In a landscape where leadership is often defined by strategy, Corie Barry’s appointment as CEO of Best Buy offers a refreshing perspective. When faced with following the admired Hubert Joly, Barry chose to highlight the transformative power of leadership. She shared her story during the 2026 Women in Retail Leadership Summit in Miami this spring.

“I believe the role of a CEO is to create the conditions for other amazing leaders to execute the strategy with urgency,” Barry said. Her leadership mantra focuses on empowering her team by recognizing their unique superpowers and encouraging them to excel.

Barry’s approach mirrors one of Best Buy’s core values: unleashing the power of the people. She emphasized creating the right conditions by setting clear expectations and allowing team members the freedom to “leverage what makes them amazing.” Barry’s vision reflects the understanding that bringing one’s best self to work translates into true productivity and innovation.