Artificial intelligence is reshaping retail personalization, inventory strategy, workforce planning, and customer engagement, and expectations from shoppers and employees continue to rise. However, technology alone won’t determine which brands pull ahead. Leadership will.

This year, International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month center on the idea of “Give to Gain,” a call to lead with collaboration and purpose. As retailers rethink operations for an AI-powered future, the mindset of leadership teams becomes a true differentiator.

Here are four leadership principles retailers can apply now:

Lead With Curiosity — Susan Hill, Amperity

When people ask me what leadership lesson I carry with me every day, it’s always a tie between “be curious” and recognizing that leadership doesn’t mean knowing all the answers or being indispensable.

In fast-moving environments, leaders can’t be the single point of control. They need to create conditions for teams to test, learn and optimize.

This could mean empowering store managers with better customer data, equipping merchandising teams to experiment with AI-driven assortment planning, or giving e-commerce leaders room to pilot new personalization strategies.

True leadership is about making the path easier, fairer, and more sustainable for everyone.

Give curiosity. Gain better thinking and shared ownership.

Clarity Creates Confidence — Mariel West, Slalom

“One leadership lesson I carry forward every day is that leadership is less about having the right answers and more about creating clarity for others.”

Retail is layered with complexity, such as competing key performance indicators across stores and digital, shifting inventory positions, and evolving loyalty expectations. Without context, teams default to execution without strategy.

“When people have that clarity, something shifts. They step up. They take ownership. They think more strategically because they can see the bigger picture.”

Give clarity. Gain respect.

Connection is a Competitive Advantage — Shivani Majewski, Deloitte Digital

Retail transformation rarely sits within a single function.

“I believe in the power of connection. Authentic collaboration only happens when people feel seen, heard and valued. That sense of belonging is what turns good teams into great ones.”

In retail, trust fuels speed. When teams collaborate across channels, customers experience a unified brand instead of silos.

“Leading with empathy allowed me to make decisions that balanced business needs with human impact. Not only did we exceed expectations, but we also deepened client trust.”

Give trust. Gain momentum.

Shaping AI for People, Not Just Performance — Mariel West, Slalom

“The biggest opportunity is in shaping how AI is informed by data and who that data represents.”

Retailers rely on customer data to drive personalization and loyalty.

“AI is only as objective as the data it learns from and the humans who design it. Women leaders have a critical role in asking better questions. Who is missing? What assumptions are embedded? Who benefits and who bears risk?”

Those questions directly impact which customers are prioritized, how offers are targeted, and whose preferences are reflected in product decisions.

Humble Leadership Fuels Innovation — Katie Dunlap, Slalom

As retailers integrate AI across operations and customer experience, leadership mindset matters as much as the technology itself.

“One lesson I carry with me every day: no matter how high you rise, remain humble and kind.”

In a fast-moving environment, not every campaign or initiative will work perfectly. Leaders who encourage reflection, accountability and learning from mistakes create teams that innovate faster and adapt more easily.

Give humility. Gain innovation.

Susan Hill serves as senior vice president of people at Amperity, where she drives the creation of a people-first workplace through strategic alignment of business objectives and employee experience.