Bonobos' Chief Merchant on Strengths-Based Leadership and Human-Centric Culture
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Melissa Campanelli interviews Julie Pike, chief merchant officer at Bonobos, a clothing brand focused on delivering great fit, excellent customer experience, and a fun approach to menswear. Pike discusses her professional background in retail (0:58), what drew her to join Bonobos (1:48), and the brand’s foundation in a strengths-based leadership model (2:24). She shares the changes she saw in merchandising and production during the COVID-19 pandemic (4:01), forecasts how the health crisis will impact merchandising trends going forward (6:54), and details what it’s like being a female leader at a men’s apparel company with majority women leadership (10:07).
In addition, Pike discusses best practices for creating a human-centric company culture (11:40), how Bonobos motivated and supported employees during the pandemic (12:15), and the importance of having a strong network (14:43). Lastly, she shares the professional initiatives she’s most proud of from the past year at Bonobos (16:38), as well as what she’s most looking forward to heading into 2022 (17:51).
Date: June 22, 2021
Credits: Julie Pike
Duration: 19:37
More Episodes
BaubleBar Co-Founder Daniella Yacobovsky Shares Her Best Advice for Entrepreneurs
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Melissa Campanelli interviews Daniella Yacobovsky, co-founder of BaubleBar, a joyful accessories and fashion and fine jewelry brand. Listen in as Yacobovsky discusses the genesis of the brand, the best and worst advice she received as an entrepreneur, her tips for listeners who want to start a business, her approach to work/life integration, and more.
22:58 How CEO Shannon Hennessy's Background Prepared Her to Lead The Habit Burger Grill
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Melissa Campanelli interviews Shannon Hennessy, CEO of The Habit Burger Grill, quality made-to-order food and a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. Listen in as Hennessy discusses her career journey, the importance of having finance strategy experience to prepare for a chief executive role, her vision for company growth, work/life integration and setting clear boundaries, and more.
19:41 Anthropologie Stores Exec Mindy Massey on Empathy: 'Give Grace, Space and a Place to Connect'
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Senior Editor Marie Albiges interviews Mindy Massey, global executive director of stores at Anthropologie, a unique, full-style lifestyle brand in the URBN portfolio. Massey details how her role and leadership style has evolved over more than 20 years at Anthropologie, leading with empathy, her mantra "grace, space and place," what the next generation of female retail leaders should focus on to advance in their careers, and more.
21:00 NY Fashion Week Founder Fern Mallis Shares Stories and Lessons From Her Illustrious Career
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Melissa Campanelli interviews Fern Mallis, founder of New York Fashion Week (NYFW) and Fern Mallis LLC. Mallis was also named to the third annual list of 25 Most Inspirational Women Leaders by Retail Influencer Network, The DealmakeHers, and The Z Suite, in partnership with Women in Retail Leadership Circle. Listen in as Mallis details her illustrious career journey; the genesis of NYFW; the common threads that emerged between the hundreds of fashion and retail leaders featured in her interview series Fashion Icons with Fern Mallis; and more.
26:29 How ThredUp Revenue Chief Cora Buel Leads Effective 4-Day Work Weeks
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Senior Editor Marie Albiges interviews Cora Buel, chief revenue officer at ThredUp, one of the world's largest online resale platforms for apparel, shoes and accessories. Listen in as Buel discusses pivoting to a small business after working at large organizations, ThredUp's four-day work week and the benefits of a flexible working style, her experience taking on the first-ever chief revenue position at the company, and more.
30:49 How True Religion CMO Kristen D'Arcy Builds Team Relationships and Buy-In for Change
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Melissa Campanelli interviews Kristen D’Arcy, chief marketing officer of True Religion, sought-after jeanswear intended to influence and disrupt denim culture. Listen in as D’Arcy discusses the initiatives she’s working on in the company’s newly created chief marketer role (1:30) and True...
33:16 How CEO Jill Scalamandre Brings the Culture of Kindness to Life at Beekman 1802
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Senior Editor Marie Albiges interviews Jill Scalamandre, CEO of Beekman 1802, a skin health brand based on two ingredients: kindness and goat milk. Listen as Scalamandre discusses the genesis of the family-founded brand on a goat farm, lessons learned from Beekman 1802's many successful brand partnerships, how the core value of kindness comes to life in the company's culture, and more.
30:22 Women in Retail Leadership Circle Reflects on 10 Years Empowering Female Leaders
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) Co-Founder Melissa Campanelli is joined by President and Co-Founder Jennifer DiPasquale and Membership Director Susan Koger. To kick off 2024, this special episode reflects on 10 years of Women in Retail Leadership Circle and the organization's growth. Listen in as the leaders detail the origin story of the membership association, WIRLC's exciting in-person and virtual member benefits, their favorite stories that showcase the impact of the WIRLC community on our members as well as the retail industry, and more.
23:20 Monica Royer, Founder and CEO of Monica + Andy: 'It's Your Now or Never Moment'
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Melissa Campanelli interviews Monica Royer, founder and CEO of Monica + Andy, an organic baby clothing, accessories & essentials brand. This episode was recorded during a session at the Women in Retail: On the Road Los Angeles event in November. Listen in as Royer shares why she founded Monica + Andy, the influence of her brother Andy Dunn, co-founder of Bonobos, on her life, her focus on leadership development for herself and her team, and more.
30:36 Former FTD Chief Merchant Christina Cubeta on Putting Motherhood on Your Resume
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Senior Editor Marie Albiges interviews Christina Cubeta, former chief merchandising officer and consumer division head at FTD, a leader in the floral industry. Listen in as Cubeta shares what it was like joining a rebranded FTD after its bankruptcy in 2019, the importance of owning your failure, her advice to parents re-entering the workforce after taking a pause from their career to grow their family, and more.
37:12 
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Play Music
Stitcher