Rethink Retail

On this episode of Rethink Retail, host Melissa Moore chats with Liliana Scyz, Wholesale Manager at Valentino, live from the Retail Technology Show! Liliana shares her incredible 20-year journey in retail, from Harrods to iconic luxury brands. Discover how a pivotal moment led her to Oxford Said Business School, transforming her view on leadership and the power of teamwork. We explore the essence of great leadership in luxury retail, the critical role of understanding people, and how technology drives customer-centric operations at Valentino. Liliana's bold approach and commitment to continuous learning offer invaluable lessons on embracing change and overcoming fear. Join our global retail community:www.globalretailleaders.com

Mobility, The Future of Retail Flexibility with Diebold Nixdorf + Zebra Technologies In this episode, host Ronald Margulis is joined by Łukasz Wojtasik at Diebold Nixdorf and Drew Ehlers at Zebra to explore the evolving role of mobility in modern retail. From self-scanning to omnichannel orchestration, discover how mobile-first strategies are transforming store operations, empowering associates, and elevating the customer experience.

On this episode of Rethink Retail, host Alex Baker chats with Robert Pratley from Dormeo UK, live from the Retail Technology Show! Rob, Dormeo UK Digital Manager, shares his journey into digital strategy, diving into paid social, paid search, and affiliate marketing. Discover how Dormeo is revolutionizing the customer experience, challenging traditional mattress sales, and leveraging data to meet needs cost-effectively.

Smarter Stores. Empowered Associates. Data-Driven Retail. In this episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast, host and top retail expert Matthew Adam Smith sits down with Jim Norred, Chief Commercial Officer at VusionGroup, to explore how connected retail is transforming from buzzword to bottom-line strategy. You’ll hear:

In this episode of RETHINK Retail, host Andrew Bubsy speak to, Steve Hewitt, former CEO of Gymshark, breaks down the transformative years that helped Gymshark achieve unicorn status. Through a blend of people-first leadership and strategic clarity, Steve shares how the brand scaled without losing sight of its purpose. ⏱ Timestamps: [02:00] Why ego kills culture and humility builds momentum [06:00] People-first hiring: “No assholes, just aligned values” [11:10] Choosing investors who fit your culture [14:00] The “North Star” framework explained [17:00] Audience: Focused targeting and social-native growth [20:30] Values & standards: Why internal clarity matters most

In this Global Retail Leaders episode, host Linda Johansen-James speaks with, Jermain Gil, COO at Good Ranchers, shares how a mission-driven meat subscription business is bringing integrity back to the dinner table. From humble pop-up shop beginnings to launching one of the cleanest chicken nuggets on the market, Jermaine reveals how deep customer understanding, bold experimentation, and a 100% American sourcing commitment set Good Ranchers apart. ⏱ Timestamps: [01:10] The Good Ranchers origin story & ministry roots [04:00] Pop-up shops and pre-launch strategy [07:30] From offline to online: building a DTC model [11:00] Subscription-first success and customer trust [14:20] Money-back guarantee and customer service excellence [17:10] Supporting sustainable American farming

What does it take to launch a clean beauty brand and lead with purpose through every challenge? For Lynn Powers, it started with a bold career pivot and a vision for healthier hair—and a healthier planet. On this episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast, retail expert Bryan Amaral chats with Lynn Power, CEO and Co-founder of Masami, about her journey from corporate advertising to clean beauty entrepreneurship. From creating a high-performing, sustainable product line to building a brand that prioritizes integrity, Lynn shares what it means to stay mission-driven in a rapidly evolving industry.

In this episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast, we explore the evolving landscape of self-checkout (SCO) in grocery with two industry leaders: Arvin Jawa, VP of Global Retail Strategy & Marketing at Diebold Nixdorf, and Girijesh Agarwal, Chief Strategy Officer at Incisiv. Hosted by RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert April Sabral, the conversation dives into exclusive findings from the study "Delivering Success in Grocery", offering actionable insights for grocery retailers navigating automation, efficiency, and the balance between technology and the human touch.

Retail is moving faster than ever. How do brands—and the conferences that serve them—keep up? In this episode of Global Retail Leaders, Julia Hare talks with Sonal Gandhi from The Lead about how the conference is evolving beyond D2C into omnichannel, cultural relevance, and actionable AI strategies. ⏱ Timestamps: [00:00] Welcome to RETHINK Retail [01:00] The evolution of The Lead since 2018 [04:20] Beyond DTC: Omnichannel and new business models [08:00] The shifting funding landscape for emerging brands [11:30] How AI is shaping real-world retail strategies [15:00] Leveraging social media & cultural moments [18:00] Exciting keynote speakers and the Challenger Brand track [22:00] Why The Lead remains approachable as it grows Join the GRL community or be the next guest: https://www.globalretailleaders.com/

On this episode of Rethink Retail, host Matt Muller sits down with John Beasley of Home Delivery World and Leena Nunez of the Last Mile Retail Awards to explore the future of last mile innovation

Host: Natalie Berg, Retail Analyst & Founder, NBK Retail (Top Retail Expert) Guests: Darrell Maton, Senior Director of Retail Services Solutions at Diebold Nixdorf Alan Burt, Senior Manager | Retail Technology Lead at RBR Data Services Join Darrell and Alan as they discuss the impact of staff empowerment on retail success. From IT self-service to improving store efficiency, this episode uncovers how the Shift Left approach is reshaping the retail landscape. Tune in now to hear insights from the experts!

In our latest episode, we catch up with Lena Moriarty live from eTail Palm Springs to uncover what’s in store for this year’s event and beyond. From launching a new brand identity—Power Your Growth—to debuting their first-ever AI Summit, Lena shares how eTail is moving from just conversation to implementation. Next stop? eTail London

In this RETHINK Retail episode, host Aliyah Flowers sits down with Madison Lee, CEO of Nēmah, to explore how this fast-growing perinatal skincare brand is redefining beauty, trust, and community for modern mothers.

In this RETHINK Retail episode, host Shannon Flanagan chats with Kristen Elmer, VP of D2C Sales at Bark, about how the brand behind BarkBox uses data, personalization, and lifestyle-driven merchandising to keep tails wagging.

In this RETHINK Retail episode, Kait Stevens speaks with Ashley Newman, Director of Marketing & Communications at Zippy Paws, about how the brand has navigated its rebrand, fostered a deep connection with customers, and created meaningful in-person experiences that drive loyalty. ⏱ Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction to RETHINK Retail [02:10] Meet Ashley Newman, Director of Marketing & Communications at Zippy Paws [05:30] How Zippy Paws is navigating its rebrand during the pandemic [10:00] The role of in-person events in creating brand loyalty [15:20] Encouraging user-generated content and customer engagement [20:30] Zippy Paws’ unique community-focused marketing [25:45] The brand’s future vision and growth potential

AI is no longer a “nice to have” — it’s a business imperative. In this episode of the RETHINK Retail Podcast, we’re joined by PwC’s Alison Furman and Remzi Ural to explore how AI is transforming customer experience, operations, and revenue growth in retail. From strategy shifts to scaling adoption, learn what retailers need to succeed in 2025 and beyond.

In this Global Retail Leaders episode, Fritz Finlay chats with Andrei Rebrov, CEO of Scentbird, about how the fragrance subscription service is making it easier to try new scents while building an omnichannel brand. ⏱ Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction to RETHINK Retail [01:25] Meet Andre at Sandberg, CEO of Scentbird [04:15] The beginnings of Scentbird and its fragrance subscription model [08:30] How Scentbird makes fragrance discovery easier online [12:50] The power of personalized recommendations [17:00] Subscription model: The convenience of monthly fragrance deliveries [22:30] Expanding into omnichannel: How Scentbird is navigating brick-and-mortar retail

A RETHINK Retail episode in collaboration with Cognizant Retailers face increasing pressure from labor shortages, supply chain complexity, and evolving customer expectations. So what’s the key to staying competitive? Smarter operations. In this episode, we team up with Cognizant to explore how operational transformation drives bottom-line success. Experts Scott TumSuden and Karthik Chandrasekar (Cognizant) and retail consultant Ian Scott reveal how the Stores 360 platform—developed with ServiceNow and Thirdera—is helping brands optimize workflows, boost employee performance, and elevate the customer experience.

How Gerber Children’s Wear is Future-Proofing Retail with AI & Authenticity In this episode of the RETHINK Retail podcast, host Richard Kestenbaum, Partner at Triangle Capital and Forbes contributor, sits down with Alicia Littleton, Director of E-commerce at Gerber Children’s Wear, to explore how technology, AI, and personalization are transforming the retail experience—especially for today’s digital-native parents. ⏱ Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction: Meet Richard and Alicia [03:30] Social algorithms, data, and understanding today’s parent [08:45] Retail channel strategy: Target, Walmart, Amazon & DTC [14:10] Resale, sustainability & loyalty in babywear [19:20] The future of retail tech: AI & conversational commerce [21:05] AI’s role in personalization and consumer expectations [24:00] What is conversational commerce and why it matters

Only 5% of specialty retailers are leading in unified commerce. In this special podcast episode, Manhattan Associates, in partnership with Google Cloud and research firm Incisiv, breaks down the just-launched 2025 Unified Commerce Benchmark for Specialty Retail.