Women in Retail Leadership Circle is pleased to announce Corie Barry, CEO of Best Buy, and Brieane Olson, CEO of Pacsun, as newly confirmed speakers for the 2026 Women in Retail Leadership Summit (WIRLS). Taking place April 27-29 at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa, the Summit is designed for senior executives. The...
The traditional e-commerce website, defined by search bars, filters and static product grids, is increasingly misaligned with how consumers want to shop. According to a new report from Total Retail, From Website to AI Storefront: How Retailers Are Preparing for Agentic Commerce and the Future of Online Shopping, consumers now expect to describe their needs...
Every other week, Women in Retail Leadership Circle publishes a new episode of its podcast, Women in Retail Talks. The show features C-suite women in the retail industry sharing their stories of professional growth, leadership development, personal journeys, and much more with hosts Melissa Campanelli and Marie Albiges. Take a listen to our top five...
Women in Retail Leadership Circle’s stages and screens were filled with amazing speakers throughout the year. From the annual Women in Retail Leadership Summit to members-only Virtual Workshops with experienced career coaches, there are ample opportunities to be inspired and educated. Throughout the year, the Editorial staff at Women in Retail Leadership Circle comb through the best...
‘Tis the season for end-of-year scaries (like Sunday scaries, but with holiday cheer!), when 2026 looms large and the need for resolutions hits you right in your face just as you’re taking a bite into that third slice of holiday apple pie (OK, maybe that’s just me). We’ve just gotten through a devilish year of...
After three decades in the toy industry, I’ve watched the retail landscape transform from a straightforward product-placement game to something far more complex and, frankly, far more exciting. The shift isn’t limited to toys — it’s happening across every category. The brands winning shelf space today aren’t the ones with the biggest marketing budgets or...
Pacsun has evolved from a traditional retail organization into a cultural powerhouse, deeply integrating Gen Z and Gen Alpha voices into its business model. This fall, the company wanted to go even further into understanding the behaviors of society’s youngest generations. What resulted was the Pacsun Youth Report, a comprehensive study offering insights into the...
The past 12 months have brought a steady drumbeat of platform updates as Google and Meta introduced artificial intelligence-led features and automation that change which levers matter day-to-day. Google is leaning into AI-led search experiences (from AI Overviews to an AI-only search mode in testing), while Meta is accelerating full-funnel automation through Advantage+ and a...
Yasemin Akcakaya is the former vice president of marketing, acquisition, retention, martech, and analytics for Jackson Hewitt. 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,...
The Women in Retail Leadership Circle team knows that professional development is a moving goalpost and there’s always room for growth. Maybe you’ve spent time this year upleveling skills or crafting your personal brand. But does your digital presence, particularly on LinkedIn, reflect the leader you are today? We’ve planned our first member-only workshop of...
