We all know the cliché: “You only get one shot at a first impression.” But the part no one talks about? Most people don’t even know what they’re actually communicating in those first few seconds because they’re too busy performing instead of being present. Here’s the truth: Deep connection doesn’t require small talk, oversharing, or...
True story: A client of mine found herself jobless, a victim of a no-warning mass layoff at a big tech company. We chatted. She cried. We put our strategy hats on. She knew she had to share her news with her network. The fear of not sharing it was too great … greater than the...
Retail media networks (RMNs) are projected to generate $62 billion in ad spend this year. But behind the headline numbers, intensifying pressures and new competitors are forcing them to prove greater value. With rising ad costs and inconsistent insights, advertisers are questioning the return they get from media networks, while retailers push for deeper brand...
The best leadership roles aren’t packaged for you — they’re built by chasing what energizes you and leveraging your strengths to drive impact. My career in marketing wasn’t laid out in a neat box. Growing up, I loved critical thinking, creativity, and technology, but no one showed me how these could shape a future in...
We’ve been told leadership is about having the answers. A strong vision. A confident voice. A five-year plan wrapped in a branded slide deck. But in the real world, leadership often looks like standing in front of your team with everything on fire while still holding eye contact and calmly saying, “Here’s what I know,...
Hello from Atlanta! The Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) team has spent the last two days at Total Retail Tech. We were among the company of the retail industry’s most innovative technology leaders, representing leading brands such as Lowe’s, QVC Group, Patagonia, Sephora, Levi Strauss & Co., The Home Depot, among others. Hosted by...
Retailers today are under more pressure than ever. Labor shortages are tightening staffing capacity, third-party vendor networks are growing increasingly complex, and compliance demands are rising in both volume and complexity. HR, finance and operations professionals without specialized compliance training are being asked to manage insurance verification, monitor documentation, and maintain audit readiness under tight...
Meera Bhatia is spearheading an evolution. As one of the few women of color in retail’s C-suite, she’s spent decades navigating male-dominated spaces like retail and technology with focus and intentionality. Now, as president and chief operating officer of Fabletics, she’s guiding the membership-based activewear brand through its most transformational year yet — steering international...
With back-to-school shopping still going and holiday buying around the corner, retail leaders not only face the challenge of increased traffic, but heightened employee turnover as well. New analysis from ADP Research published in Issue 2 of Today at Work 2025 found turnover among retail workers spikes during the summer months. Based on five years...
Detria Courtalis is the vice president of retail and wholesale sales for the U.S. at Pandora Jewelry. She’s also a Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) member! In this member spotlight, we asked her a series of questions about both her professional role and personal life, including the woman that inspires her, her leadership style,...
