Retail in America

Welcome to episode 9 of the RETAIL IN AMERICA podcast! I would like to introduce you to a phenomenal leader I met in Nashville, Priscilla Willis.Priscilla is the General Manager of Burberry in The Mall at Green Hills in Nashville, Tennessee. Her incredible retail career has taken her all over the country, from NYC to Miami and back to Tennessee, with brands including Banana Republic, Cole Hahn, Gibson Guitars, Tory Burch, and more.Priscilla says that although retail has been an accidental career and being a leader is most fulfilling, the engagement with clients has always kept her going year after year! Her personal development has been purposeful and driven based on her curiosity about different roles and the enjoyment of various aspects of leadership.Our conversation focused on networking and relationship building as a critical part of a successful retail career; you won't want to miss it.But first, a huge thank you to the three title sponsors fueling the RETAIL IN AMERICA tour and this podcast. Spotify Advertising Spotify is the #1 podcast platform in the US and has grown to over 420M monthly unique registered users around the globe, over half of which are supported on the ad platform. Spotify advertising will help you reach and target your audience across devices, locations, and formats. YOOBIC Over 300 companies in 80 countries trust YOOBIC to drive their retail performance at scale, get real-time visibility into multi-location business execution, digitized task management, and more. KWI is the industry's only true turnkey omnichannel platform for specialty retailers.With over 35 years of experience, let KWI help you execute flawlessly with the features that matter most, including endless aisle, clienteling, mobile checkout, inventory management, e-commerce, and more. Go to RETAIL PRIDE and follow me on IG @retailpride to see all the details about the RETAIL IN AMERICA tour, the cities we will visit, media links, and more. Contact me directly here to nominate a retail hero for this podcast, host a retail networking or book signing event in your city, or say hello.  Keep your retail pride strong, and I will see you on the road!Audio engineer Dean Albak Cover image shot...

What happens when AI isn’t built for people—but with them?In this episode of Retail Intelligence in Action, sponsored by Microsoft, Ron Thurston sits down with Dave Glick, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Business Services at Walmart, for a rare inside look at one of the most ambitious, people-led AI transformations happening anywhere in retail.Dave shares how Walmart is building AI capabilities at true enterprise scale—creating tools and platforms that empower campus associates today and ultimately support more than 1.5 million associates across the business. But this conversation isn’t about automation for efficiency’s sake. It’s about agency, ownership, and removing the friction that keeps people from doing their best work.You’ll hear how Walmart is deploying:Super agents that act as a single front door to work—routing tasks, knowledge, and workflows intelligentlyNano agents—small, purpose-built tools often created by associates themselves to solve real, everyday problemsAI-powered capabilities like real-time translation, intelligent prioritization, and workflow automationOne of the most powerful insights in this episode is how adoption actually happens. Instead of pushing new technology onto teams, Walmart created tools people pulled into their work—driving organic adoption, rapid iteration, and genuine enthusiasm. From late-night “vibe coding” sessions fueled by Diet Coke to hackathons where non-engineers build agents in minutes, Dave illustrates how culture—not code—determines success.The conversation also explores how Walmart balances speed with responsibility. Rather than slowing innovation through fear, the company leaned into clear guardrails, trusted governance, and a shared belief that the biggest risk is moving too slowly. This mindset allows teams to learn fast, improve fast, and scale what works.While Dave’s focus is enterprise operations, the impact reaches customers in a meaningful way. By reducing friction, eliminating root causes, and lowering operational costs, Walmart strengthens its Everyday Low Price promise—proving that associate empowerment and customer value are deeply connected.At its core, this episode is a case study in what’s possible when technology and HUMAN PRIDE move together—and why the future of retail will belong to leaders who build AI that elevates people, not replaces them.Key Takeaways: Walmart is scaling AI in a way that restores agency and ownership to associatesOver 6,000 associates have been trained to build and deploy AI-driven solutionsSuper agents and nano agents are transforming how work gets done—without overwhelming usersReal transformation happens when technology is pulled by teams, not pushed by leadershipHuman-centered AI can drive efficiency, engagement, and long-term customer

Voices from the Frontline: AI in Action: Episode 2, Part 2In this episode of Voices from the Frontline: AI in Action, host Ron Thurston takes listeners inside the Microsoft Experience Center in New York City, where frontline work, customer experience, and AI-powered tools come together in real time.Recorded on the retail floor at the Microsoft Experience Center, this conversation goes behind the counter to show how frontline teams are using technology not to replace human connection — but to strengthen it.You’ll hear directly from Jasmine, a frontline leader, as she walks through how tools like Microsoft Teams, Dynamics 365, and Copilot work together to remove friction from daily work. From live inventory requests and mobile POS to appointment scheduling and service support, this episode shows how AI helps associates stay present with customers — without breaking the conversation or leaving the floor.Key moments include:How real-time “live requests” keep associates connected while serving customersHow Copilot summarizes appointment history so customers never have to repeat their storyHow AI-generated notes save time and reduce administrative burdenHow intelligent agents support onboarding, training, and process consistencyWhy speed, clarity, and confidence matter most on the frontlineThis episode also explores the employee experience — showing how AI tools support new hires, enable multimodal learning, and help frontline teams stay organized during high-volume, high-pressure moments.The takeaway is clear:AI isn’t replacing frontline teams — it’s elevating them.When technology works quietly in the background, people can focus on what matters most: serving customers, solving problems, and creating meaningful human connection.This is what Retail Intelligence in Action really looks like — not in theory, but on the floor, in the moment, with real people.🎙️ Featuring frontline insights from Microsoft📍 Recorded at the Microsoft Experience Center, NYC

Retail Intelligence in Action — Microsoft | Episode 2, part 1A Limited Series with Ron ThurstonIn this episode of Retail Intelligence in Action, host Ron Thurston takes listeners inside the Microsoft Experience Center in New York City to explore what frontline work looks like when AI is applied with intention, empathy, and clarity.This conversation brings AI out of theory and onto the sales floor — where technology and humanity meet in real time.Ron is joined by frontline leaders and associates from Microsoft to show how tools like Microsoft Teams, Copilot, and Viva are transforming communication, simplifying operations, and reducing burnout for teams across retail, healthcare, and hospitality.Rather than focusing on “future promises,” this episode highlights what’s already happening today: AI helping frontline teams save time, reduce friction, and gain confidence — without complexity or disruption.You’ll hear powerful, human examples of how Copilot supports people of all skill levels, how one source of truth can serve multigenerational and multilingual teams, and why starting small is often the smartest path to adoption.This episode reinforces a simple but powerful idea:Technology alone doesn’t transform work — people do.And when the right tools are placed in the hands of the frontline, everything changes.Key themes include:How AI supports frontline teams without replacing themWhy clarity and simplicity matter more than perfectionHow Copilot gives time back to managers and associatesThe role of community, trust, and pride in frontline workWhy AI adoption must be human-centered to succeedThe future of frontline work isn’t coming.It’s already here — and it’s human-powered.🎙️ Featuring frontline insights from Microsoft📍 Recorded at the Microsoft Experience Center, NYC

Part 3 of Voices from the Frontline: AI in Action, a limited series sponsored by Microsoft, dives into two of the biggest, most stubborn challenges in frontline work: scheduling and onboarding — the things that have frustrated leaders and associates for decades.We open with a reminder that teams don’t need dozens of versions of content or training. You can create one source of truth, and AI helps every associate consume it in the way that works best for them — by voice, text, audio, images, and in the language they prefer. It’s a huge win for multigenerational and multilingual teams, and the example of using Copilot to help a nurse streamline her documentation makes the shift feel incredibly real and human.From there, we jump into one of the most painful realities of frontline work: scheduling. Whether you’re running a 5-person team or a store with hundreds of associates, scheduling has always been a massive burden — mentally, emotionally, and operationally. Irina breaks down how new intelligence layers in Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365 can simplify everything: pulling in demand signals, skills, availability, benefits eligibility, and more to create a schedule that actually works for both managers and employees.It’s not about replacing systems — it’s about placing intelligence on top of them, giving managers clarity and giving employees control.The conversation also highlights how AI can make onboarding dramatically faster. Instead of ten-hour workshops or dense PDFs, new associates can ask an agent questions in the moment, learn as they go, and get exactly the information they need — which improves productivity, experience, and retention.What Part 3 makes undeniably clear is this:When you solve scheduling and modernize onboarding, you unlock an entirely new frontline experience.AI brings flexibility, predictability, fairness, and speed — so both managers and associates can spend less time wrestling with complexity and more time serving customers.This isn’t just an efficiency upgrade. It’s a transformation of how frontline teams work, learn, and thrive.Key Takeaways: AI personalizes learning for every worker, regardless of generation or language.Intelligent scheduling reduces friction, bias, and manual effort for managers and associates.AI layers in Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365 unlock flexibility and predictability without rebuilding systems.Smarter scheduling improves staffing, productivity, and financial outcomes.AI-enabled onboarding speeds up training and supports seasonal or high-turnover teams.Agents create fairness by delivering consistent, logic-based scheduling decisions.Multimodal tools support diverse learning styles through voice, images, and audio.AI gives time back to teams, freeing them to focus on customers and meaningful work.The frontline experience becomes more human as AI removes complexity and elevates connection.

The expectation for instant answers has completely reshaped frontline work. Today’s customers are used to getting information in seconds on their phones or watches — and they now expect frontline teams to operate with that same speed and confidence.In part 2 of my limited series sponsored by Microsoft, Abbie Sweeney and Irina Parsina break down how tools like Microsoft Copilot and specialized AI agents are making that possible. These technologies give frontline employees the power to check inventory, translate on the spot, compare products, or solve customer problems without disappearing into a back office or wrestling with outdated systems.What really stands out is how AI is making work more accessible, intuitive, and personalized for every generation of workers. With multimodal learning — voice, images, audio, and text — teams can get support in the way they learn best. It’s not one-size-fits-all anymore.And ultimately, that’s what this episode shows so clearly: AI isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about redefining the frontline experience, giving employees more clarity and confidence, and allowing them to spend more time doing what matters most — connecting with customers.Key Takeaways: Customer expectations for instant information have permanently changed frontline service.Copilot gives employees fast access to what they need — without delays or back-office bottlenecks.AI agents provide role-specific guidance so employees get consistent, accurate answers every time.Multimodal tools support every kind of learner — visual, audio, hands-on — improving training and productivity.AI is redefining frontline work: faster answers, higher confidence, and more time for meaningful customer connection.Personalized, adaptive AI support leads to stronger employee retention and better customer experiences.

AI isn’t just enhancing the shopping journey anymore — it’s officially part of it. New research from the IBM Institute for Business Value shows a staggering 62% jump in consumer use of AI shopping tools in just two years, and the momentum isn’t slowing down.In this episode, a limited series sponsored by IBM, I sit down with Jane Cheung to explore what happens when AI shifts from “helpful assistant” to active participant in how people discover products, compare options, and make decisions. This isn’t the future — it’s already reshaping retail today.We discuss how consumers are blending physical and digital experiences with AI at the center, why economic pressure is accelerating this behavior, and what brands must do right now to stay visible and trusted. From product data accuracy to real-time transparency, AI is raising the stakes for every retailer.If you’re preparing your business for an AI-driven marketplace, this episode lays out exactly where to focus and what it takes to earn a place in the new shopping journey.Takeaways:Consumer use of AI shopping tools has surged 62% in two years.1 in 3 consumers now want AI-powered features built directly into their shopping experience.Economic pressure is pushing shoppers toward smarter comparisons and value-driven decisions powered by AI.“Converged commerce” is here — consumers are blending digital, physical, and AI-driven touchpoints seamlessly.AI is moving from assisting shoppers to participating in their decisions.Retailers must strengthen their data systems to meet rising expectations and stay competitive.Links referenced:Download the full report here: https://obvs.ly/Ron1Companies mentioned:IBM

Part 1 of Voices from the Frontline: AI in Action, a limited series sponsored by Microsoft, sets the foundation for everything that follows. In this episode, we cut through the noise and clear up some of the biggest misconceptions about AI on the frontline.With Abbie Sweeney and Irina Parsina from the Microsoft Copilot Acceleration team, we dive into what leaders everywhere need to hear: you don’t need a perfect system or a massive transformation plan to get started with AI. You can begin right where you are, take small steps, and build over time.We also explore why Microsoft’s responsible AI principles — trust, safety, and transparency — matter so much when you’re supporting the people who make your business work every day.Through practical examples, Abbie and Irina show how tools like Microsoft Copilot can take everyday tasks off the plates of managers and associates, giving them more time and energy to do what they do best: connect with customers, care for patients, and elevate the human experience.This episode is all about confidence and clarity. It reminds leaders that AI isn’t something to fear or avoid — it’s an accessible, manageable evolution that can make frontline work smarter, simpler, and more human.AI can be integrated into existing workflows, making it accessible no matter where an organization is on its tech journey.AI readiness is a moving target — perfection is not required to begin.The smartest approach is to start small, learn, and iterate, rather than aiming for a massive overhaul.Microsoft’s AI strategy is grounded in trust, safety, and transparency, helping organizations adopt AI responsibly.Copilot acts as the UI for AI, giving frontline teams one simple entry point for powerful intelligence.AI frees up valuable time for human connection, allowing employees to focus on customers, patients, and guests.

Welcome to Retail in America, Season 2, episode 1, with a special conversation sponsored by IBM. Brand loyalty isn’t what it used to be — and today’s consumers are proving just how quickly it can disappear. In this conversation, I sit down with IBM’s Jane Cheung to unpack the latest findings from the IBM Global Consumer Research study and explore why trust has become the true competitive advantage.Consumers are still willing to choose the brands they believe in, even when prices rise — but the margin for error is shrinking fast. With AI playing a growing role in how people research, validate, and discover products, the expectations for transparency and consistency have never been higher.We dig into what this shift means for retail leaders: how loyalty must evolve, what today’s “value equation” really looks like, and why advocacy is emerging as one of the most powerful signals in an AI-driven marketplace. This episode is a roadmap for any brand that wants to stay relevant — not just to people, but to the AI systems helping them shop.Takeaways:Loyalty is more fragile than ever — trust is now the differentiator.Data transparency matters: 83% of consumers have concerns about privacy and usage.25% of shoppers will still pay more for brands they truly trust.Advocacy is rising fast, with 47% of consumers recommending a new brand recently.AI is reshaping loyalty programs and how value is delivered.Strong data governance is essential for accurate, timely, and personalized engagement.Links referenced:Register to receive the full report here: https://obvs.ly/Ron1Companies mentioned:IBM

Welcome to RETAIL IN AMERICA!This podcast is part of The RETAIL IN AMERICA tour, my year-long journey to discover incredible retail heroes all across the country, celebrating our retail culture, community, and careers. Go to retailpride.com or IG @retail pride to see it all, including past podcast episodes, playlists, and future cities on tour.Today I am LIVE from the Airstream in Palm Springs, California, with Joe Lopardi, the Director of Retail for the iconic brand TRINA TURKJoe prides himself on building and retaining dynamic teams at all levels, being a company culture proponent, leveraging an elevated event strategy to benefit local charities and non-profits, and delivering positive results. He is a people-centric leader who values his relationships with internal and external clients.He has pioneered client development programs, led teams through the construction of mission, vision, and value statements, and is leading his present team to deliver the strongest net sales results in company history this year.When he is not making market visits with his teams and clients, he is working on restoring a 1930s bungalow he recently purchased with his fiancée in Los Angeles, CA.Contact me directly here to nominate a retail hero for this podcast, host a retail networking or book signing event in your city, or say hello.Keep your retail pride strong, and I will see you on the road!The RETAIL IN AMERICA podcast team includes:Producer Roi PeretsAudio Engineer Dean AlbakCover Image shot by Duke WinnA huge thank you to the three title sponsors fueling the RETAIL IN AMERICA tour and this podcast. Spotify Advertising Spotify is the #1 podcast platform in the US and has grown to over 420M monthly unique registered users around the globe, over half of which are supported on the ad platform. Spotify advertising will help you reach and target your audience across devices, locations, and formats. YOOBIC  is a Frontline Employee Experience Platform. It’s an all-in-one mobile app that provides Retail leaders and their frontline teams with inclusive communications, mobile learning, and digitized task management - all in the flow of work.KWI is the industry's only true turnkey omni-channel platform for specialty retailers. With over 35 years of experience, let KWI help you execute flawlessly with the features that matter most, including endless aisle, clienteling, mobile checkout, inventory management, e-commerce, and more. 

Welcome to RETAIL IN AMERICA!This podcast is part of The RETAIL IN AMERICA tour, my year-long journey to discover incredible retail heroes all across the country, celebrating our retail culture, community, and careers. Go to retailpride.com or IG @retail pride to see it all, including past podcast episodes, playlists, and future cities on tour.Today I am LIVE from the Airstream in Malibu, California, with Bree Jacoby, the founder and CEO of BREE.Bree Jacoby is an LA-based entrepreneur, stylist, founder, and all-around powerhouse - and if you work in any capacity in sales or retail, you will want to experience this conversation!Bree and I go way back and have done several things together that we'll talk about, and as she says, "fashion and entrepreneurship are in my blood."As a Los Angeles native who grew up in a family of entrepreneurs, she is passionate about trailblazing the style space by making luxury more attainable and empowering people to be their best.Her company's mission is to transcend what to wear by revolutionizing how people get dressed and sparking a more personal, confident relationship with style for everyone.By streamlining what you already own, curating purposeful purchases, and digitizing polished looks, you reduce stress, wasted time, and guesswork to make dressing well a whole lot more fun and BREEzy for you!Please enjoy the episode, and a big thank you to the three title sponsors fueling the RETAIL IN AMERICA tour and this podcast.Spotify Advertising is the #1 podcast platform in the US and has grown to over 420M monthly unique registered users around the globe, over half of which are supported on the ad platform. Spotify advertising will help you reach and target your audience across devices, locations, and formats.YOOBIC is a Frontline Employee Experience Platform. It's an all-in-one mobile app that provides Retail leaders and their frontline teams with inclusive communications, mobile learning, and digitized task management - all in the flow of work.KWI is the industry's only true turnkey omnichannel platform for specialty retailers.With over 35 years of experience, let KWI help you execute flawlessly with the features that matter most, including endless aisle, clienteling, mobile checkout, inventory management, e-commerce, and more.Contact me directly here to nominate a retail hero for this podcast, host a retail networking or book signing event in your city, or say hello.Keep your retail pride strong, and I will see you on the road!The RETAIL IN AMERICA podcast team includes:Producer Roi PeretsAudio Engineer 

Welcome to RETAIL IN AMERICA!This podcast is part of The RETAIL IN AMERICA tour, my year-long journey to discover incredible retail heroes all across the country, celebrating our retail culture, community, and careers. Go to retailpride.com or IG @retail pride to see it all, including past podcast episodes, playlists, and future cities on tour.Kit Campoy is a retail leader turned freelance writer and one of the most prominent voices for frontline retail teams on LinkedIn.After graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Merchandising, she wanted nothing to do with retail management and had aspirations of being a stylist on photo shoots. Then, a funny thing happened; she realized that she was good at leadership and liked it.A move to San Diego landed her at Old Navy. A two-story behemoth where she was hired to plan shipments/merchandise, then a transition to PacSun, where she learned retail leadership 101. She quickly moved to a Store Manager position and worked for the company for five years.A jump to Lucky Brand, then Anthropologie, and finally, Tilly's Store Manager, Carlsbad, at the Forum for nine years. Running that building with hundreds of people over the years and close partnerships with vendors and leaders at the home office was the honor & privilege of her career. She ultimately left retail in February 2022 and is now a solo entrepreneur who does freelance writing and ghostwriting and writes two weekly newsletters. You can find her on LinkedIn daily, advocating for retail leaders and frontline employees. You can connect with Kit on LinkedIn, DeSo, and Twitter. Give hustle-culture a break, and join her weekly newsletter Traveling Money and Kit writes personal essays on Medium. Thank you to the three title sponsors fueling the RETAIL IN AMERICA tour and this podcast. Spotify Advertising is the #1 podcast platform in the US and has grown to over 420M monthly unique registered users around the globe, over half of which are supported on the ad platform. Spotify advertising will help you reach and target your audience across devices, locations, and formats. YOOBIC  is a Frontline Employee Experience Platform. It's an all-in-one mobile app that provides Retail leaders and their frontline teams with inclusive communications, mobile learning, and digitized task management - all in the flow of work.KWI is the industry's only true turnkey omnichannel platform for specialty retailers.With over 35 years of experience, let KWI help you execute flawlessly with the features that matter most, including...

Welcome to RETAIL IN AMERICA!This podcast is part of The RETAIL IN AMERICA tour, my year-long journey to discover incredible retail heroes all across the country, celebrating our retail culture, community, and careers. Go to retailpride.com or IG @retail pride to see it all, including past podcast episodes, playlists, and future cities on tour.This conversation was recorded live in our Airstream in San Diego, CA, with Tony Drockton, Founder and self-proclaimed Chief Cheerleader of Hammitt, a genuine American luxury brand based in Los Angeles.A lifelong entrepreneur, beginning with an MBA from Bowling Green in his home state of Ohio, Tony established his pattern of success early, through his start-ups in the construction and finance industries, before moving into this crazy fashion business.Tony took the reins at Hammitt in 2008, overseeing its transformation from a best-kept hometown secret to a digital and retail phenomenon.Tony is a philanthropist, speaker, mentor, and lifelong entrepreneur, but mostly, he loves experiencing the zest and wonder of life and brings all of that to this conversation. Enjoy! A huge thank you to the three title sponsors fueling the RETAIL IN AMERICA tour and this podcast. Spotify Advertising Spotify is the #1 podcast platform in the US and has grown to over 420M monthly unique registered users around the globe, over half of which are supported on the ad platform. Spotify advertising will help you reach and target your audience across devices, locations, and formats. YOOBIC  is a Frontline Employee Experience Platform. It’s an all-in-one mobile app that provides Retail leaders and their frontline teams with inclusive communications, mobile learning, and digitized task management - all in the flow of work.KWI is the industry's only true turnkey omni-channel platform for specialty retailers. With over 35 years of experience, let KWI help you execute flawlessly with the features that matter most, including endless aisle, clienteling, mobile checkout, inventory management, e-commerce, and more. Contact me directly here to nominate a retail hero for this podcast, host a retail networking or book signing event in your city, or say hello.  Keep your retail pride strong, and I will see you on the road!The RETAIL IN AMERICA podcast team includes:Producer Roi PeretsAudio Engineer Dean AlbakCover Image shot by Duke Winn

Welcome to RETAIL IN AMERICA!This podcast is part of The RETAIL IN AMERICA tour, my year-long journey to discover incredible retail heroes all across the country, celebrating our retail culture, community, and careers. Go to retailpride.com or IG @retail pride to see it all, including past podcast episodes, playlists, and future cities on tour.This is a very entertaining episode because we are not recording in the Airstream; we are live in the design studio for WiesMade in Napa Valley, CA because I wanted to see the roots of the operation - and it's literally a historic barn behind Nic's home! Nic Wiessler didn't start his career as the founder of the premium denim and knitwear brand WiesMade. Because before he was even considering launching his brand, he was a very successful retail leader for over 20 years with some of the country's most exciting and innovative companies. It started at GAP, where he ran the stock room at his local store. When Nic graduated college, he took on other leadership roles in retail with Lucky Brand and later as the District Manager in Northern California for Restoration Hardware (RH). In 2009 he took on a DM role with Cole Haan and ultimately became the Head of Retail, overseeing 90 stores as they de-coupled from Nike. Nic joined me at Bonobos in 2014 as part of a team that built it from a scrappy small group of 10 stores into a large 42-store fleet. Most recently, he was in the Director of Retail role at Guideboat, where he spent time in the design room working with their lux outdoor apparel line. After two years of work, he will launch his brand WiesMade this month, which exclusively sources every piece from "dirt to denim" in the USA, and Nic is now working directly with two mills to develop his own fabrics for his brand.Nic is a Northern California native, went to school at Sonoma State University, and enjoys everything the beauty of the Northern California coast has to offer, including free diving, spearfishing, and surfing. Enjoy the episode, and please support Nic as he launches his new brand by subscribing at https://wiesmade.comA huge thank you to the three title sponsors fueling the RETAIL IN AMERICA tour and this podcast: Spotify Advertising Spotify is the #1 podcast platform in the US and has grown to over 420M monthly unique registered users around the globe, over half of which are supported on the ad platform. Spotify advertising will help you reach and target your audience across devices, locations, and formats. YOOBIC Over 300 companies in 80 countries trust YOOBIC to drive their retail performance at scale, get real-time visibility into multi-location business execution, digitized task management, and more. KWI is the industry's only true...

Welcome to RETAIL IN AMERICA!This podcast is part of The RETAIL IN AMERICA tour, my year-long journey to discover incredible retail heroes all across the country, celebrating our retail culture, community, and careers. Go to retailpride.com or IG @retail pride to see it all, including past podcast episodes, playlists, and future cities on tour.This is an extraordinary episode filled with incredible takeaways from my great friend, Ted Harrington.Ted has many titles, including the #1 best-selling author of HACKABLE, the Tech Done Different podcast host, and the Executive Partner at Independent Security Evaluators (ISE), the company of ethical hackers famous for hacking cars, medical devices, web applications, and password managers. Ted and his company have helped hundreds of companies fix tens of thousands of security vulnerabilities, including Google, Amazon, and Netflix.Ted has been featured in over 100 media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and Forbes. His team also founded and organizes IoT Village, an event whose hacking contest is a three-time DEF CON Black Badge winner.And just last month, he delivered his first TedTalk!But most importantly, he’s a man with great wisdom that he generously shared with me as we sat together a recent morning while the Airstream was parked in Malibu.Don’t miss this conversation, as you may discover you’re a hacker too!A huge thank you to the three title sponsors fueling the RETAIL IN AMERICA tour and this podcast:Spotify Advertising Spotify is the #1 podcast platform in the US and has grown to over 420M monthly unique registered users around the globe, over half of which are supported on the ad platform. Spotify advertising will help you reach and target your audience across devices, locations, and formats. YOOBIC Over 300 companies in 80 countries trust YOOBIC to drive their retail performance at scale, get real-time visibility into multi-location business execution, digitized task management, and more. KWI is the industry's only true turnkey omni-channel platform for specialty retailers. With over 35 years of experience, let KWI help you execute flawlessly with the features that matter most, including endless aisle, clienteling, mobile checkout, inventory management, e-commerce, and more. The RETAIL IN AMERICA podcast team includes:Producer Roi PeretsAudio Engineer a...

Welcome to RETAIL IN AMERICA!This podcast is part of The RETAIL IN AMERICA tour, my year-long journey to discover incredible retail heroes all across the country, celebrating our retail culture, community, and careers. Go to retailpride.com or IG @retail pride to see it all, including past podcast episodes, playlists, and future cities on tour.Today I am LIVE from the Airstream in Malibu, California, with Misti Blasko, the President of North America for All Saints and John Varvatos, and John Gregory, the Global Retail category Development Officer for Spotify.Misti Blasko and I were introduced early last year through Kristen Conklin, who was guest number 1 on this podcast. She is a big fan of RETAIL PRIDE and wanted us to meet, and here we are!John Gregory and I also met in early 2021; he interviewed me for the internal teams at Spotify Advertising about how to speak to retail executives in the selling process. He was an early advocate of my mission for the Retail in America Tour, and Spotify Advertising is now a title sponsor of my tour.Please enjoy the conversation, it’s a great one, and contact me directly here to nominate a retail hero for this podcast, host a retail networking or book signing event in your city, or say hello!The RETAIL IN AMERICA podcast team includes:Producer Roi PeretsAudio Engineer Dean AlbakCover Image shot by Duke WinnA huge thank you to the three title sponsors fueling the RETAIL IN AMERICA tour and this podcast. Spotify Advertising Spotify is the #1 podcast platform in the US and has grown to over 420M monthly unique registered users around the globe, over half of which are supported on the ad platform. Spotify advertising will help you reach and target your audience across devices, locations, and formats. YOOBIC Over 300 companies in 80 countries trust YOOBIC to drive their retail performance at scale, get real-time visibility into multi-location business execution, digitized task management, and more. KWI is the industry's only true turnkey omni-channel platform

Welcome to RETAIL IN AMERICA!This podcast is part of The RETAIL IN AMERICA tour, my year-long journey to discover incredible retail heroes all across the country, celebrating our retail culture, community, and careers. Go to retailpride.com or IG @retail pride to see it all, including past podcast episodes, playlists, and future cities on tour.Today I am LIVE from the Airstream in Palo Alto, California, with Jill Grande, a Senior Director with Tiffany & Co.Jill grew up in fashion because on Sunday mornings, when the other kids watched cartoons, she watched runway shows! She has led teams as small as 6 to groups of over 50, turning the poorest-performing businesses into record-breaking powerhouses.Jill has traveled the world developing teams, diagnosed pain points in the fashion industry's most essential flagships, and proudly built fashion's biggest names alongside some of the industry's greatest leaders.Full disclosure, Jill and I have known each other for over 12 years! I was the newly hired DM for Tory Burch for the west coast, and she was the GM of the store in Valley Fair Mall. Jill went on to open the Flagship on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, and I recruited her to work for me again at Saint Laurent as the Store Director of Valley Fair Mall, back where it all began. Today, she is the Senior Director at Tiffany & Co. at Stanford in Palo Alto, California.In 2019 also asked Jill to be a contributor to RETAIL PRIDE, and I'm proud to have been able to include her wisdom. You will no doubt hear how our connection and friendship run deep. Please enjoy the show and contact me directly here to nominate a retail hero for this podcast, host a retail networking or book signing event in your city, or say hello!And a huge thank you to the three title sponsors fueling the RETAIL IN AMERICA tour and this podcast. Spotify Advertising Spotify is the #1 podcast platform in the US and has grown to over 420M monthly unique registered users around the globe, over half of which are supported on the ad platform. Spotify advertising will help you reach and target your audience across devices, locations, and formats. YOOBIC Over 300 companies in 80 countries trust YOOBIC to drive their retail performance at scale, get real-time visibility into multi-location business execution, digitized task management, and more. KWI is the industry's only true turnkey omni-channel platform for specialty retailers. With over 35 years of experience, let KWI help you execute flawlessly with the features that matter most, including endless aisle, clienteling, mobile...

Welcome to RETAIL IN AMERICA!This podcast is part of The RETAIL IN AMERICA tour, my year-long journey to discover incredible retail heroes all across the country, celebrating our retail culture, community, and careers. Go to retailpride.com or IG @retail pride to see it all, including past podcast episodes, playlists, and future cities on tour.What do being in a rock band, coffee, craft beer, and sustainable outdoor apparel have in common? Josh Hagquist will tell you! We spoke together in my Airstream at an RV park south of downtown Portland, and he is a man full of wisdom about life and leadership.Josh Hagquist is the Head of Retail for prAna, based out of San Diego. We were introduced to each other because prAna is one of the emerging brands under the Columbia Sportswear umbrella and a customer of KWI.A bit about Josh; after college, he plunged into the music world to tour, put out records, travel with his friends, and follow his passion for all things music almost exclusively for six years. He then landed with Starbucks and said he was" lucky to have some fantastic mentors and leaders who helped shape my ethos surrounding the customer experience and team building."After Starbucks, he worked for almost ten years with Stone Brewing, managing multiple locations, building high-performing teams, and telling the Stone story to hundreds of thousands of patrons. His retail and life journey brought him to prAna in 2021, where their passion for the outdoors and sustainability was something that resonated with him.You will hear how he still puts out records, plays the occasional show, and loves to make music. He is also an avid hiker, backpacker, and explorer, usually found on a random trail or remote road somewhere with his camera looking for obscure historical stuff! Enjoy the conversation. Follow Josh @j_hagquist and his music at @thebeautifulmistakeband and @saintvalletta and @stranger_kingsPlease enjoy the conversation, and contact me directly here to nominate a retail hero for this podcast, host a retail networking or book signing event in your city, or say hello!The RETAIL IN AMERICA podcast team includes:Producer Roi PeretsAudio Engineer Dean AlbakCover Image shot by Duke WinnA huge thank you to the three title sponsors fueling the RETAIL IN AMERICA tour and this podcast. Spotify

Welcome to RETAIL IN AMERICA!This podcast is part of The RETAIL IN AMERICA Tour, my year-long journey to discover incredible retail heroes all across the country, celebrating our retail culture, community, and careers. Go to retailpride.com or IG @retail pride to see it all, including past podcast episodes, playlists, and future cities on tour.I'm excited to be back live with guests as we make our way down the West Coast for the next couple of months. Today, we are sitting together in my Airstream, parked in northern Seattle on Lake Pleasant. It's a gorgeous setting in this vibrant city.Dayna Brown is a native Californian like I am, raised in LA, working for over a decade in what she considers a career defined by retail, but it has led to so much more.She went into retail sales because of her love for apparel and styling, but what she found along the way was a career inspired by how to help people feel good in their skin, help find out who they are in the world, and own it.She has spent time with businesses, including Nordstrom, Bonobos, BCBG, and The Collected Group, until she had the opportunity to diversify and challenge her fashion background with EVO in the outdoor industry. Today, she is the Senior District Manager for this Seattle-based company.And lastly, a huge thank you to the three title sponsors fueling the RETAIL IN AMERICA tour and this podcast. Spotify Advertising Spotify is the #1 podcast platform in the US and has grown to over 420M monthly unique registered users around the globe, over half of which are supported on the ad platform. Spotify advertising will help you reach and target your audience across devices, locations, and formats. YOOBIC Over 300 companies in 80 countries trust YOOBIC to drive their retail performance at scale, get real-time visibility into multi-location business execution, digitized task management, and more. KWI is the industry's only true turnkey omni-channel platform for specialty retailers. With over 35 years of experience, let KWI help you execute flawlessly with the features that matter most, including endless aisle, clienteling, mobile checkout, inventory management, e-commerce, and more. Please enjoy the conversation, and contact me directly here to nominate a retail hero for this podcast, host a retail networking or book signing event in your city, or say hello!The RETAIL IN AMERICA podcast team includes:Producer Roi PeretsAudio Engineer Dean AlbakCover Image shot by Duke Winn

Welcome to RETAIL IN AMERICA!This podcast is part of The RETAIL IN AMERICA Tour, my year-long journey to discover incredible retail heroes all across the country, celebrating our retail culture, community, and careers. Go to retailpride.com or IG @retail pride to see it all, including past podcast episodes, playlists, and future cities on tour.Today I am in West Glacier, Montana, as we wrap up our time here this week, and I have wanted to have this conversation with Keith Moneymaker since the tour began; he is an incredibly inspirational man. When I think about retail heroes positively impacting others and their communities, you will hear that Keith is one of those people.About two years ago, Keith and I were introduced by Mark Kinsley and Mark Quinn, Dos Marcos. Their book, Come back to Bed about the mattress industry and how to deliver outstanding service and results from the same publisher as my book. We quickly became friends, I have been a guest on their podcast twice, and they knew I needed to meet Keith!Keith Moneymaker calls himself the President, Founder, and DREAM MAKER at Sweet Dreams Mattresses and More in North Carolina, and he is the founder of the Dreams4All Foundation.Keith says that "too many people living in poverty or struck by tragedy struggle to find a place to sleep night-to-night. By customers donating their used mattresses when they're ready to buy a new one, you start the process of giving someone a place to sleep."He is also the father of 3 boys, and there's a great story there that you don't want to miss.Contact me directly here to nominate a retail hero for this podcast, host a retail networking or book signing event in your city, or say hello.The RETAIL IN AMERICA podcast team includes:Producer Roi PeretsAudio Engineer Dean AlbakCover Image shot by Duke WinnA huge thank you to the three title sponsors fueling the RETAIL IN AMERICA tour and this podcast. Spotify Advertising Spotify is the #1 podcast platform in the US and has grown to over 420M monthly unique registered users around the globe, over half of which are supported on the ad platform. Spotify advertising will help you reach and target your audience across devices, locations, and formats. YOOBIC Over 300 companies in 80 countries trust YOOBIC to drive their retail performance at scale, get real-time visibility into multi-location business execution,...