Nailah Nash is the director of retail at The Ritz-Carlton as well as the owner of Nash Luxury Group. She’s also a Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) member! In this member spotlight, we asked Nash 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?
    “The 5A Club” by Robin Sharma. Fun fact: Waking up at 5 a.m. consecutively for one year gives you the equivalent of an extra 30 days of time. I’ve always been a 5 a.m. person, but this book really put some great theories behind the early wakeup time.
  2. What’s a tip you have for productively leading a remote or hybrid team?
    Build trust, set crystal-clear expectations, and leave room on your calendar for spontaneous touchbases (the equivalent to stopping by your boss’s office either to catch up or for support).
  3. What’s a mistake you made early on in your career?
    My leadership journey started at a very young age, leading teams 20 years my senior. Providing feedback was tough for me, yet I quickly learned that feedback was a non-negotiable. I worked on delivering the messages with confidence, respect and motivation.
  4. What’s the toughest part of being in charge?
    The self-applied pressure of knowing that the success of your team relies solely on the decisions that you make. That’s a weight that I don’t take lightly. Consistently making the right decisions for the day and future is a challenge and a joy rolled into one.
  5. What’s the best way you motivate team members?
    Letting them know that their work matters and showing them how their work ties into our overall success. Seeing team members excited to plug into each day to move the mission forward is a treat. Then, we celebrate!
  6. What woman inspires you right now and why?
    My mother has been and continues to be the mentor of my lifetime. I watched her unapologetically break glass ceilings in her corporate career. She elevated herself and our family and now she coaches me in my journey. She’s truly my hero; I call her my “Momager.” She never accepted no less than my best, which I appreciate now.
  7. What are you looking forward to the most for the industry over the next year?
    Of course it’s my passion, which is integrating luxury retail into hotel/resort/event settings. Seeing a guest make a luxury purchase while in a bathing suit on vacation never gets old.
  8. What’s one thing you look for when interviewing a job candidate?
    Tenacity/determination
  9. What’s something that you learned about yourself in the past year?
    That I rarely stop to celebrate accomplishments. I’ve given myself permission to take a moment to celebrate wins and milestones.
  10. What’s your favorite podcast?
    “Breakfast with Champions” on Clubhouse starting at 5 a.m. each day
  11. What values are most important to you as a leader?
    Listening to each employee’s needs while recognizing and maximizing the talents of each team member
  12. What’s the most important thing people should know about you?
    I have an insatiable desire for knowledge and fun!
  13. What practices or boundaries have you implemented in your personal life to create more work/life balance?
    Sunday Funday! Protecting a day that’s dedicated to faith, fun and fellowship with family and friends has become a weekly tradition. Respecting and protecting my own time has been a game changer.
  14. How would you describe yourself in a single sentence?
    I’m a leader who is passionate about people and tenacious about results.
  15. What’s your favorite app?
    Apple Music. I listen to everything from classical/baroque, 80s rock, hip-hop, and everything in between. I create soundtrack playlists for every year. There’s always music in my home or office.
  16. What do you do to recharge?
    [Go to] the ocean — it makes me slow down and I feel small in a good way as I appreciate the grandeur of nature. Also, daily swimming has become a new fun activity and stress reliever.
  17. What is your biggest accomplishment?
    Being a positive example for my nieces and nephew. I have three amazing nieces and a nephew who have watched me grow and create my own lane. I know it’s an honor to support them on their career journeys.
  18. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
    Accept feedback with grace and always bet on yourself. You’re more capable than you could ever imagine. There are no limits once you believe in and invest in yourself. Be relentless. Fail fast, get up and WIN!
  19. What gets you up in the morning?
    At my core I’m a creative. Imagining creative solutions and innovations really fuels me. Many nights, creative ideas are actually what wakes me.
  20. What do you like most about being a member of Women in Retail Leadership Circle?
    From my very first event until now, this group has truly made an incredible impact on my journey. The power is being surrounded by this sharp community of women who have an appetite for excellence for themselves and their teams. The mentorship, friendship and guidance from the C-suite ladies shows us what’s possible and that there truly are no limits.

Interested in connecting with women like Nailah? Apply today to become a Women in Retail Leadership Circle member!