In today’s dynamic retail environment, inclusivity is more than just a trend — it’s a necessity. This was the core message from a panel of next-gen women leaders at the 2025 Women in Retail On the Road: Los Angeles event last fall.

Francesca Forrester, director of digital operations at Mattel, Inc., said raising the standard for inclusion in retail “comes down to authenticity” and demonstrating the behaviors you want to see from your team.

Being a successful company today requires inclusion, noted Erin Herrera, senior global director of sales, SCOUT Bags. “It’s not a ‘nice to have’ …  it’s what we need to do,” she stated. “We’re not going to get those bold ideas,  those risks that pan out if we aren’t inclusive with who is in the room.”

The session’s moderator, Amber Jackson, CEO of Hype & Harvest, emphasized that inclusion is not just an HR strategy.

eBay’s Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Josefina Aguayo reiterated that authenticity needs to be encouraged at all levels of the business. “It takes work to create a culture of pure safety to be authentic,” she told the audience.

Aguayo pointed out the responsibility of leaders: “It’s our job to create that space” for genuine expression and innovation.

Authentic interactions pave the way for a culture where risks and new ideas are encouraged. This clip from the panel discussion reflects a pivotal shift towards embracing authenticity and inclusivity as cornerstones of modern leadership. Herrera, Aguayo, Forrester, and Jackson were joined on stage by Jessica Street, senior director, digital marketing and e-commerce performance, Patagonia.

Women in Retail Leadership Circle members can view the full panel discussion here as well as session recordings from all previous On the Road events here.