a night owl.
20. What do you like most about being a member of Women in Retail?
    Being a member of Women in Retail allows me to create new, relevant relationships across my industry. The insight and advice from fellow female retail leaders is incredibly valuable.