We’re excited to share the Women in Retail Leadership Circle 2025-2026 Impact Report. This report reflects more than the growth of our community. It captures a year of intention. The impact and value of Women in Retail Leadership Circle continues to grow stronger each year. Fueled by our passionate and dedicated members, we’ve expanded our...
Every conference stage, board presentation, and strategy deck in retail includes some version of the same promise: artificial intelligence-powered personalization will transform how we engage consumers. It’s become the default answer to almost every question about where marketing is headed. But here’s the part that rarely gets addressed: Beyond the buzzwords, what does AI-powered personalization...
Technology buying failures rarely happen because a team chose the “wrong” software. They happen earlier when retail organizations enter the RFP process without the strategy, clarity or alignment required to make a good decision. Most retail technology buyers only see a handful of stores, regional operations, or supply chains over the course of their careers...
Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) recently released its 16th annual Top Women in Retail report. The valuable resource highlights female executives who impressed our Editorial team as well as colleagues from across the industry. One such woman was Heidi Cooley, executive vice president and chief brand and marketing officer at Lovesac. Here’s a sampling of...
As artificial intelligence-powered search and discovery platforms reshape how consumers find and evaluate products, retailers and brands are being forced to rethink not just their marketing tactics but their entire digital strategy. At Shoptalk in Las Vegas last month, Lauren Price, senior vice president of marketing at COS, and Kelly Shah-McDonnell, vice president of global...
Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) recently released its 16th annual Top Women in Retail report. The valuable resource highlights female executives who impressed our Editorial team as well as colleagues from across the industry. One such woman was Fanya Chandler, president, Nordstrom Stores. Here’s a sampling of Fanya’s interview featured in the report. Women in...
Performance brands didn’t just grow the apparel market, they reshaped it. But the brands taking market share didn’t win on footprint alone. They started with desirable product, built brand heat and digital demand, and then operationalized stores at scale, recognizing that cross-functional strategy to execution and strong IRL experience models are not legacy models but...
At a time when many retail brands are struggling to scale both service and authenticity, Dutch Bros is taking a different approach — one rooted in culture, emotional connection, and operational precision. Speaking last week at Shoptalk in Las Vegas, CEO Christine Barone and CMO Tana Davila offered insights into how the rapidly expanding coffee...
What an incredible few days it’s been at Shoptalk in Las Vegas, where the energy has been nonstop — especially inside the Women in Retail Pavilion. Over the course of three days (March 24-26), the Pavilion is serving as a true hub for connection, inspiration, and community. Designed as a relaxed and inviting environment right...
Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) recently released its 16th annual Top Women in Retail report. The valuable resource highlights female executives who impressed our Editorial team as well as colleagues from across the industry. One such woman was Emma Castañeda, senior vice president, chief product officer at Ahold Delhaize. Here’s a sampling of Emma’s interview...
