Hal Lawton

President & CEO Tractor Supply

Hal Lawton has served as President and CEO of Tractor Supply Company since January 2020 and is a member of the Company's Board of Directors. During his tenure at Tractor Supply, Hal has led the Company through a period of unprecedented growth while introducing its Life Out Here strategy to drive sustainable growth.

Previously, Hal served as President of Macy’s from September 2017 to December 2019. As President, he had responsibility for all aspects of the Macy’s brand, including merchandising, marketing, store operations, technology and consumer insights and analytics. Prior to that, Hal was Senior Vice President, eBay North America from August 2015 to September 2017. In that role, he oversaw all aspects of eBay’s Americas business unit, including marketing, merchandising, operations, business selling, consumer selling and advertising, as well as global responsibility for shipping, payments, risk and trust. Before joining eBay, Hal spent 10 years in various leadership roles at Home Depot, where he most recently was Senior Vice President for merchandising. Hal was responsible for elevating Home Depot’s Internet business. Prior to that, Hal was an associate principal at McKinsey & Co., providing strategic advice to executive teams in consumer-packaged goods and manufacturing industries.

Hal holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Chemical Engineering and Pulp and Paper Science Technology from North Carolina State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Virginia. In November 2025, Hal was appointed as a director of Wayfair, Inc (NYSE: W). Hal also previously served as a director of Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. from October 2016 to February 2018 and Sealed Air Corporation from January 2019 to February 2026. He also serves as a board member for the National Retail Federation (NRF) and the Business Roundtable.

Carly Gomez

Chief Marketing Officer Crocs

Carly Fusaro Gomez joined Crocs in August of 2025 as SVP, Chief Marketing Officer. Reporting directly to the Chief Brand Officer, Carly drives continued brand growth through a forward-thinking, digitally led, social-first marketing strategy. With nearly 20 years of omnichannel marketing experience, Carly brings a reputation for leveraging emerging trends and technologies to captivate markets and drive business expansion.

A graduate of Virginia Tech, Carly spent most of her career in Los Angeles with Vans, a VF company, where she left as VP of Marketing, Brand Management, DTC and Social Media for Global and the Americas. She then joined Fabletics, where she served as Chief Marketing Officer. Drawn to Crocs by the culture it displays internally and with consumers, she is excited to share the passion for the brand and win together.

She enjoys challenges, such as launching Channel 66 at Vans during the height of the pandemic, creating a full digital radio station that would broadcast live from a closed store in downtown Los Angeles. Bringing people together in times of uncertainty and highlighting artists and creative voices, Carly thrives when projects can truly connect with the audience, an incredible fit for Crocs.

Growing up the oldest of three sisters in the D.C. area, Carly went on to spend 25 years in Los Angeles. She now enjoys staying active and discovering new restaurants in the Denver area with her husband Joe. In her time outside of work she supports her sister-in-law's nonprofit, Building Futures and Friends (BFF), which provides programs for children and adults with special needs

Anne Mehlman

Brand President Crocs

Anne Mehlman serves as the Executive Vice President and Brand President of the Crocs Brand, having been appointed to the role in May 2024. Ms. Mehlman has over 20 years of global financial and operational experience, having re-joined Crocs, Inc. in 2018 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Mehlman had previously worked at Crocs, Inc. as Vice President of Corporate Finance from 2011-2016. After leaving Crocs in 2016, she served as the Chief Financial Officer of Zappos.com, the ecommerce retailer owned by Amazon. She also held various financial roles at RSC Equipment Rental (now United Rentals), Corporate Express (now Staples) and Lockheed Martin. She received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

Christine Chang

Co-Founder & CO-CEO Glow Recipe

Sarah Lee and Christine Chang are the co-CEOs and co-founders of Glow Recipe, a clinically-effective, fruit-powered brand known for efficacious and cruelty-free skincare innovations anchored in Korean skincare philosophies. Since its inception in 2017, Glow Recipe has paired the latest technologies and ingredients with education to empower consumers to bring out their glow, while remaining loyal to its core values of real skin acceptance, inclusivity and sustainability. Glow Recipe has built a hyper-engaged global community and has expanded its footprint as a top ranked skincare brand across North America, Europe, Australia, South East Asia, Mexico, and the Middle East. The Company has received extensive global press coverage and accolades for their market leadership, social community, product innovation and category building in outlets such as WWD, Forbes, Vogue, Fortune, Business Insider, Inc, and ABC’s Shark Tank. Glow Recipe was also included on and has received industry honors including WWD International Beauty Brand of the Year 2025, Ernst and Young’s 2024 Entrepreneur Of The Year® National Award, WWD’s 2024 Most Powerful Beauty Brands, CEW’s 2024 Achiever Awards, Adweek’s Creator Visionary Awards and Allure’s Best of Beauty and Reader’s Choice Awards for consecutive years. 2024 marked Glow Recipe’s 10-year anniversary and a significant year of growth for the brand. Under the visionary leadership of Sarah Lee and Christine Chang, Glow Recipe delivered a record-breaking year and maintained its position as the number one indie skincare brand at Sephora globally. The brand also became the top skincare brand at Cult Beauty in the U.K. and a top-three skincare leader at Mecca in Australia. Today, the Watermelon PHA + BHA Pore-Tight Toner and the Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops remain the brand’s hero products, selling every 12 seconds globally and have each made WWD’s Greatest Beauty Products of All Time list.

Greg Schwartz

Co-Founder & CEO StockX

Greg Schwartz is the CEO and co-founder of StockX, a Detroit-based technology leader focused on the large and growing online resale marketplace for sneakers, apparel, accessories, and collectibles. The platform connects buyers and sellers using the same method as the world’s stock markets – an anonymous and transparent ‘bid/ask’ market. Prior to launching StockX, Greg co-founded and served as CEO at UpTo and led digital business and product development at Warner Music Group. He has been at the forefront of the mobile applications industry since its inception and led design and development for some of the first mobile phone applications available in the United States. Greg holds a BSE in computer science from the University of Michigan. He lived in New York City before returning to his native Detroit, where he lives today with his wife and three children. Favorite Sneaker: Crediting Virgil Abloh’s reinvention of Nike’s classic Air Force 1 silhouette, Greg’s favorite sneaker is the Off-White Air Force 1 Black White.

Jamil Ghani

Worldwide Head of Prime Amazon

Jamil Ghani serves as Vice President, Amazon Prime. As the worldwide leader for the Prime program, he leads product, technology, marketing, decision science, operations, and finance teams that build and operate the membership program for 200MM+ paid members across 27 countries. Over his 9-year tenure, Jamil has accelerated the program's growth, tripling the membership and doubling per member spend. He has also broadened Prime's offerings, expanding to 16 new countries and launching new benefits in multiple high-value categories, including health care, grocery, and restaurant food delivery. He works across Amazon’s consumer businesses to innovate on behalf of customers, build the Amazon and Prime businesses, and make member’s lives better every day.

Before coming to Amazon in 2017, Jamil served as Senior Vice President, Enterprise Strategy, Digital & Innovation, for Target Corporation. Over six years, he led Target.com, drove the company’s omnichannel turnaround, and launched multiple online and in-store guest experiences central to Target today. Before that, he spent five years at The Walt Disney Company focused on identifying, developing, and launching travel and leisure growth initiatives. This included the MyMagic+ experience system, Shanghai Disneyland Park, and Aulani destination resort. Jamil spent his early career as a general manager at General Mills and a consultant with the Boston Consulting Group serving clients in tech, media, travel, and financial services.

Jamil holds a BA magna cum laude from Harvard College in economics and computer science and an MBA from the Harvard Business School, where he was selected as a Baker Scholar. Jamil lives with his wife and three daughters in Bellevue, WA.

Candan Erenguc

Chief Operating Officer Anthropologie

Candan Erenguc is the Chief Operating Officer of Anthropologie Group, a global lifestyle brand which specializes in apparel and accessories, intimates, home furniture and décor, beauty and gifts. Candan leads a team that oversees and executes all operations, inventory, and finance across North America, Canada and the EU for Anthropologie, Anthropologie Home, Terrain, and Anthropologie Weddings. Before joining Anthropologie, Candan served as the Chief Supply Chain Officer at Away, where she led the operations and technology functions for the brand disruptor, responsible for revolutionizing the luggage industry. At Away, Candan was responsible for spearheading supply chain, sourcing, product development, technology, logistics, and fulfillment. Prior to Away, Candan was the Senior Vice President of Operations Excellence at Lululemon in Vancouver where she led a variety of business transformation and growth initiatives including a global margin improvement program and a digital transformation initiative that spanned technology, process, and creative. She came to retail after 10 years in consulting, serving clients in retail and consumer products at industry leaders Deloitte and IBM. Candan began her career at Ford Motor’s in Detroit, where she learned operations and technology on the factory floor. Candan graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Business and a master’s in operations.

Mindy Massey

Global ED, Retail Anthropologie

Mindy Massey is a seasoned retail executive who has spent the last 27 years of her career leading, developing, and advancing the retail experience, footprint, and in-store environment for Anthropologie.

Joining the brand in 1999, Massey worked her way up through several field leadership positions, most recently serving as the Global Executive Director of Stores which spans Anthropologie, Weddings, Terrain and Maeve. Mindy oversees all retail locations and both field team operations and infrastructure across North America and the EU. She leads the brands industry-leading visual team, who have become incredibly well-known for their one-of-a-kind window displays, in-store vignettes, and display objects. Under her direction, Anthropologie has grown to over 260 stores globally, with a field team of over 10,000 employees.

Mindy is passionate about developing high-performing teams, streamlining processes, and building service frameworks to support Anthropologie’s continued expansion. A true brand champion, Mindy is invested in continually evolving Anthropologie’s experiential retail format, and building a creative, inspiring, and innovative experience for their loyal community of customers.

Mindy lives in Chicago with her husband Chad, two children, Jack and Ella, and their pup, Captain.

Jed Berger

CEO Kenneth Cole Productions

Jed Berger currently serves as the Global President of Kenneth Cole. Formerly, he was the Global Chief Marketing Officer for the Foot Locker family of brands, where he also led business areas such as licensing, digital and product development. Career highlights include creating Foot Locker’s award winning “Approved” campaign and the “Week of Greatness,” launching their loyalty program and their incubator Greenhouse, and many of the company’s investments. Prior to joining Foot Locker, Jed’s professional experience has deep roots in youth culture. After co founding Dime Magazine and building the agency 94x50, he moved on to serve as the Senior Vice President of Marketing for Modell’s Sporting Goods. His marketing acumen has been recognized regularly throughout his career, including being named to SBG 40 Under 40 in 2011, and Footwear News 40 Under 40 in 2018. Jed holds a BA in Sports Management from The George Washington University and is currently based out of Kenneth Cole’s headquarters in New York City. He has two children, Jackson and Jonah, and is a proud special needs parent and advocate. Jed is an avid sports fan despite being a very average athlete but claims to be an exceptional fantasy sports owner.

J. Michael Prince

President & CEO U.S. Polo Assn.

J. Michael Prince is President, Chief Executive Officer, and Board Member of USPA Global, the company that manages the multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand, the official sports brand and broadcaster for the United States Polo Association (USPA). Michael provides executive leadership overseeing the iconic sport-inspired U.S. Polo Assn. brand, which has a $2.7 billion global footprint and is represented across 190 countries worldwide. His leadership drives the success of the Company’s more than 1,200 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores, digital commerce, global partnerships, and overall management. Michael also oversees the Company’s global broadcasting business, Global Polo, which showcases high-profile polo games through multiple content platforms. Historic deals with ESPN in the United States, TNT and Eurosport in Europe, Star Sports in India, and BeIn Sports in the Middle East now broadcast several of the premier polo championships in the world, sponsored by U.S. Polo Assn., making the thrilling sport accessible to millions of sports fans globally for the very first time. In 2025, legendary ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler hosted the U.S. Open Polo Championship at the USPA National Polo Center (NPC) in Palm Beach. Michael and U.S. Polo Assn. have been featured in Fast Company, Forbes, Fortune, Entrepreneur, GQ, Vanity Fair, WWD, Florida Trend, Palm Beach Illustrated, Modern Luxury, Retail & Leisure International, Modern Retail, Chain Store Age and on ESPN, MSN, Bloomberg, Yahoo Finance, Fox Business, TD Ameritrade, and Cheddar TV, as well as many international publications and broadcast outlets. He has also been a guest on a variety of leading business, industry, and sports podcasts.

Jason Humphrey

Head of Ecommerce AG Jeans

Jason believes the most powerful competitive advantage a brand can have isn't technology or budget — it's the discipline to truly listen to customers and pay close attention to how their behaviors are shifting in real time.

As Director of Ecommerce at AG Jeans, Jason leads digital strategy, site experience, and online merchandising for one of premium denim's most beloved labels. With more than 12 years of experience across fashion, footwear, and lifestyle retail, he has built his career on translating customer signals into smart, timely business decisions — the kind that protect margins and open new paths to growth precisely when the market feels most uncertain.

Jason's background spans some of retail's most dynamic brands, including Hoka, UGG, Sanuk, and Teva under Deckers Brands, and Crocs where he held senior roles in ecommerce and global go-to-market strategy. Across those experiences, a consistent theme emerged: the brands that adapt fastest aren't necessarily the ones with the biggest teams or the most resources. They're the ones that stay closest to their customers — monitoring behavior, reading the data, and creating internal alignment quickly enough to act on what they find.

That customer-first mindset shapes everything Jason does, from assortment planning to digital experience decisions. He's a firm believer that agility isn't just an operational capability — it's a cultural one, built by teams that treat customer insight as a strategic input rather than an afterthought.

At Shop Talk, Jason will share how keeping a genuine pulse on customer needs has guided his approach to navigating fast-changing market conditions — and why the brands winning right now are the ones that never stop listening.

Sonia Lapinsky

Managing Director, Retail AlixPartners

Sonia Lapinsky is a retail transformation leader with nearly 25 years of global operational experience. As head of AlixPartners’ global fashion practice, she works with leaders, owners and investors to improve performance and create value in fashion companies that span the luxury, specialty, global brand, department store and off-price sectors. Lapinsky is known for her pragmatic and hands-on approach, diverse experience, and ability to both challenge and partner with leaders to maximize results when speed is of the essence. She has led multiple complex transformations and integrations creating hundreds of millions of dollars of value, including serving as interim Chief Integration Officer for a global brand house.

Lapinsky is particularly passionate about the connection between consumer shopping preferences and business performance, creating tailored approaches for companies based on their unique market position, customer base and capabilities. She also leads AlixPartners’ annual Consumer Sentiment Index, which studies more than 9,000 consumers to understand what they expect from retailers and brands and which companies they perceive as “winners” across fashion sectors.

Prior to joining AlixPartners, Lapinsky lived and worked in Shenzhen, Toronto, South Asia and Europe, directing sourcing, manufacturing and product development. She holds a mechanical engineering degree from Queen’s University in Canada.

Ben Harms

Chief Growth Officer Archrival

Ben is a marketing expert known for helping global brands turn actionable insights into strategy and creative that moves the needle. As Chief Growth Officer at Archrival, Ben drives the agency’s overall growth, culture, and vision. He also oversees strategic business partnerships for agency clients, including adidas, Spotify, Google, Netflix, Disney, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Red Bull. Known for his dynamic storytelling, presentations, and workshops, Ben inspires marketing leaders and executives to reimagine their brands’ futures to resonate with the next generation of consumers. Over the last 20 years, he has been a featured keynote speaker for some of the world’s largest brands and has been quoted in leading publications including Vogue Business, AdWeek and AdAge, among others.

Melanie Altarescu

Co-Founder Ask/Offer

Melanie Altarescu is the co-founder of ask/offer, a partnership strategy consultancy, and MTCHMKR, an AI-powered platform for discovering, evaluating, and managing brand partnerships. For more than 20 years, she has helped organizations uncover high-impact partnership opportunities that drive growth, cultural relevance, and measurable business value.

Her career spans leadership roles at The Wing, Artsy, The New Yorker, WIRED, and Vanity Fair, where she led partnership, sponsorship, and experiential strategy at the intersection of brands, media, culture, and community. Through ask/offer, Melanie advises companies on partnership strategy, go-to-market initiatives, sponsorships, and business development, helping organizations identify the right opportunities, build the right relationships, and create programs that deliver lasting impact.

She is currently building MTCHMKR, bringing the same strategic thinking into software. The platform combines AI with structured workflows to help organizations discover, evaluate, and manage partnerships more effectively, making a process that has traditionally relied on spreadsheets, intuition, and fragmented relationships more transparent and scalable.

Melanie's clients have included Snapchat, Kate Spade, WeightWatchers, Nanit, Forager Project, Maisonette, The Big Quiet, and the Fifteen Percent Pledge. She is known for uncovering meaningful connections, translating pattern recognition into practical strategy, and bringing clarity and structure to opportunities that might otherwise go unseen.

Lisa Koetter

Partner Bain & Company

As Head of Bain & Company's Americas Restaurant & Food Service Practice, Lisa Koetter brings over two decades of deep expertise guiding the industry's most recognized brands through transformative growth. With 20+ years at Bain, she has partnered with QSR, fast casual, casual dining, and family dining brands and operators to unlock sustainable competitive advantage. Lisa is known for leading end-to-end brand transformations that span menu and value innovation, customer and associate experience redesigns, operational excellence, and digital reinventions. Her work is grounded in a customer-first philosophy, with expertise in guest and associate experience redesigns. She has guided brands through some of their most consequential strategic pivots, including international growth initiatives and enterprise-wide capability builds across marketing effectiveness, pricing, channel strategy, and data & analytics. A trusted advisor to executive teams navigating both scale and growth disruption, Lisa brings a practitioner's perspective to the intersection of strategy and execution and a genuine passion for elevating the future of restaurants and food service.

Jason LaRose

CEO Bombas

LaRose joined Bombas as President in July 2024 and was appointed CEO in July 2025, taking over from co-founder, David Heath. In his role as CEO, he leads the company’s vision and strategic direction, and oversees all key functions, including technology, operations, eCommerce, wholesale and finance. In partnership with the company’s co- founders and leadership team, he is focused on guiding Bombas’s continued expansion, while advancing its mission to help those experiencing homelessness—building on their impact of donating more than 200 million necessary clothing items across the country to date. Prior to joining Bombas, Jason held a number of leadership roles in apparel and DTC businesses, most notably with Under Armour and Equinox. As President of North America for Under Armour, he was responsible for all eCommerce, retail, wholesale, and B2B activities in the U.S. and Canada. As CEO of Equinox Media, he led the launch of a connected fitness hardware and subscription platform. Additionally, Jason has served as Co-Founder of The Post, SVP of eCommerce at Express, SVP of International eCommerce at Sears Holdings, and Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Duke University.

Farzana Nasser

Partner Chameleon Collective

[email protected]

Farzana Nasser is a Partner at Chameleon Collective and a growth marketing executive who helps leading consumer brands accelerate profitable growth through customer acquisition, digital transformation, and eCommerce strategy. Working alongside executive teams, she advises private equity-backed and enterprise organizations on the critical decisions that drive revenue, improve marketing performance, and build scalable, customer-centric businesses. Over the course of her career, Farzana has led growth initiatives for globally recognized brands including Estée Lauder, Diptyque, Erno Laszlo, Malin+Goetz, John Hardy, Bugaboo, Vera Bradley, NEST New York, Wyndham Hotels, and AccuWeather. Her expertise spans customer acquisition, performance marketing, CRM, analytics, AI, omnichannel strategy, and organizational transformation, giving her a unique perspective on how modern marketing organizations can adapt to rapidly changing consumer behavior and technology. Known for combining strategic thinking with hands-on execution, Farzana is frequently brought in to assess complex business challenges, identify untapped growth opportunities, and help leadership teams translate strategy into measurable business results. Her practical, operator-first approach has made her a trusted advisor to C-suite executives navigating growth, change, and digital transformation. A recognized voice in retail and digital marketing, Farzana is a frequent speaker and moderator at leading industry events, including CommerceNext, the KKR CMO Summit, eCommerce Expo, and Shoptalk. She has been recognized by RETHINK Retail as a Top Retail Expert and has been featured in leading retail and marketing publications for her perspectives on the future of commerce, AI, customer acquisition, and digital innovation. Whether advising executive teams, leading transformation initiatives, or moderating conversations with industry leaders, Farzana is known for delivering candid, actionable insights grounded in real-world operating experience. She helps organizations bridge strategy and execution, enabling brands to grow more efficiently, compete more effectively, and stay ahead in an increasingly complex retail landscape.

Melissa Pacheco

Co-Founder Chameleon Collective

Melissa “Mel” Pacheco is Co-Founder and Partner at Chameleon Collective, where she leads executive search and talent strategy for retail and consumer brands navigating growth, transformation and change. With more than 20 years of experience, she specializes in identifying eCommerce, digital and omnichannel leaders who can drive growth at scale.

Over the course of her career, Mel has completed more than 500 placements, working with established retailers, private equity-backed companies and emerging beauty, wellness and consumer brands. Her embedded approach goes beyond matching a resume to a job description. She works alongside leadership teams to understand the business challenge, define what success looks like and identify the kind of leader the organization will need next. Because she works across multiple companies and categories simultaneously, Mel has a unique perspective on the leadership capabilities, organizational structures and talent priorities shaping modern retail.

Before co-founding Chameleon Collective, Mel built her career in corporate recruiting at Digitas and SapientNitro, giving her an inside understanding of the pace and complexity of digital transformation. Known for her candid advice and practical point of view, Mel contributes to industry conversations about attracting high-impact talent and assessing leaders for change. She’s especially focused on how teams need to evolve to keep pace with shifting consumer behavior, technology and business models. She has moderated executive discussions at CommerceNext and Home Delivery World.

Jillian Cueff

Chief Merchandising Officer Claire's

Jillian Cueff is the Chief Merchandising Officer at Claire's, leading one of retail's most closely watched brand transformations. She joined in January 2026 and has been rebuilding the company's merchandising strategy around the piercing equity that has defined Claire's for generations, while resetting the assortment for the Gen Alpha customer driving the brand's next chapter. Cueff is a fashion retail leader with 25 years of experience translating trends into commercial, accessible products at every price point. At Walmart and Macy's, she ran multi-billion-dollar businesses and was named VP of the Year at both companies, building merchandising organizations that pair trend instinct with operational rigor and move quickly without losing margin discipline. She builds commercial engines that translate cultural moments into scalable, profitable assortments. At Claire's, that scope spans the full merchandising stack, from buying and planning through sourcing, quality control and product development. Before Claire's, Cueff co-founded Ignited Industries, a merchandise and brand partnership company building unique product assortments for touring artists, festivals, and consumer brands.

Mike Jacobs

Chief Growth Officer Consortium Brands

Mike Jacobs is a global growth, brand and commerce leader who has helped acquire more than 100 million customers worldwide and deployed billions of dollars in high-ROI media investment across iconic brands including Etsy, Netflix, Yahoo!, Viacom, Verizon, AT&T, Pepsi, Chase, Luxottica and Jonathan Adler.

He is Chief Growth Officer & Operating Partner at Consortium Brand Partners, where he leads growth, digital transformation and AI strategy across a portfolio that includes Jonathan Adler, Draper James, Outdoor Voices and California Pizza Kitchen. His work spans media, ecommerce, CRM, measurement, customer experience and the rapidly evolving world of agentic commerce.

Previously, Mike was VP of Growth at Etsy, where he scaled global acquisition and launched Creator Collective, an award-winning influencer initiative, along with Offsite Ads, a multibillion-dollar channel. At Upside, a $3 billion marketplace backed by Bessemer Venture Partners and General Catalyst, he served as CMO & President of Consumer, owning the full P&L while driving profitable expansion.

Mike has launched products from concept to millions of users, built global marketing engines and advised leading brands, technology companies, investors and consulting firms on growth, media, measurement and AI transformation. He currently serves on the MMA North America Board and the Pinterest Advisory Board and has previously served on advisory councils for Google, Meta, Microsoft, and TransUnion.

His work has earned multiple industry honors, including Ad Age Marketers of the Year, Influencer Campaign of the Year, Graphis, Hatch and Performance Marketing Awards.

Mike, his wife Rena, their daughter Molly, their double doodle Lucy and a collection of way too many guitars split their time between New York City’s Upper West Side and the Hudson Valley. Fun fact: Mike is also the singer and guitarist for the rock band Evil Jake, whose adventures have included appearances on MTV, USO tours, and a role in Jack Black’s School of Rock.

Sonia Biddle

Chief Product Officer DePop

Sonia Biddle is the Chief Product Officer at Depop, where she leads the teams shaping the future of resale and sets the product vision that drives both business growth and community impact.

Prior to joining Depop in 2022, Sonia spent 12 years at Etsy, where she led high-impact product initiatives, including scaling Etsy’s mobile app ecosystem. It was during this time, while building for mobile-first commerce, that she developed a keen appreciation for Depop’s native-first approach and community-driven model.

Beyond Depop, she’s an active angel investor and product advisor, with a focus on women-led startups. She’s a passionate live music fan who will cross continents for a great gig, and lives in Austin, TX with her husband, son and dog.

Ashley Kick

VP, Ecommerce DÔEN

Ashley Kick is the Director of Ecommerce and Digital Marketing at DOEN, a collective of creative Los Angeles-based women. We make elevated yet wearable pieces for the everyday. Our line is inspired by vintage designs and our nostalgia for the California of past decades.

In her position at DOEN, Ashley is responsible for leading e-commerce and digital marketing activities, consumer and brand experience, and driving revenue and growth for the company’s largest channel.

In her previous positions as Director of Ecommerce at VIOLET GREY and Managing Director of El Toro Interactive, she oversaw projects as a marketing strategist, projection analyst and UX specialist advising many top brands such as Diptyque, Zac Posen, FRAME Denim and MALIN+GOETZ. She also launched the marketing of a number of celebrity brands, including Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James, Khloe Kardashian’s Good American and Hilary Swank’s Mission Statement. She also built up and developed teams at El Toro focused around: SEO, SEM, Affiliate and Paid Social Media Marketing.

Her formula for success in new customer acquisition and brand building relies on three essential elements: timely and engaging content, third party validation and site experience. Through an understanding of User Experience, Top and Bottom Funnel Customer Acquisition and Branding, she has continued to propel companies forward as a trusted partner in the retail marketing industry.

Patrizia Ranzi

Head of Digital, Media, & CRM, Americas Dolce & Gabbana

As Head of Digital, Media & CRM for the Americas at Dolce&Gabbana Beauty, she founded the region's media department and today leads a full-funnel media ecosystem across North America and Latin America, spanning brand awareness, performance, retail media, and CRM-led loyalty. Her remit is deliberately integrated: by owning paid media and site experience together, she turns the path from cinematic brand storytelling to checkout into one continuous journey rather than a handoff between teams. That end-to-end control is how she aligns prestige brand equity with measurable sell-through.

With over a decade of experience across luxury, beauty, technology, pharma, and financial services, including performance strategy at Publicis Groupe, Patrizia is fluent in the machinery modern commerce and media run on: retail media networks, marketing mix modeling, incrementality testing, first-party data, CRM, programmatic, CTV, as well as traditional channels like OOH and Linear TV.

A Columbia Business School MBA, Patrizia is a multilingual, Miami-based leader known for scaling complex digital portfolios, building and mentoring high-performing cross-functional teams, and translating media innovation into commercial results.

She speaks regularly at industry conferences on media, retail media networks, ecommerce, and the impact of AI across these channels.

Drew Sheriff

VP, Grocery, Alcohol, and Convenience DoorDash

Drew Sheriff is the Vice President of Grocery, Convenience, and Alcohol at DoorDash. He brings more than twenty years of experience scaling consumer businesses at Parachute, Amazon, and Starbucks. Drew is an operational and customer-obsessed leader with deep expertise in retail, product development, and omnichannel strategy. He is passionate about building products and services that solve hard problems for customers and is focused on taking DoorDash’s new verticals to their next stage of growth.

Before joining DoorDash, Drew led the expansion of Parachute’s physical retail presence and oversaw customer service, trade, and home care operations. At Amazon, he managed physical store operations and launched key omnichannel programs, including store pickup services, new payment methods, and digital price tags. Earlier in his career, he held several leadership roles at Starbucks, where he helped develop and grow successful new product concepts.

Drew lives in Seattle with his family and two extremely lazy Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Rebecca Fitts

Founder Double03 Retail

Rebecca Fitts has spent more than 20 years figuring out where retail is headed next.

After helping build physical retail strategies for companies including Warby Parker, Leap, Alvarez & Marsal Property Solutions, Brookfield Properties, Westfield, and General Growth Properties, she now advises brands, retailers, and developers through Double03 Retail while writing The Wild West of Retail Substack, where she explores the future of physical retail, consumer behavior, and the rise of the Discovery Economy.

Rebecca's work focuses on helping brands rethink physical retail—from first stores and pop-ups to hospitality partnerships, mixed-use destinations, and new distribution models. She is also the founder of Irwin Road, a members-only retail salon that introduces emerging luxury brands to influential consumers through curated experiences inside private clubs, bringing together discovery, community, and commerce.

She splits her time between West Palm Beach and New York City, where she's usually exploring independent retailers, uncovering emerging concepts, or paddleboarding with her husband.

Yoni Bloch

Founder & CEO eko

Yoni Bloch is co-founder and CEO of Eko, a technology company helping retailers and brands create visual product information that commerce and AI systems can rely on. Eko works with major retailers worldwide to improve how product imagery, video, and interactive experiences are created, organized, and used.

Yoni first built a career as a musician, songwriter, and performer in Tel Aviv. Curious about technology’s potential for storytelling, he began experimenting with videos that allowed audiences to influence what happened on screen. Those experiments led him to co-found Interlude, later renamed Eko, a pioneer of interactive video.

As retailers and brands adopted Eko’s interactive video to showcase products, a deeper problem surfaced: product information remained fragmented across sources and systems. That insight led Eko toward its mission of making visual product information complete, useful, and trustworthy.

Today, Yoni is focused on EkoFile, a structured digital record that connects a product’s facts, media, and original sources. EkoFile is designed to improve catalog accuracy, accelerate content creation, and give commerce and AI applications more reliable information. His work combines creative storytelling, enterprise software, and more than a decade of experience deploying technology for global enterprises. He lives in New York with his family.

Suzy Davidkhanian

VP, Content EMARKETER

Suzy Davidkhanian is Vice President of Content at EMARKETER, where she leads coverage across retail and commerce media. She helps retailers, brands, and industry leaders separate signal from noise, translating shifts in consumer behavior and commerce into practical business insights.

She brings more than 20 years of retail experience spanning stores, merchandising, marketing, and consumer insights. Before joining EMARKETER, Suzy led consumer insights and market trends at Macy's, where she connected changing shopper behavior to merchandising and marketing strategy. Her experience as both a retail operator and analyst gives her a practical perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.

Suzy hosts EMARKETER's Reimagining Retail podcast, featuring conversations with retail leaders on the trends reshaping commerce. She is a frequent commentator, with insights featured in Reuters, Vogue Business, WWD, and Modern Retail, and regularly moderates executive discussions and speaks at industry events including The Lead and eTail.

Suzy holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BA in Sociology from McGill University.

Ellen Shenette

Director, Net Zero Action Accelerator Environmental Defense Fund

Ellen Shenette leads EDF’s retail sector engagement, helping major retailers decarbonize global supply chains while building resilience and business value. She has more than 12 years of experience connecting Fortune 500 companies with the resources and capabilities needed to advance sustainability initiatives that deliver measurable results. Through EDF’s Climate Corps program, she helped organizations identify an estimated $1.6 billion in energy savings, working with companies including Walmart, REI, and Tiffany & Co.

Ellen is an expert in corporate sustainability strategies that strengthen supply chains, enhance brand value, attract and retain talent, and address growing investor expectations. Her focus is helping companies embed sustainability into day-to-day operations, creating more resilient businesses, stronger customer trust, and long-term competitive advantage.

She holds an MBA from Simmons University with a focus on sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR), which informs her work helping companies embed climate action into core business strategy. Ellen earned her bachelor's degree from Boston University.

Chelsea Zhang

Partner Equal Ventures

Chelsea Zhang is a Partner at Equal Ventures, a thesis-driven, early-stage venture capital firm based in New York that backs founders reinventing legacy industries. At Equal, Chelsea leads the firm's investing across retail, supply chain and logistics, and commerce, partnering with founders from the seed stage as they build the technology reshaping how goods are bought, moved, and sold.

Her focus on retail and supply chain runs throughout her career. Before joining Equal, Chelsea was at L.E.K. Consulting, where she spent her time working exclusively within retail and supply chain, advising leading retailers and brands on growth strategy and operations.

At Equal, Chelsea has authored the firm's published points of view on the future of retail and supply chain, and works closely with its portfolio companies as they scale from seed to growth. She is a frequent voice on where AI, automation, and shifting consumer behavior are taking commerce and operations next, from the move toward predictive, unified operations to the tools helping retailers and brands build more flexible, resilient businesses.

Chelsea is based in New York, where she continues to invest behind the technologies modernizing how the world shops and moves goods.

Patricia Camden

Managing Director, EY Studio+ Customer Experience and Loyalty Leader EY

Patricia is a managing director in the EY Innovation and Experience Design (IXD) practice and serves as the EY Americas Loyalty Leader. Her work focuses on loyalty program design and development, customer experience and marketing. With broad experience across verticals, Patricia has served clients across the following industries: consumer products and retail, travel, financial services, government and public sector, and telecommunications. Prior to joining the firm, Patricia worked extensively across strategy, marketing and customer experience at highly innovative digital consultancies, including executive roles at leading advertising agencies. Patricia earned her BS in MIS and MBA in Finance at Wright State University. A lifelong learner, Patricia holds her Certified Customer Experience Professional (CCXP) certification and is a Certified Futurist (CFP) through The Futures School.

Jason Brenner

SVP, Digital Portfolio FedEx

Jason Brenner is the senior vice president of digital portfolio at FedEx, where he leads digital product and commercialization efforts that connect the FedEx physical network with digital capabilities to support retailers and shippers. Since joining FedEx in 2024, he has focused on advancing how data and digital tools can transform shipping, returns, visibility, and supply chain reliability for customers of all sizes. Jason brings a forward-looking perspective to building more seamless, resilient supply chain experiences, championing the practical application of advanced technologies to simplify post-purchase journeys and drive stronger operational outcomes for partners.

Prior to joining FedEx, he was the senior vice president of digital at Michaels where he led e-commerce, marketplaces, and digital transformation. Prior to Michaels, he was vice president of strategy for Equinox Fitness. In this role, he was responsible for Equinox’s growth strategy with a focus on commercial expansion.

Jason began his career as a management consultant before joining Jet and Walmart where he served in progressive leadership roles, including director of e-commerce strategy. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Emory University.

Rishabh Jain

Founder & CEO FERMÁT

Rishabh Jain is the CEO and Co-Founder of FERMÀT, redefining how brands engage consumers across digital channels. His path to commerce tech is unconventional: he started with a PhD in Physics, founded a solar energy company during his doctorate, and spent nearly six years at LiveRamp as VP and Head of Innovation. In 2021, he partnered with former LiveRamp colleague Shreyas Kumar to launch FERMÀT. Under his leadership, the company has raised $74 million across three rounds, including a $45 million Series B led by VMG Partners, with participation from QED Investors, Greylock, Bain Capital Ventures, and Courtside Ventures. He's a frequent speaker on AI, agentic commerce, and the future of retail.

Ninaad Acharya

CEO Fulfillment IQ

Ninaad Acharya is an angel investor, technologist, and product builder with over two decades of experience architecting and scaling logistics technology for some of the world’s most complex supply chains. His operating career spans leadership roles at FedEx, Genco, IBM, HBC, Canadian Tire, and Target, where he built and commercialized next-generation fulfillment, transportation, and intralogistics products across enterprise networks.

As Co-Founder and CEO of Fulfillment IQ, Ninaad leads a global team that partners with retailers, 3PLs, technology companies, and emerging AI ventures to design, build, and scale modern supply chain platforms. Under his leadership, FIQ has become a trusted innovation partner to Fortune 50 enterprises (GXO, FedEx, Nordstorm, Radial, Yusen Logistics, GAP, CVS Health, Cardinal Health) high-growth startups alike, accelerating go-to-market motions, optimizing operations, and helping launch new products faster.

Ninaad is an active angel investor with investments in Tusk, Aquatio, and Recipio, and he serves on the Board of ONX. He also advises venture capital firms, where he supports founders building the next generation of enterprise and logistics technology companies.

A recognized industry voice, Ninaad co-hosts the eCom Logistics Podcast, where he engages global leaders on the future of AI, orchestration, automation, and supply chain innovation. He is a frequent speaker at leading industry events - including Manifest, Home Delivery World, and others - and his perspectives have been featured in Supply Chain Dive and multiple industry publications.

Throughout his career, Ninaad has been driven by a consistent mission: to build high-impact technology that is rewriting the playbook for logistics innovation.

Kate Hardcastle MBE

Global Broadcaster & The Customer Whisperer Hardcastle Collective

Kate Hardcastle MBE is the leading global go-to consumer futurist and premier corporate advisor on trust, relied on by world-leading brands to understand what customers value next. As a multi-award-winning international business consultant, broadcaster, and author, she advises organisations including Disney, Marks & Spencer, eBay and LVMH on growth, technology, AI and customer strategy.

Her perspective is grounded in three decades of frontline commercial experience, spanning the shop floor to the boardroom. She has worked across retail operations, buying, supply chains, brand strategy and sustainability, giving her an unusually practical understanding of how consumer behaviour translates into commercial performance and what it takes to turn insight into action across complex organisations.

A trusted voice across BBC, Sky, CNBC and NHK Japan, Hardcastle has fronted and contributed to major business and consumer programming, led prime-time coverage and delivered analysis followed by millions internationally. She is also the founder of sustainability initiative Buy Smarter, Buy Greener.

As a pioneering consumer futurist, Hardcastle creates strategies that increase profit, strengthen operational resilience and accelerate meaningful green progress. A sought-after keynote speaker on consumer trust and business futures, she is widely ranked among the world’s leading business speakers, with regular appearances at Cannes Lions, SXSW and major global summits.

Her best-selling book, The Science of Shopping, is out now.

Lindsay Horrigan

SVP, Consumer Growth Officer Hearst Magazines

Lindsay Horrigan is the senior vice president, consumer growth officer of Hearst Magazines, the world's largest lifestyle publisher with a portfolio of more than 25 brands in the U.S., 175 websites and more than 200 magazine editions worldwide. In this role, Horrigan is responsible for leveraging data and insights to help drive growth across the company’s consumer revenue streams and customer functions, including subscriptions, commerce, licensing, marketing and membership operations. Horrigan joined Hearst Magazines in 2024 from Wayfair, where she served as chief marketing officer of Perigold, Wayfair’s luxury home decor marketplace, and Birch Lane, a specialty retail brand. Previously, she was the global head of consumer marketing and general manager of subscriptions at Bloomberg Media, overseeing the full marketing funnel and driving revenue growth across Bloomberg.com, subscriptions, newsletter, podcasts and a video streaming network, QuickTake. Prior to joining Bloomberg in 2018, Horrigan was the director of marketing of the American Express Serve Card, responsible for branding, customer acquisition and loyalty. Horrigan is a graduate of Boston College and Columbia Business School. She lives in Stamford, Connecticut with her husband and three children.

Jane Cheung

Global Research Leader for Consumer Industries, Institute for Business Value (IBV) IBM

Jane Cheung is the Global Research Leader for Consumer Industries at the IBM Institute for Business Value, where she leads the global thought leadership agenda for the retail and consumer products sectors. Jane is passionate about helping organizations navigate disruption and achieve sustainable growth through technology-led transformation.

With more than 30 years of industry experience, she has worked closely with senior leadership teams to identify growth opportunities, shape strategic vision, and execute actionable plans that deliver measurable business impact. Her expertise spans business transformation, brand strategy, international expansion, and the design of industry-focused solutions leveraging platforms such as IBM, SAP, and Oracle, enhanced by advanced AI capabilities.

Jane collaborates with industry leaders worldwide to develop forward-looking insights that challenge conventional thinking, inspire innovation, and help organizations create lasting value, resilience, and sustainable growth in an increasingly digital world.

Greg Buzek

President & Chief AI Orchestrator IHL Services

Greg Buzek is the Founder, President and Chief AI Orchestrato of IHL Group and one of the Founders of the Retail Orphan Initiative (www.retailROI.org), a charitable foundation that seeks to help the 400 million orphaned and vulnerable children around the world. In 17 years, RetailROI has been involved in over 383 projects in 32 countries helping an estimated 379,000 children through clean water, education, computers, language training and care.

Noted by RIS News as one of the Top 10 Influentials in Retail and the National Retail Federation as one of “The List of People Shaping Retail’s Future“, he has a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from The Ohio State University, and 30 years of experience in retail market analysis, business planning, product development, and consulting with Fortune 500 companies. He is also a member of the Top 100 Retail Influencers from ReTHINK Retail.

Greg is frequently quoted in BusinessWeek, CIO Information Network, Information Week, Supermarket News, Chain Store Age, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Time Magazine, and the Washington Post and has been used as a retail technology analyst on NBC Nightly News, CBS News, and CNBC. In addition, Greg has been a guest lecturer for the Wharton School of Business and Belmont University. He also serves on the board of RSPA (Retail Solutions Providers Association)

In 2011 The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute honored Greg with the first ever Paul Singer Award that recognizes business and governmental leaders for going above and beyond their defined roles to advocate for better adoption and foster care policies worldwide. Before founding IHL, Greg worked with NCR Corporation and Sensormatic Electronics as a marketing and development executive on hardware, software, and electronic security products for the Retail Industry.

Sarah Engel

President January Digital

Sarah Engel is the President of January Digital, the marketing leadership company and agency of record for clients like Carhartt, amika, Interstate Batteries, and Steve Madden. She also serves as a Strategic Advisor to Shoptalk and Groceryshop, and was recently named to Adweek 50, honoring changemakers and growth drivers in marketing and technology. With more than two decades of multifaceted experience, Sarah has guided teams, served on boards, and held key leadership roles, including President, Chief Marketing Officer, and Chief HR Officer for leading consumer and B2B brands. Notable positions include Vice President of Marketing and Creative Communications at lifestyle brand Lilly Pulitzer and CMO of retail data leader DynamicAction (now Edited). Throughout her career, she has connected consumers and driven growth for the world’s most impactful brands, including Travelocity, Match, and Chevrolet. She serves on the advisory board of Rebel Nell, a jewelry company empowering marginalized women, and as Chairperson of the Board of Lutheran Settlement House, a nonprofit supporting vulnerable communities in Philadelphia. Her contributions to the industry have earned her recognition as a Top Woman in Media and Ad Tech, one of Women’s Wear Daily’s Top 20 Women Leaders in Business, and one of Footwear News’ Six Women in Power Creating Corporate Change.

Chris Silver

CTO JustFoodForDogs

Chris Silver is a technology leader who believes great brands start with understanding people. As CTO of JustFoodForDogs, he is leading the company’s digital and data transformation, building a unified commerce and AI-driven foundation that connects eCommerce, retail, subscriptions, and customer care around the needs of pet parents.

Before joining JustFoodForDogs, Chris led global digital & retail technology teams for brands like Urban Outfitters, MAC Cosmetics, Estée Lauder, and David Yurman, and founded startups focused on AI and next-generation loyalty. Across every role, his work centers on one idea: when technology understands intent, brands can create experiences that feel personal, meaningful, and human

Bo Moon

VP, Platform Business, Gaming, Commerce, & New Service Innovation LG

Bo Moon is a technology executive with more than two decades of experience turning emerging technologies into consumer products and new businesses. He currently serves as Vice President of Platform Business, New Services and Innovation at LG Electronics, where he leads the development of new platform services spanning commerce, gaming, and lifestyle categories.

Before joining LG, Bo was Chief Business Officer at TWO, a generative AI company building conversational AI engines and immersive experiences. Prior to TWO, Bo served as Head of Innovation Strategy for Samsung Research America's Think Tank Team, an advanced technology lab of leading scientists and engineers, and as Senior Director of Sports & Gaming, where he drove products and services built on emerging technologies like virtual reality and mobile gaming.

Prior to Samsung, Bo co-founded the sports analytics division at Bloomberg LP, which eventually was spun out as Bloomberg Sports, and held earlier roles in product management and user experience design, giving him a career-long focus on the intersection of technology, media, and entertainment.

Bo holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Cornell University. He is based in California, where — away from screens — he is a dedicated woodworker and lifelong tinkerer.

Gaurav Dixit

VP, Digital Customer Experience Lowe's

Gaurav Dixit is a visionary leader in digital customer experiences, driving transformative strategies that enhance engagement, elevate user experiences, and accelerate growth at Lowe’s. As Vice President of Digital Customer Experiences, he spearheads the conceptualization, development, and execution of innovative digital initiatives that serve Lowe’s DIY, DIFM, and Pro customers. Under his leadership, cutting-edge technologies and data-driven strategies optimize traffic, improve site LTR, and maximize conversion rates. He also plays a pivotal role in strengthening Lowe’s omnichannel experience by integrating in-store digital tools that empower associates and elevate customer interactions.

With nearly two decades of expertise in retail technology, Gaurav has been instrumental in revolutionizing customer personalization and marketplace strategies. Prior to joining Lowe’s, he held key leadership roles at Staples and Walmart, where he drove transformative initiatives—leading the personalization overhaul at Sam’s Club and launching the Walmart Mexico Marketplace. Since joining Lowe’s in 2021 as Senior Director of Product and Engineering, he has significantly advanced Lowe’s Pro strategy, spearheading the launch of the MVPs Pro Rewards and Partnership Program, including an exclusive purchase-authorization capability.

Gaurav holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Kurukshetra University and an MBA from SP Jain School of Global Management. His passion for innovation, customer-centric solutions, and digital transformation continues to shape the future of retail experiences globally.

Rachel Jonas Gilman

CEO Mane

Rachel Jonas Gilman is the CEO of Mane, the cute, feel-good hair care brand founded by celebrity stylist and entrepreneur Jen Atkin. Since stepping into the role in early 2024, Rachel has led a full brand refresh—reworking Mane’s strategy, sharpening its voice, and rebuilding a values-driven team culture.

Under her leadership, Rachel helped evolve Mane from a styling hot tools brand into a bold, hair care driven player with a hero-product strategy and buzzy new category launches—starting with 'Stylers' in August 2025. Working closely with Jen, she’s helped shape a brand ethos that feels expressive, connected, and distinctly Mane.

Rachel brings more than 20 years of experience building and scaling omni-channel consumer brands across beauty, fashion, and home. A marketing-first operator to her core, she’s built a reputation as the kind of modern CEO brands seek: customer-obsessed, insights-led, brand-savvy, and deeply invested in building brands and products people truly love.

Before joining Mane, Rachel was the founding President of PATTERN Beauty by Tracee Ellis Ross, where she helped translate Tracee’s vision to life by building the brand from launch into an eight-figure business and cultural force in textured hair care. From retailer expansion to product innovation to shaping the brand’s voice, Rachel helped turn PATTERN into a powerhouse. Earlier in her career, she held senior marketing leadership roles at Beach House Group, Yoobi, Jonathan Adler, Cole Haan, and Juicy Couture.

Known for nurturing founder-led brands and building standout teams, Rachel leads with empathy, curiosity, and a deep commitment to human connection. With a learning mindset and resilience, she brings foresight, gratitude, clarity, and heart to every brand (and every team) she helps build.

Rachel graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Strategic Communications. Currently, she lives in Los Angeles with her family.

Heather Bennett

President Michaels Stores

As President & Chief Customer Officer of Michaels, Heather is responsible for leading the company’s end-to-end customer experience and advancing its innovation and growth strategy. She oversees Marketing, eCommerce, Digital, and Strategy, championing the voice of the customer across the organization to strengthen brand equity, build customer loyalty, and ensure customer insights shape business priorities and decisions. Before joining Michaels, Heather served as President of Bugaboo, where she led the company’s turnaround to achieve positive sales and operating income growth through a customer-focused approach. Prior to this, Heather held a variety of retail leadership roles, spanning from luxury goods and apparel to toys and hard goods. Heather holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Utah. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Utah State University.

Laura Cantor

VP, Marketing & Ecommerce New York & Company

Laura Cantor is the Vice President of Marketing & E-Commerce at New York & Company, where she leads digital marketing, e-commerce, CRM, customer acquisition, retention, and AI-driven growth initiatives. With more than 20 years of experience in retail and digital commerce, she has built a reputation for driving profitable growth by combining data, technology, and customer-centric strategies.

Laura is a frequent speaker at leading industry events, where she shares practical insights on AI, personalization, customer experience, and the future of commerce. She is passionate about helping brands leverage emerging technologies to create better customer experiences and deliver measurable business results.

Chelsey Alexander

Founder & CEO Open Gate Consulting

Chelsey Alexander is a digital and retail commerce strategist and legacy builder with nearly two decades of experience at the intersection of big-brand power, emerging technology, and e-commerce transformation.

A former Senior Vice President in the consumer packaged goods industry, Chelsey has led and influenced over $4.5 billion in retail and e-commerce revenue across powerhouse companies including Bayer and Procter & Gamble, helping iconic brands navigate the evolving ecosystems of Amazon, Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, and Kroger.

Her career also includes experience in hypergrowth startups like Pharmapacks (Packable) — one of Amazon’s top third-party sellers during its planned SPAC phase. That chapter deepened her understanding of what drives — and tests — modern digital commerce, lessons she now channels into helping companies build more resilient, future-ready growth systems.

Through her firm, Open Gate Consulting, Chelsey partners with CPG leaders and high-growth founders to design organizations built for the future of commerce — unlocking growth through clear strategy, capability building, and digital shelf excellence.

Chelsey’s mission is to dismantle the gatekeeping in e-commerce strategy and business transformation. At Open Gate, insights are radically simple and immediately actionable, bridging the gap between corporate complexity and modern growth. Whether you’re scaling or reinventing, Chelsey brings clarity, creativity, and grounded strategy to the ever-changing world of commerce.

Santhi Ramesh

Chief Commercial Officer Pampered Chef

Santhi Ramesh is a Forbes-recognized global C-suite executive and AI-driven growth leader known for transforming brands and businesses through strategic marketing, innovation, and sustainable growth. Her leadership spans roles as Chief Commercial Officer at Pampered Chef, Chief Marketing Officer at Hershey International, and Chief Commercial Officer for Ferrero’s Ice Cream division, where she has driven double-digit growth across multi-billion-dollar businesses by building iconic brands and scaling commercial performance across global markets.

Santhi has built global marketing platforms that connect consumer insight, brand storytelling, and digital commerce to drive growth across diverse markets and cultures. An early adopter of AI in marketing, Santhi integrates advanced analytics and AI into marketing ecosystems to accelerate insight generation, personalize consumer engagement at scale, and enable faster, data-driven decision making. Her leadership has also accelerated innovation pipelines, launching breakthrough products and new growth platforms that expand categories and strengthen brand relevance. In parallel, she has built strategic customer partnerships and sustainability initiatives that deepen retail collaboration and create long-term value across the consumer ecosystem.

Santhi is also the Founder of FuturePropel, where she advises C-suite leadership teams for mid-size companies on AI-driven growth and innovation strategies. In addition, she serves on the board of Pratham Education Foundation and SKU where she mentors entrepreneurs globally, Santhi holds an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Madras, and a Board Governance Certificate from the Kellogg School of Management.

Suze Dowling

Co-Founder Pattern Brands

Suze Dowling is the co-founder and Chief Business Officer at Pattern and has built her career in the early stage landscape. Her role is the culmination of more than a decade of experience at the forefront of the NY start-up community; working hand-in-hand with entrepreneurs from ideation to, now, multiple exits. Suze works closely with the CEO, the leadership team, and the Board of Directors to ensure Pattern realizes its full potential and its projections. Specifically, she is responsible for all operational aspects of the company, including building new functions within the company to drive sustainable growth. This includes overseeing Brand General Management, Revenue Channels and Core Shared Service Functions. As a seasoned thought leader, Suze frequently speaks on how to scale omnichannel growth, paths to profitability and brand optimization at leading industry events. A trusted source for business and consumer press, Suze is regularly interviewed for her perspective on retail, design and business trends. Prior to co-founding Pattern, Suze was General Manager at Gin Lane, a NY-based independent agency that focused on launching challenger start-ups to market. In her role, she focused on balancing growth, profitability, quality, culture and overseeing the agency P&L. During her tenure, Gin Lane helped to launch over 50 DNVB brands such as: Harry’s, Hims & SmileDirectClub creating $15 billion in aggregate startup value. Suze is originally from Australia and graduated with Honors from the University of Technology, Sydney.

Jenna Landi

Senior Director, Global Brand Research Pinterest

Jenna Landi is the Senior Director of Global Brand Research at Pinterest, where she leads a multi-disciplinary team driving insights that inform marketing, product strategy, and breakthrough storytelling. With over eight years at Pinterest, she has spearheaded high-profile initiatives like the Pinterest Predicts trend report and the company’s Wellbeing Measurement Tool. Jenna’s approach blends quantitative and qualitative rigor with consumer psychology and cultural analytics to shape actionable insights for leadership. Previously, she held research roles at Google, including as a founding member of the Human Truths team, and at Nielsen. Jenna holds an M.Sc. in Behavioral Science from the London School of Economics and a B.A. from Brandeis University. An ambitious eater and curious traveler, she lives in Brooklyn with her family.

Rene Federico

Head of Marketing, U.S. Primark

Rene is the head of marketing for Primark in the US, where she leads the development and execution of Primark’s end-to-end marketing strategy, ensuring consistent alignment of the brand’s strategy and values across all channels. With a roadmap to grow Primark’s US footprint, Rene and her team will lead Primark through the expansion of its brand exposure nationally and locally. To kick off her new appointment, her team developed and launched Primark's first US brand campaign, That's So Primark, to build further awareness of the brand's value, quality and style proposition to savvy American shoppers looking to fall in love with their closest over and over again. She has a deep understanding of brand dynamics and consumer engagement from working with global brands and marketplaces. With more than 20 years at Nike, Rene started in retail sales followed by roles across visual merchandising, retail marketing and brand marketing. She joined Primark from Converse (a wholly owned Nike subsidiary) as the VP, Global Direct Marketing, where she led the global brand experience, global social media and global direct to consumer marketing strategy.

Kelly Breakstone Roth

Co-Founder & CEO Prysmic

Kelly Breakstone Roth is the co-founder and CEO of Prysmic, building the autonomous workforce for supply chain operations. Prysmic's AI operators work inside the systems global retail and consumer brands already run on, executing entire workflows end to end and taking on the manual work that has long capped how fast companies can scale. Before founding Prysmic, Kelly spent over a decade in government leading high-stakes, multi-million dollar operations: complex cross-border initiatives spanning people, borders, and systems that were never designed to work together. She went on to found The Nopo, a global eCommerce and logistics startup, connecting artisans around the world with international buyers, and experienced firsthand the operational pain points that inspired Prysmic. Today, Kelly works with leading retailers and consumer brands to reimagine operations through AI-driven execution, helping teams eliminate repetitive work and focus on the higher-value decisions that move the business. She runs Prysmic itself AI-native, with agents embedded across nearly every function, a live preview of the operating model she believes every company will soon run on. A regular writer and speaker on agentic AI and the future of operations, Kelly holds an Executive MBA from Northwestern University.

Danisha Lomax

Chief Social Officer, PMX Publicis Groupe

In her current role, Danisha Lomax brings together social, influencer, and community expertise to drive growth and deliver best-in-class solutions across paid, earned, shared and owned channels for Publicis agencies and their clients. As the head of PMX Social, she and her team provide integrated social expertise and power a holistic offering that connects all of Publicis’s existing social capabilities and designs tailored solutions for clients, based on their specific needs and brand objectives.

With over a decade of media experience, Lomax is a master of her craft, having joined Publicis in 2018 at Digitas. There, she worked her way up to Chief Connected Community Officer where she developed programs rooted in authenticity, cultural relevance, and advocacy for women of color and underrepresented communities. In her role, she blended the familiar with the forward-thinking, remixing proven strategies with emerging possibilities to build the intimacy, social influence, and cultural credibility to help brands become engines of growth.

Outside of Publicis, Lomax has been a dedicated champion for women and a standout leader within her community. She served as a mentor and board member for a diverse range of organizations, including Sol Sisters, HELLO HAPI, and the ADCOLOR Champions Program. Her commitment to professional equity extended to her work with Living Corporate, while her advocacy for community building and youth empowerment was reflected in her contributions to Nextdoor and GirlVentures. Through these roles, she has established herself as a tireless advocate for underrepresented voices, laying the groundwork for the next generation of leaders to succeed.

A sought-after thought leader and speaker, Lomax’s approach has won her multiple awards including AAF Hall of Achievement, Top Women in Media & AdTech DEI Champion, Campaign US Media Planner of the Year, Chief Marketer Market Like a Mother, and Cynopsis Top Women in Media.

Anne Mezzenga

Founder & CEO Retail Field Report

Anne Mezzenga is the founder of Retail Field Report, a media outlet dedicated to telling the human stories behind some of retail's biggest brands. Most recently, Anne served as Co-CEO of Omni Talk Retail, a media company she co-built into one of the most successful and fastest-growing trade publications in the retail industry — earning her recognition as a top retail influencer and NRF Top Retail Voice, where she is known for her expert commentary on the future of retail and emerging industry trends. Anne serves on boards for Simbe, Firework, Buncha, Broadhead, Scrollmark, and Delivery Solutions (acquired by UPS), bringing both strategic perspective and deep industry expertise to each organization. Before co-founding Omni Talk, Anne was an executive at Target, where she led the company's Store of the Future project. Her career has spanned advertising, media, and retail — including leadership roles at agencies Martin Williams and Fallon, and time as a producer and reporter at NBC Universal in New York and Minneapolis FOX affiliate KMSP. A University of Minnesota journalism graduate, Anne's roots in storytelling have shaped every chapter of her career. From 2014 to 2022, Anne also owned and operated three boutique fitness facilities in the Twin Cities, managing everything from marketing to day-to-day operations — a testament to the entrepreneurial drive that has defined her professional journey.

Nate Checketts

CEO Rhone

Nate Checketts is the Co-Founder & CEO of Rhone, the performance driven apparel brand made by and for those in the pursuit of progress. Prior to Rhone, Nate worked for and consulted with some of the biggest technology and entertainment properties in the world including Cisco, The National Football League, Legends, FanVision and Sport Radar. Nate is also an avid entrepreneur who founded and launched 4 companies before the age of 30, including Rhone and Mangia Technologies, whose patents were later acquired by the San Francisco 49ers. In 2020 Nate was selected by the Sports Business Journal to their 2020 list of Forty leaders under Forty. In addition to Rhone, Nate also serves as a Director to Clean Simple Eats, a leading brand of functional foods and recipes. Nate graduated from Brigham Young  University with a BA in Finance.  He and his wife Dayna reside in Connecticut with their three boys, Gabriel, William and Nicholas.

Dominck Miserandino

Founder RTM Nexus

Dominick Miserandino is a six-time internet CEO specializing in digital publishing, e-commerce, and online media. He is currently the CEO of RTMnexus. Previously, as CEO of RetailWire, he led a 24-fold increase in monthly tra c, growing the publication from approximately 50,000 to 1.2 million monthly visitors while significantly expanding its industry presence. Dominick founded one of the internet’s early online publications, TheCelebrityCafe.com, and later helped grow Inquisitr.com from launch to more than 80 million monthly visits. Throughout his career, he has also served as Chief Marketing O cer for AdoramaPix and held Chief Revenue O cer and Chief Executive O cer positions at several other organizations.

Natalie Lockhart

Chief Strategy & Digital Officer Sally Beauty Holdings

Natalie Lockhart is SVP, Chief Strategy and Digital Officer at Sally Beauty Holdings, where she's driving enterprise-wide customer-centric transformation and owns the full ecommerce P&L across B2C, B2B, and marketplace channels. Beyond digital, she leads Corporate Strategy, M&A, CRM, and Consumer Analytics — connecting long-range strategy to the KPIs that actually move the business.

A data-driven operator with a track record of turning around complex, highly regulated businesses, Natalie previously led enterprise growth strategy as SVP of Strategy & Execution at Neiman Marcus Group. Before that, at JCPenney, she turned around the $400M Salon business, delivering 13 consecutive quarters of growth while championing a nationwide network of 11,000 stylists — redesigning staffing models and advancing legislative reform along the way.

Her career spans financial planning, advanced analytics, and strategic investment across both public and private-equity environments, giving her a rare blend of commercial instinct and financial discipline. Natalie holds an MBA from Southern Methodist University and a BA from Tulane University, and is based in Dallas.

David Huskisson

SVP, Supply Chain & Transformation The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company

David Huskisson is Head of Transformation, where he drives execution across ScottsMiracle-Gro's supply chain strategy, inventory planning and enterprise transformation initiatives. David brings over a decade of enterprise-wide operations experience with major retailers, between his leadership at ScottsMiracle-Gro and in his previous role at Anheuser-Busch InBev. David has modernized the company’s supply chain, leveraging AI-driven insights to achieve a $600 million reduction in year-end average inventory. He brings an expert perspective on how organizations can turn supply chains into a strategic advantage for growth, efficiency and long-term business performance.

Kevin Kelley

Principal & Co-Founder Shook Kelley

Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA, is an award-winning architect, experience designer, and co-founder of the bi-coastal strategic design firm Shook Kelley. As a lifelong advocate of bringing people together in prosocial settings, Kevin’s expertise is in studying how the environment of a place affects our behavior, perception, and decision-making. Since opening their firm’s doors in 1992, he has worked with executive leadership teams for some of the world’s most well-known brands, such as The Harley Davidson Motor Company, Whole Foods, Kraft Foods, The J.M. Smucker Company, The Cleveland Orchestra, professional sports teams, universities, urban districts, and hundreds of local and regional businesses to stay relevant and profitable in our rapidly changing modern landscape. In addition to being a frequent speaker at retail, food, and other consumer conferences in the US and abroad, Kevin taught courses at Harvard University and his alma mater, the University of NC at Charlotte. Kevin gives away everything he’s learned in the field and the boardroom in his debut book, Irreplaceable: How to Create Extraordinary Places that Bring People Together

Lauren Weinberg

Chief Marketing Officer Supergoop!

Lauren Weinberg is the Chief Marketing Officer of Supergoop!, where she oversees brand, social and growth marketing, product innovation, creative, consumer insights, CRM, strategic partnerships, and communications as the company continues to redefine everyday sun protection. A veteran marketing leader with a track record of scaling modern, consumer-centric brands, she brings more than two decades of experience driving transformation across global technology and consumer organizations.

Most recently, Lauren served as Chief Marketing Officer at Peloton, leading global brand and growth during a pivotal period of transition. Her work sharpened company strategy, elevated efficiency, and delivered meaningful business impact. Prior to that, she was Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Square, where she helped scale the business internationally, launched the company’s first global brand campaign, and supported major acquisitions, including Weebly and Afterpay. Earlier in her career, Lauren held senior leadership roles at Yahoo, MTV, AOL, Nielsen, and comScore.

Recognized as one of Forbes’ 50 Most Entrepreneurial CMOs and an Adweek Top CMO, Lauren is also a mentor, advisor, and co-author of the bestselling guide for small business owners, “Self-Made Boss.” She remains engaged with academic and industry communities, frequently lecturing at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and serving on the CMO Council of Project Healthy Minds.

Berit Bauer

VP, Digital Site Merchandising & Operations Target

Berit Bauer is Vice President of Digital Site Merchandising and Operations at Target. She began her Target journey more than 25 years ago as a 16-year-old team member at her local store, where she discovered a lasting passion for retail.

That early experience led her to study marketing and psychology at the Wisconsin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Since then, Berit has built a well-rounded career across Target headquarters, with roles in buying, merchandising, inventory management, store operations, and digital.

Today, she leads Digital’s Site Merchandising and Operations team, focused on shaping a seamless and engaging online guest experience while connecting strategy across teams and channels.

Madisen Li

SVP, Design & Merchandising Tecovas

Madisen Li is the Senior Vice President of Design & Merchandising at Tecovas, where she leads the company's product strategy across footwear, apparel, and accessories. She oversees the vision, creation, and commercialization of the brand's product portfolio, helping shape the next chapter of one of retail's fastest-growing premium Western lifestyle brands. With more than 15 years of experience spanning product creation, merchandising, and global brand strategy, Madisen has built a career at the intersection of creativity and commerce. Before joining Tecovas, she held merchandising leadership roles at Kenneth Cole, Tory Burch, Cole Haan, and Nike, where she helped drive category growth, build consumer-centric assortments, and bring innovative products to market across direct-to-consumer, wholesale, and international channels. Known for pairing deep consumer insight with disciplined commercial strategy, Madisen believes exceptional products are created when merchandising, design, marketing, and storytelling work in lockstep. Madisen is passionate about building products with purpose and helping organizations connect product strategy to brand identity. Her leadership philosophy centers on developing high-performing teams, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and creating products that customers love for years—not just seasons. Madisen earned her degree in Fashion Merchandising from Marist University and is passionate about the future of retail, where data, creativity, and authentic brand experiences come together to build lasting customer loyalty. When not working, Madisen enjoys spending time with her kids and volunteering with the National Daughters of the American Revolution where she is the NYC chapter flag chair.

Kiera Ganann

Chief Merchandising Officer The Children's Place

With over 28 years of experience in the apparel and accessories industry, Kiera Ganann has led sales and merchandising teams across multiple categories and channels for large global brands. She is currently the Chief Merchandising Officer for The Children’s Place where she leads the global merchandising and design teams across their portfolio of brands.

Before joining The Children’s Place, she served as the SVP/Global GM for Ralph Lauren Brands at Delta Galil where she led the global launch of the Polo and Lauren sleepwear and intimates businesses. Prior to that, she was the Chief Commercial Officer for Bolt Threads where she led the sales and marketing teams for the bio-materials company focused on mycelium-based leather, Mylo. Previously, she was the VP of Merchandising for Levi Strauss Americas where she led wholesale and retail merchandising teams across all categories and genders for the region. Before that, she held various leadership positions in sales and merchandising at Ralph Lauren in both the men’s and women’s wholesale divisions. Ganann began her career in the women’s contemporary space leading sales teams for BCBG Max Azria, James Perse, and French Connection.

Ganann serves on the Board of Governors for the Fashion Scholarship Fund and has a strong understanding of the consumer around the globe as well as a passion for product.

Marie Driscoll

Adjunct Professor The New School

Marie Driscoll, CFA is a noted subject matter expert on beauty, fashion, luxury goods, retail, and sustainability. She is a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert 2021-2026 and an NRF Voice of Retail in 2025 and 2026. Marie is founder of Driscoll Advisors, providing advisory services to retailers, brands and retailtech firms, an adjunct professor at Parsons The New School and CUNY Baruch College, and a frequent contributor to The Robin Report, Inside Retail and media. She has served in key analytical and business development roles in leading financial research firms and was recognized three times in The Wall Street Journal’s “Best on the Street” analyst survey, including first place ranking in the Clothing & Accessories industry. Marie is X-Coresight and X-S&P/CapIQ. Marie is the President of the Retail Marketing Society and sits on the board of the NRF’s (National Retail Federation) Industry Partnership Council (IPC) and an advisor to startups including Haut AI.

Sharon Leite

CEO The Vitamin Shoppe

Sharon M. Leite is the Chief Executive Officer of The Vitamin Shoppe® and a member of its Board of Directors. A visionary and proven customer-focused leader, Ms. Leite is guiding the company’s transformation into a next-generation health and wellness platform, driven by a commitment to quality, innovation, and expertise across The Vitamin Shoppe’s full portfolio of products and services.

Ms. Leite first served as CEO of The Vitamin Shoppe from 2018 to 2023 and returned to the role in May 2025 following the company’s acquisition by Kingswood Capital Management, LP and Performance Investment Partners, LLC. Under her leadership, The Vitamin Shoppe is accelerating its position as the premier destination for first-to-market brands and breakthrough products across vitamins, supplements, sports nutrition, and on-the-go functional foods and beverages.

Beyond hundreds of national brands, The Vitamin Shoppe’s industry-leading assortment includes the proprietary brands The Vitamin Shoppe®, Vthrive The Vitamin Shoppe®, BodyTech®, BodyTech® Elite, plnt®, ProBioCare®, and True Athlete®. The company serves customers through more than 640 stores nationwide, providing personalized support from knowledgeable Health Enthusiast associates, and online at www.vitaminshoppe.com.

Cate Khan

CEO Trendalytics

Cate Khan is the CEO of Trendalytics, an AI-powered trend prediction platform helping fashion and beauty companies use customer signal data to forecast what consumers will buy next. Cate brings together an extensive skill set in building brands and businesses on digital platforms in the retail space. Prior to running Trendalytics, Cate co-founded Verishop, a retail platform dedicated to helping independent brands, which was sold in 2024. Cate also spent seven years at Amazon, as the senior vice president and head of retail at Diapers.com where she led marketing, merchandising and business analytics, helping turn the business to profitability. Earlier in her career, Cate spent a combined six years at L’Oreal and Avon in beauty marketing, both in product development and market activation. Cate is an active philanthropist, having served on the Board of Directors for NYC Make-a-Wish and the Board of Directors for the LA Food Bank. Cate received her undergraduate degree from Cornell University and her MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. She currently resides in Dallas with her husband and children.

Avery Akkineni

Chief Marketing Officer VaynerX

A pioneer in digital marketing and innovation, Avery Akkineni spearheads brand strategy, content, events, and communications as Chief Marketing Officer at VaynerX.

In nine years at VaynerX, Avery has catalyzed exponential growth by launching new companies and leading international expansion. She built VaynerMedia APAC from the ground up to over 150 employees in two years, opened key Asia Pacific markets like Singapore, Bangkok, Sydney, and Tokyo. During her tenure, VaynerMedia APAC was awarded Marketing Interactive's Agency of the Year. She also served as the Managing Director for VaynerMedia LATAM in 2024.

In 2021, Avery founded Vayner3, an innovation consultancy focused on emerging technologies like AI and Web3. Under her leadership, Vayner3 achieved significant industry acclaim, and she was named an Ad Age Web3 Trailblazer, and an AI Thought Leader by Business Insider. Her proven ability to identify and leverage leading-edge channels to drive growth for Vayner and her brand partners has landed Avery recognition on advisory boards of top platforms including Salesforce’s AI Council, Meta’s Creative Council, and Tracer.

Based in Miami, Avery continues to push boundaries in marketing. She is a sought-after speaker on modern marketing and digital innovation, who empowers teams and companies to embrace new opportunities.

Avery sits on the Board for PeacePlayers, a nonprofit organization that brings youth in conflict zones together.

Vicki Cantrell

CEO Vendors in Partnership

Vicki Cantrell, often called the Fairy Godmother of Retail, is a retail strategist and community builder, recognized for relationship building and accelerated growth. She founded Vendors in Partnership and the VIP Awards, a trusted executive ecosystem of retailers, solution providers and industry experts advancing retail innovation and better partnerships.

Her career includes Retail Transformation Officer for Aptos, NRF’s SVP Communities and Exec Director of Shop.org, COO of Tory Burch, CIO of Giorgio Armani and Gucci Group. Cantrell is a Vice President for the Retail Orphan Initiative (RetailROI), a non-executive director of Tandy Leather Company, Advisor for ReFiBuy.ai and Honeycomb Retail AI, and on the Executive Leadership Committee of the Retail AI Council.

Deepak Maini

SVP & GM, Walmart+ Walmart

Deepak Maini is senior vice president and general manager of Walmart+. In this role, he oversees the strategy, execution and growth of the Walmart+ membership business, delivering clear, everyday value to members through smarter acquisition, stronger retention and an expanding benefits portfolio.

Previously, Maini served as vice president and general manager, Customer Digital Identity and Data Platforms, where he led the creation and scaling of Walmart’s foundational infrastructure that powers personalized, omnichannel experiences.

Before joining Walmart, Maini spent 11 years at Amazon in senior product and general management roles across advertising, Alexa and entertainment. His experience included serving as director of product development for Amazon Music, general manager for Fire TV content and advertising, and head of product and engineering for Alexa Skills, where he led developer monetization strategy and launched new programs with large cross-functional teams. Earlier in his career, Maini held roles at Publicis Sapient and Amdocs, focused on analytics, strategy and product management for digital experiences and customer platforms.

Maini holds a graduate certificate in machine learning from Stanford University, a master’s degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a bachelor’s degree from IIT Kanpur.

Dean Dimitruk

VP, Branded Entertainment Warner Bros. Discovery

Dean Dimitruk is an Emmy Award-winning branded entertainment executive and Vice President of Branded Entertainment at Warner Bros. Discovery. With more than 15 years of experience across television, digital, social, and experiential media, he specializes in developing innovative custom co-branded marketing programs, talent-led partnerships, sponsorship strategies, and advertiser-funded content, that connect brands with passionate audiences.

At Warner Bros. Discovery, Dean oversees branded content strategy and execution across both linear and social platforms for iconic brands including Food Network, Discovery, TLC, and Animal Planet. He leads multi-million-dollar partnerships for advertisers such as Capital One, Hershey, Walmart, State Farm, Marriott, Wayfair, PepsiCo, Subaru, and Wells Fargo. His work has been integrated into marquee franchises including Tournament of Champions, Shark Week, and Puppy Bowl.

His expertise sits at the intersection of content, culture, and commerce, helping brands build deeper audience connections through storytelling, strategic partnerships, and premium content experiences.

Prior to Warner Bros. Discovery, Dean held production and programming roles spanning daytime television shows, ABC's third hour of Good Morning America, and as the creator of an original subway-based talk show series. He is a graduate of Emerson College and a proud Philadelphia native.

Emily Hikade

Founder & CEO Petite Plume

Emily Hikade is the Founder and CEO of Petite Plume, a luxury sleepwear and home company. In 2024, Emily was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2024, 2025 and 2026 Petite Plume was included in the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing private companies in the U.S.

Prior to launching Petite Plume, Emily spent over fifteen years undercover in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), focusing on Counterterrorism. Serving mostly in austere conditions, Emily was on the frontlines of Human Intelligence (HUMINT) collection in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. After a near plane crash during a mission, Emily made the decision to seek out a significant career change.

In 2015, while still living and working abroad, she bootstrapped and launched Petite Plume. Without prior retail experience, Emily built Petite Plume from the ground up evolving the business into a luxury sleepwear brand for the entire family to now a full lifestyle brand. Today Petite Plume is available in over 700 stores nationwide, including Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus and is beloved by the Royal Family, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Hart, and so many more. In 2023, Esquire declared Petite Plume "The Best Damn PJs on the Planet."

Petite Plume is currently 100% founder-owned and has been profitable since launch. Emily speaks four languages fluently and she specializes in self-defense, having trained in Krav Maga and Muay Thai kickboxing...skills which she has used minimally since starting Petite Plume.

Jared Blechman

Chief Revenue Officer Simon Property Group

Jared Blechman is Chief Revenue Officer at Simon Property Group, where he leads enterprise revenue strategy and commercial growth across the company's portfolio of shopping, dining, entertainment, and mixed-use destinations. He is responsible for expanding and diversifying revenue streams, developing strategic partnerships, and identifying new opportunities to drive growth across the organization, with a current focus on scaling Simon Media & Experiences, the company's commerce media, advertising, and experiential marketing business.

Prior to Simon, Jared spent 13 years with the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he held a series of progressively senior leadership roles, culminating as Vice President & Head of U.S. Business Development. During his tenure, he led partnership and business development efforts with many of the world's most recognized brands, contributed to more than $1 billion in partnership revenue, and played a key role in accelerating the commercial growth of the WNBA.

Earlier in his career, Jared held roles with the New York Mets and Viacom. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and lives on Long Island with his wife and two sons.

Joe Yakuel

Founder & CEO WITHIN

Joe Yakuel is the founder and CEO of WITHIN, an integrated media and creative agency behind some of the world's most ambitious consumer brands, including The North Face, Ben & Jerry's, Foot Locker, Movado Group, and Claire's. Founded in 2015, WITHIN brings together media, creative, measurement, and AI systems to help brands build marketing that resonates with consumers and delivers measurable business results. Prior to starting WITHIN, Joe held senior marketing roles at Quidsi (acquired by Amazon) and The Vitamin Shoppe, where he led both eCommerce and retail marketing. Through these experiences, he developed a deep appreciation for the D2C model and its emphasis on customer lifetime value. However, Joe discovered that most external agencies operated as vendors rather than true partners. He built WITHIN to function as an extension of its clients’ teams, using a holistic marketing approach that integrates media and creative across channels and ties every action back to core business objectives. Since 2015, WITHIN has generated more than $5 billion in revenue for its brand partners.

Neil Saunders

Managing Director GlobalData

Neil is Managing Director of GlobalData’s US retail and consumer division – a practice that was born out of the retail analyst firm Conlumino he founded in 2011, which was subsequently acquired by GlobalData.

In his role he oversees the development of the company’s proposition and its research output. He also works with major retail clients worldwide to help them understand the retail, shopper, and market landscapes – advising them on how best to develop, evolve and implement business strategies.

Prior to his current role, Neil worked for the John Lewis Partnership where he was involved, among other things, in the planning and relocation of new stores, the development of the ecommerce business, and the creation of technical and information systems.

Neil lives in Scottsdale, Arizona and in Maui, Hawai’i.

Rebecca Kerper

Founder & Lead Coach Leadership Growth Group

Rebecca Kerper is a former Fortune 500 Chief Digital Officer, ICF-certified executive coach, and leadership consultant with over two decades of experience leading digital growth, business transformation, and organizational change.

Over her 25-year career with QVC Group, Rebecca held leadership roles across eCommerce, marketing, and media, giving her an end-to-end perspective on the customer journey as digital commerce evolved from its earliest days to today's omnichannel retail experience.

She spent three years in Milan serving as Vice President of Commerce Platforms for QVC Italy before becoming Chief Digital Officer of HSN. There, she led a $1.5 billion eCommerce business, modernized the company's digital ecosystem, and expanded into emerging platforms, including social commerce.

Today, Rebecca coaches leaders from organizations including Disney, Google, IBM, American Express, Accenture, Pfizer, and Stanford Health Care. Drawing on her executive experience, she partners with clients as they navigate increasing complexity, organizational change, and the evolving demands of senior leadership.

Rebecca is a frequent speaker on the opportunities and challenges facing today's organizations. She serves on the Board of Directors for the International Coaching Federation's Central Florida Chapter and facilitates leadership development workshops for Dress for Success, supporting women as they prepare for career transition and growth.

She lives in Tampa, Florida with her husband and four sons.

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