Denise Paulonis is currently the president and CEO of Sally Beauty, but spent a large majority of her career in consulting and finance. Curiosity and a natural penchant for stepping beyond traditional roles led Paulonis to the chief executive job, she said during an interview at the Women in Retail Pavilion at Shoptalk 2026.

In this clip from her discussion with Sonia Lapinsky, managing director, retail at AlixPartners, Paulonis highlights the pivotal learnings and shifts required in leadership when moving into the C-suite, as well as her approach to change management. She has driven significant change at Sally Beauty since taking the helm, shifting focus from products to customers, enhancing the store experience, and genuinely connecting with consumer needs.

Furthermore, Paulonis emphasizes the significance of understanding leadership dynamics: guiding the organizational direction while allowing her teams to execute.

“I’m a natural leader who leads from the center, not from the front,” Paulonis told the audience, touching on her centered leadership philosophy. This approach encourages her teams to innovate and lead change proactively.

Paulonis’ journey is testament to the transformative power of adaptive leadership and customer-centric strategies.

Women in Retail Leadership Circle members can view Paulonis’ full interview here as well as all sessions from the Women in Retail Pavilion at Shoptalk 2026 here.