A Q&A With Top Women in Retail Honoree Roz Johnson, SVP and Chief People Officer, Build-A-Bear Workshop

Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) recently released its 15th annual Top Women in Retail report. The valuable resource highlights female executives who impressed our Editorial team as well as colleagues from the industry. Rosalind “Roz” Johnson, senior vice president and chief people officer at Build-A-Bear Workshop, is one such example. Here’s a sampling of Roz’s interview featured in the report.

Women in Retail Leadership Circle: How has the rise of AI and advanced technologies changed the way Build-A-Bear approaches hiring and talent management?
Roz Johnson: The use of AI has enabled us to streamline our talent acquisition process, with the goals of reducing the number of days to fill open positions, improving hiring and talent management decisions, and creating a positive candidate experience.

AI helps us create job descriptions and identify the talents, skills and behaviors needed for each role. In addition, the use of predictive analytics supports our goal of making data-driven decisions and predicting which candidates are most likely to succeed in a role.

WIRLC: How do you identify and nurture potential leaders within your organization?
RJ: Recognizing leaders requires determining and aligning on the core competencies needed to be successful in the organization and having an objective process to identify and evaluate individual performance.   

Past performance can be a determinant of potential, especially when combined with self-motivation and a demonstrated ability to learn, adapt and grow. Nurturing potential leaders means investing in their development through the use of individual development plans (IDPs), feedback and coaching, mentorship (formal and informal), and the identification of stretch assignments that challenge them beyond their current role. We also encourage them to get involved in organizations which provide networking and growth opportunities.

WIRLC: What attracted you to the retail industry, and what has kept you passionate about it?
RJ: I come from a family of educators. I always thought I would become a teacher, too. After college I was accepted into the Macy’s New York training program, where I learned the business of retail.   

At every phase of my career, I had mentors, sponsors and champions, most of whom didn’t look like me, who saw my potential. But my biggest champion, cheerleader, and my first teacher was my mother. Any time I met a challenge and thought that I wanted to quit, she would say to me, “If someone else believes you can do it, why would you doubt yourself?”

I love that this business is exciting, challenging and fast-paced! Every day I have the opportunity to teach, learn and make a difference.

WIRLC: What’s a lesson you learned that changed you as a leader?
RJ: I’ve learned the importance of prioritizing people over things. When people join organizations, they’re trusting leaders with their livelihood, their development, and their careers. Leaders who prioritize investing in, recognizing and rewarding their people create stronger teams and a culture of success. 

Leaders who listen, understand and support their teams foster loyalty and trust. That’s what true success is built on.