Macy's DEI Chief Shawn Outler on Aligning an Organization Around Values
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Melissa Campanelli interviews Shawn Outler, chief diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) officer at Macy’s, a legacy American retailer and the largest retail brand of Macy’s, Inc. This episode was recorded during a session at the Women in Retail: On the Road New York City event last month. Listen in as Outler discusses a few of the initiatives she’s spearheaded since she was named diversity chief in 2018 (2:00) and the impact of The Workshop at Macy’s minority- and women-owned vendor accelerator program (5:00).
Outler shares how she built buy-in from leadership and aligned the organization around these large initiatives (7:10), why it’s important that Macy’s internal DEI efforts are transparent and quantifiable (9:25), and how leaders can be meaningful allies for DEI efforts (11:45). She discusses her work with Black Retail Action Group helping people of color prepare for leadership roles (13:25), what she’s thinking about in the DEI space right now (16:10), and her advice for senior-level executives to advance and stay fresh in their career (18:30). Lastly, Outler answers a few rapid-fire questions (22:30).
Shawn Outler was named executive vice president, chief diversity officer at Macy’s, Inc. in October 2018. Prior to Macys, Outler worked for Lord & Taylor, becoming the first divisional merchandise manager in 2001. Outler joined Macy’s in 2006 as the divisional vice president and merchandise manager of Better Traditional Sportswear. Most recently, she served as executive vice president, Licensed Businesses, Food Services, and Multicultural Initiatives. In 2016, she was appointed as the senior vice president of Lease, Pricing and Multicultural Initiatives. In 2011, she created “The Workshop at Macy’s,” a retail vendor development program designed to mentor minority- and women-owned business owners to work with Macy’s in the retail industry.
Outler uses her 25-year-plus retail knowledge and experience to empower others through her nonprofit organization Black Retail Action Group (BRAG), a nonprofit that prepares people of color for executive leadership in the industry. Outler serves as president and a sitting board director for the organization. A native of Queens, New York, she earned a dual bachelor of science degree in marketing and transportation and distribution from Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management.
Date: November 14, 2023
Credits: Shawn Outler
Duration: 25:40
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