What a day in Boston!

Our Women in Retail Leadership Circle: On the Road event in Boston last week brought together an incredible group of women leaders for an afternoon of candid conversations, practical advice and meaningful connections. From navigating change and finding new ways to grow to making tough decisions and staying focused on what matters most, the discussions reinforced just how much we can learn from one another.

Our keynote speakers, Barbara Wagner, brand president of Talbots, and Beth Greenlaw, CEO and founder of Sea Bags, gave us plenty to think about.

Wagner shared lessons from her leadership journey, including how to prioritize when everything feels urgent, leading through uncertainty, and building the trust of team members. One takeaway that really resonated with me was the importance of attracting new customers without losing sight of the loyal customers who helped build your brand in the first place. Sometimes growth isn’t about completely reinventing your business, but making thoughtful changes that allow you to reach new audiences while staying true to who you are.

Greenlaw brought the conversation back to purpose and the importance of keeping a company’s mission at the center of its decisions. She shared lessons from building Sea Bags into a lifestyle brand, navigating change and returning to the CEO role. Her message was a powerful reminder that a strong mission can serve as a North Star, especially when a business needs to refocus, evolve or make difficult decisions.

I also loved our Top Challenges session, facilitated by Cindy Marshall, CEO and founder of SHINE Strategy. There’s something incredibly valuable about bringing women leaders together to openly discuss the challenges they’re facing and work through solutions as a group. From adopting artificial intelligence to attracting new customers, developing talent and prioritizing limited resources, the conversation reinforced that some of the best advice comes from the women sitting right next to you.

Our Leading With Impact panel, featuring Katherine Beede, executive vice president, chief marketing officer, TJX Companies; Connie Hallquist, president, Garnet Hill; Reba Hatcher, chief commercial officer, ButcherBox; and Michele Parzianello, chief commercial officer, Staples, offered more practical advice on leading through uncertainty and making difficult decisions.

We also heard from Emily McEvilly, chief customer officer at Klaviyo, about turning customer insights into stronger relationships, greater loyalty and measurable growth. And throughout the afternoon, our networking conversations and Move, Mingle and Meet session gave attendees opportunities to connect, exchange ideas and build new relationships.

The common thread throughout the event? Retail leaders are being asked to make increasingly complex decisions without a perfect playbook. Customer expectations are changing, growth is harder to unlock, and leaders are constantly balancing what to preserve, what to change and where to invest.

Sometimes the most valuable thing you can do is get in a room with women who understand those challenges and are willing to share what they’ve learned. As our team gets ready to do it all again in New York City, I’m reminded just how special this community is and how much these in-person connections matter.

Next up is New York City on Oct. 20, followed by Seattle on Nov. 3 and San Francisco on Nov. 5. We can’t wait to see you!