Claire's CMO Kristin Patrick on How to Lean Into Your Uniqueness and Carve Your Own Space
Welcome to Women in Retail Talks! We’ve updated our format to better serve the wants and needs of our community. Our refreshed podcast will feature in-depth interviews with female C-suite executives from enterprise retail organizations who defined their own career success and made their way to the metaphorical corner office. The episodes will include stories of professional growth, leadership development, personal journeys, and more. Every other Wednesday, you’ll get real advice and valuable lessons from powerhouse women across the industry. We hope you enjoy our show, and we welcome your feedback!
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Senior Editor Marie Albiges interviews Kristin Patrick, chief marketing officer and executive vice president at Claire’s, the teen global fashion brand powerhouse for self-expression selling jewelry, accessories and more. Listen in as Patrick discusses a few highlights from her diverse career (1:49), what led her to join Claire’s after taking time away to be with family (4:53), and what challenges and opportunities she saw to be a change agent for the brand (7:22). She shares how she’s crafted a forward-looking skillset that’s made her a known visionary (10:19), and how she identifies opportunities to transition into a new company or industry (13:30).
Furthermore, Patrick discusses how mentorship was vital in positioning herself for career success (16:08), and why it’s important to lean into your uniqueness to carve a space for yourself (17:40). Lastly, she shares her advice for other women advancing in the retail industry, and why it’s important to trust your gut (20:38).
Named one of the “Top 50 Women in Brand Marketing” by Brand Innovators, Kristin Patrick has a reputation for being a disruptive, trend-setting brand steward — breaking the barriers between pop culture and brands. Kristin has a passion for building brands that challenge the status quo, make an impact in culture, and create value by enveloping the consumer with content, product and experiences. For over 20 years, she has brought companies to this intersection where brand meets commerce. In addition to her executive position at Claire’s, Kristin currently sits on the board of a publicly traded e-sports and gaming company, Super League Gaming, as well as a privately held performance marketing tech company, Digital Matter.
Most recently, during her nearly seven-year tenure at PepsiCo, she oversaw and led global category strategy, advertising, marketing, productivity, digital strategy, and new product launches. After leaving PepsiCo, she served as the interim CMO for Torrid, a Sycamore-owned women’s plus-size billion dollar omnichannel retailer. Prior to PepsiCo, Kristin held executive brand strategy and marketing positions at Playboy Enterprises, William Morris Endeavor, GAP, Liz Claiborne, NBC Universal, Calvin Klein, The Walt Disney Company, and Revlon. Kristin holds a B.A in Business from Emerson College and attended Southwestern University School of Law. She resides in Los Angeles with her daughter, Olivia.
Date: February 1, 2022
Credits: Kristin Patrick
Duration: 23:43
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