Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) recently released its 16th annual Top Women in Retail report. The valuable resource highlights female executives who impressed our Editorial team as well as colleagues from across the industry. One such woman was Emma Castañeda, senior vice president, chief product officer at Ahold Delhaize. Here’s a sampling of Emma’s interview featured in the report.

Women in Retail Leadership Circle: Given Ahold Delhaize’s push into omnichannel and digital-enabled grocery retail, how are you prioritizing product and experience innovation to align with evolving customer expectations across online, in-store and fulfillment?
Emma Castañeda: Customer behavior is evolving faster than ever, especially with the accelerating influence of AI, so staying closely attuned to those shifts is central to how we prioritize our work. We continually reassess our product and experience road map to ensure we’re solving real customer needs and removing friction across online, in‑store, and fulfillment journeys. Our focus remains on driving customer‑led growth while ensuring profitable execution and operational excellence.

WIRLC: You’ve built a career in product, design and customer-centered innovation. What key experiences or decisions helped you transition into the C-suite at Ahold Delhaize, and what advice would you give to emerging leaders aiming for similar roles?
EC: My path to the CPXO role has been shaped by hard work, deep curiosity, supportive leaders, and a consistent commitment to delivering meaningful outcomes. Along the way, I made intentional choices that didn’t always look linear from the outside, but each aligned with a clear sense of where I wanted to go. My advice for emerging leaders is to stay anchored in your long‑term goals, nurture your curiosity, and remain open to unconventional opportunities — they often lead to the most transformative growth.

WIRLC: What bold leadership move has had the biggest impact on your team and/or organization in the past year?
EC: Leading a team through a major organizational transformation requires heightened focus and care. Over the past year, the most impactful shift has been moving from a mindset of rewarding “on time and on budget” delivery to one centered on achieving true outcomes. Guiding teams through that evolution — clarifying expectations, empowering decision‑making, and aligning around measurable impact — has strengthened both our culture and our ability to deliver for customers.

Download the 2026 Top Women in Retail Report to read interviews with all of this year’s honorees.