I’m so excited to be spending time with our Women in Retail Leadership Circle members, our fabulous sponsor partners, old friends and some great new friends at Shoptalk this week. Our team has been busy at the Women in Retail Pavilion here at the event hosting content and networking sessions on the show floor. Pavilion visitors met and mingled with leading female retail executives, providing the chance for professionals to forge meaningful relationships.

The Pavilion, which was located on Shoptalk’s exhibit floor, also featured complimentary services for visitors, including makeup touchups (thanks Attentive!) and professional headshot photos. The content program featured rock-star women in retail offering their sage insights and advice, including Christine Day, co-founder, president and executive chairman of The House of LR&C; Jenny Campbell, chief marketing officer, Kate Spade; and Christiane Pendarvis, co-president and chief merchant, Savage X Fenty.

These inspiring leaders discussed their career journeys and secrets to success in engaging chats. For example, Day, former lululemon athletica CEO, spoke about her new company, The House of LR&C (House of Love Respect and Care), a fashion platform designed for large scale positive impact. She described how the brand’s goal is to democratize retail and redefine the way the fashion industry works by making it inclusive, community-led and, above all, creating large scale positive change. Day also discussed how she brings her  whole self to work, as well as how she motivates and inspires her team.

The Shoptalk event, in general, has been a welcome return, with nearly 10,000 attendees who seemed happy to be back experiencing an in-person event again. Hugs and smiling faces were on display everywhere, and a general overall feeling of goodwill prevailed. Women leaders were also featured prominently on the main stage at Shoptalk, including Gina Drosos, CEO, Signet Jewelers; Kath McLay, CEO, Sam’s Club; Jill Ramsey, CEO, a.k.a. Brands; Brieane Olson, president, PacSun; Cara Sylvester, executive vice president, chief marketing and digital officer, Target; and more.

The success of the Women in Retail Pavilion at Shoptalk is also getting us very excited about the in-person events we’re hosting this year! For example, we’re gearing up for our Women in Retail On the Road events, which are taking place all over the country in 2022! Here’s where we’ll be:

These invitation-only events enable executive women in leadership positions at retail companies the opportunity to learn from each other and improve business processes. Attendees will hear inspiring keynote presentations from C-suite level women at enterprise retailers as well as from founders of startup companies disrupting the retail space. In addition to engaging keynote presentations, On the Road events feature thought-provoking panels as well as fun, unique networking opportunities.

I hope to see you all there!