It’s a true gift to work with friends. Ellen Kresky and I have been friends since she was the creative director at Celestial Seasonings almost two decades ago. There, we worked on brand and product fit charts, re-energizing the retail store, and leveraging brand purpose throughout all touchpoints. When she became the global creative director...
I love that right after celebrating his 71st birthday and in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, Bruce Springsteen released a brand new album, Letter to You. That’s after a few other highly productive years back-to-back: Writing a 528-page autobiography, creating films, cutting other albums, playing worldwide tours, and doing a 236-show run on Broadway....
I was a born beach lover. I spent most of my childhood summers, like Springsteen did, blissfully along the shoreline of New Jersey — Ocean City, Beach Haven, Point Pleasant, Seaside, Wildwood. Then I moved to South Florida for undergraduate and graduate business degrees, where soaking up the sun while inhaling the scent of Hawaiian...
My husband and I are bareboat sailors and have chartered vessels all over the world before owning our own beautiful catamaran we called Playologist. It’s been mostly fun and frolic, and my adventurous mate captains our boat almost single-handedly as I chose, years ago, to take the less active approach. I specialize in other “Blue...
This article is part two of a two-part series on leadership by Andrea Syverson. Read part one, which includes tips one through three, here. As leaders, we’re continually pulled in many directions — both in and out of the office. How to stay centered? How to lead with clarity in a world of constantly changing variables?...
As leaders, we’re continually pulled in many directions — both in and out of the office. How to stay centered? How to lead with clarity in a world of constantly changing variables? How to not just survive but thrive? This spring, I had the delightful honor of joining Sheryl Clark, president and CEO of Boston...
I had the pleasure of working with Ann Bush, vice president of brand management for Colony Brands, and her team recently on strengthening the company’s fashion and home décor businesses. Ann impressed me as a lifelong learner and leader who took her people, projects and customers seriously — and joyfully! Ann’s upbeat demeanor, entrepreneurial spirit,...
Those of us who attended this year’s Women in Retail Leadership Summit in Miami were certain of one thing — it was one JOYFUL gathering! So many smart women under one roof and blue sky! Joy-filled connections from past relationships, joy-filled introductions amongst new friends. Honest, heartfelt, inspiring presentations that shared both worklife joys and...
In less than six weeks, this retail holiday season will be over. The season you and your brand leaders have strategized, forecasted, sweated over and meticulously orchestrated. No doubt, right now all hands are on deck as calls, orders and customers walk through your doors or enter your web portals. I wish you well. I hope you finish strong. I just hope you don’t forget this one very important thing.
In a recent article that appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Mark Tritton, Target’s chief merchandising officer, talked about the dual importance of both “math and magic” as he leads the company’s development of innovative new products in several key categories. Big data must be combined with big creative in order to capture customers’ attention. At this...
