What’s a word that reflects being a woman in retail in 2021? How about pivot, self-care, leadership or focus?

As our top 10 content pieces (based on total clicks) of the year showed us, you came to Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) for all of those things and more. Below are the pieces of content that you enjoyed the most this year:

10. Photos from the 2021 Women in Retail Leadership Summit

The 2021 Women in Retail Leadership Summit was a whirlwind three days of engaging content, valuable networking, fun activations, free swag, and much more. Over 350 leading retail executives joined us at the JW Marriott Turnberry Resort & Spa in Miami from Oct. 11-13. There were so many powerful women in attendance as well as incredibly motivating speakers taking the stage. It’s no wonder our photo gallery from the Summit generated such interest!

9. EY’s Consumer Leader on the Future of Retail and Customer Behavior

In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Melissa Campanelli interviews Kristina Rogers, global consumer leader at EY. In her role, Rogers is responsible for defining and implementing EY’s strategy for consumer products companies and retail organizations.

8. 20 Questions with WIRLC Member Michele Kalas, Vice President, Human Resources, Mattress Firm

Women in Retail regularly spotlights its members, and the audience especially loved one such interview with Michele Kalas, vice president of human resources for Mattress Firm.

7. How Michaels Created a Hybrid Back-to-Office Strategy

In June, plans around returning back to the office after a year-and-a-half of working from home were starting to be implemented. Those plans were highlighted in Women in Retail’s Back-to-Office Checklist, which featured an interview with Brynn Evanson, chief human resources officer at Michaels, the leading arts-and-crafts retailer.

6. How DICK’s Sporting Goods Forecasts Merchandise Demand From Consumer Habits

In this popular episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Melissa Campanelli interviews Nina Barjesteh, senior vice president of product development and design at DICK’S Sporting Goods. Barjesteh discusses her career background in retail merchandising, what drew her to join DICK’S, and how the sporting goods brand forecasts new product demand based on consumer habits.

5. 4 Calendar Control Secrets of Successful Executives

Cindy Solomon, who you may know from her keynote and workshop at the Women in Retail Leadership Summit, assembled a list of techniques the most successful and courageous leaders apply so they can control the flow of their calendars. Learn how to own your days and weeks, all the while keeping a laser focus on the priorities that matter most.

4. Why I REST My Case … and You Should, Too

Regular WIRLC contributor Andrea Syverson caught everyone’s attention with an article on how to rest properly in the face of deadlines, notifications and planning. Among other tactics and tips, Syverson advocates for making rest a priority.

3. The 5 Guiding Principles of Facilitation

What makes a successful meeting? This question was a popular one this year, particularly as we adjusted to collaborating over Zoom calls instead of conference tables. This article by Marsha Acker reviews five guiding principles to keep in mind when you’re leading your next meeting to harness the power of collective thinking and collaboration.

2. 2021 Top International Women in Retail Report

For the first time ever, Women in Retail Leadership Circle published a Top International Women in Retail report, and our community loved it. The report featured 10 retail leaders headquartered in countries across the globe, including Sweden, the United Kingdom, Canada, China, Australia and Russia.

1. 2021 Top Women in Retail Report

Our 11th annual report featuring the top women executives in the retail industry was steadily downloaded and shared throughout the year by people who wanted to support and congratulate the honorees — as well as learn from them! It’s no surprise this list of talented, successful leaders holds the top spot for WIRLC’s 2021 content. As we look forward to honoring the 2022 top women retail leaders, we would love your input on who to include! Nominate a Top Woman or Woman on the Rise here.