Kristina Stidham is the digital content director at Women in Retail Leadership Circle and sister brands Total Retail and Women Leading Travel & Hospitality at NAPCO Media. She is passionate about digital media and handles video, podcast and virtual event production for all brands. You can often find her at WIRLC, TR, WLT&H or industry events with her camera and podcasting equipment—or at home on Zoom—recording interviews with thought leaders and business executives.
Kristina holds a B.A. in Media Studies and Production from the Temple University Klein College of Media and Communication in Philadelphia. Go Owls! When she's not in the office, she loves to go on long walks, sing around the house, hangout with her family and two pet guinea pigs, and travel to new places.
What if your biggest constraints were actually your greatest advantage? In this video clip from her keynote presentation at the Women in Retail Leadership Summit earlier this year, Dr. Simone Ahuja, co-author of international best-seller “Jugaad Innovation,” introduces the concept of Jugaad — the innovation mindset of creating maximum value with minimum resources. From real-world...
Kelly N. Cook, CEO of David’s Bridal, was the opening keynote at the 2026 Women in Retail Leadership Summit, held April 27-29 in Miami. During her keynote session, Cook invited leaders to step back from day-to-day demands and reconsider the role leadership must play in shaping the future. Grounded in the values formed by her...
Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) is making a splash in New York City next week (unfortunately, no pool included)! Our community will be gathering at CommerceNext on June 23-24. Then, on the evening of June 24, we’ll take over the Michael Kors flagship store in Rockefeller Center for a Meetup event (now sold out)!...
In a world that often revolves around competition, Elina Vilk proposes a different approach: partnership. “I don’t believe in competitors. I believe in partners, and it’s an interesting philosophy,” Vilk says, challenging traditional business models. According to Vilk, the president and chief business officer of David’s Bridal, viewing businesses as partners rather than competitors transforms...
This video features a session from the Women in Retail Pavilion at Shoptalk, held March 24-26 in Las Vegas. Erin Wendte, chief commercial officer at Zumiez, was interviewed by Jane Hanson, CEO and founder of HHH Productions. The pair discuss a myriad of topics, including business strategy, professional development, and leadership.
In today’s fast-paced world, fashion choices can feel daunting. As Debbie Woloshin, chief marketing officer of Stitch Fix, notes, “nothing is more personal than getting dressed.” Understanding this, Stitch Fix blends human style expertise with the power of artificial intelligence to revolutionize personal shopping. Woloshin discusses Stitch Fix’s approach in this clip from her interview...
Denise Paulonis is currently the president and CEO of Sally Beauty, but spent a large majority of her career in consulting and finance. Curiosity and a natural penchant for stepping beyond traditional roles led Paulonis to the chief executive job, she said during an interview at the Women in Retail Pavilion at Shoptalk 2026. In...
This video features a session from the Women in Retail Pavilion at Shoptalk, held March 24-26 in Las Vegas. Elina Vilk, president and chief business officer of David’s Bridal, was interviewed by Hili Banjo, managing director and customer growth strategy products portfolio lead at Accenture. They discuss a myriad of topics, including business strategy, professional...
This video features a session from the Women in Retail Pavilion at Shoptalk, held March 24-26 in Las Vegas. Denise Paulonis, president and CEO of Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc., was interviewed by Sonia Lapinsky, managing director, retail at AlixPartners. They discuss a myriad of topics, including business strategy, professional development, and leadership.
Hosted by Women in Retail Leadership Circle’s sister brand, Total Retail, Total Retail Talks is a podcast for retail executives who crave the knowledge and insights needed to stay successful in today’s fast-paced industry. In episode 506 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Kathy Gagliano, executive vice president of merchandising at Books-A-Million, the...
