The decisions facing retail leaders aren’t getting any simpler. Customer expectations are shifting, growth is harder to unlock, and the playbook keeps being rewritten.
WIRLC: On the Road brings together executive leadership development and the real-world business challenges shaping retail today.
Through candid conversations with C-suite leaders, founders and industry innovators, thought-provoking panels, and valuable peer connections, you’ll gain fresh ideas and practical strategies for making smarter decisions, driving growth and leading through constant change.
At WIRLC: On the Road Seattle, we’ll move beyond the buzzwords to explore how retail leaders like you can turn new technologies and big ideas into real business impact, including making smarter decisions about where to invest, what to prioritize and how to lead through constant change.
What are the big themes we’ll tackle?
- Turning AI into real business impact: Moving beyond experimentation and hype to identify where AI can create meaningful value.
- Prioritizing the biggest bets: How to decide where to invest your time, money and resources — and what to let go of.
- Using technology to better serve customers: How AI and innovation can help your business better understand, acquire and retain customers.
- Leading through what’s next: How to keep teams focused and moving forward when priorities, technology and customer expectations are constantly changing.
What will you be able to take back and apply?
- A more practical framework for evaluating AI opportunities and investments.
- New ways to distinguish between promising ideas and initiatives that can create real business value.
- Ideas for using technology and innovation to strengthen customer understanding, acquisition and retention.
- Approaches for prioritizing opportunities and helping teams stay focused through change.
Speakers
Tuesday, November 3
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1:00 pm
1:30 pm
Registration and Networking
Arrive, check in, and connect with fellow attendees as the event begins.
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1:30 pm
1:45 pm
Welcome and Introductions
Kick off the event with a brief welcome from our president and co-founder, Jennifer DiPasquale, and get an overview of the day’s schedule.
Speaker
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Jennifer DiPasquale President and Co-Founder Women in Retail Leadership Circle
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1:45 pm
1:55 pm
The New Holiday Shopper: How Parents Are Planning, Paying and Shopping With More Intention
New Cash App and Afterpay research shows parents are entering the holiday season with a more intentional mindset: planning earlier, watching for deals, coordinating shared expenses, and using financial tools to manage high-spend moments. In this session, Carolyn Young, enterprise sales lead for Cash App and Afterpay, will unpack what these shifts mean for retailers, including how brands can better serve shoppers who are balancing kids’ wish lists, household budgets and expectations for flexible and seamless checkout experiences.
Speaker
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Carolyn Young Enterprise Strategic Partnerships, Director Block
Moderator
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Jennifer DiPasquale Co-Founder Women in Retail Leadership Circle
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1:55 pm
2:25 pm
Breaking the Rules: Building a Business and Culture That Challenge the Status Quo
What does it take to challenge an established industry and build a company that does things differently? In this fireside chat, Bobbie’s Co-Founder Sarah Hardy will reflect on her journey from Airbnb to entrepreneurship, sharing the bold decisions, difficult tradeoffs, and leadership lessons that shaped a purpose-driven business. We’ll explore how to question conventional wisdom, turn a mission into everyday business decisions, and build a strong culture as a company grows.
Speaker
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Sarah Hardy Co-Founder Bobbie
Moderator
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Melissa Campanelli Co-Founder Women in Retail Leadership Circle
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2:25 pm
2:35 pm
Meet Our Nonprofit of the Year
Each year, Women in Retail Leadership Circle partners with a nonprofit that gives back to our community in a meaningful way. Join us as we welcome this year’s nonprofit, the American Heart Association (AHA). The nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization, AHA is dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke.
Speaker
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Leslie Lorenz Circle of Red Chair, PNW American Heart Association
Moderator
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Kelly Rossi National Strategic Accounts Executive American Heart Association
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2:35 pm
2:45 pm
Winning (and Keeping) the Next Customer
Join Jennifer DiPasquale, President of Women in Retail Leadership Circle, and Emily McEvilly, Chief Customer Officer at Klaviyo, for a conversation about winning and keeping customers. They’ll discuss how retailers can turn customer insights into more relevant experiences, stronger loyalty and measurable growth.
Speaker
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Emily McEvilly Chief Customer Officer Klaviyo
Moderator
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Jennifer DiPasquale Co-Founder Women in Retail Leadership Circle
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2:45 pm
3:05 pm
Move, Mingle and Meet
Recharge and connect with fellow attendees through a lively networking activity designed to spark conversation and new connections.
Moderator
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Amber Jackson CEO Hype & Harvest
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3:05 pm
3:25 pm
Networking Break
Take an extended break to connect with other attendees.
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3:25 pm
3:30 pm
Member Moment
What’s it like to be a part of the Women in Retail Leadership Circle? Hear directly from a member of this amazing community of women.
Speakers
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Susan Koger Senior Director, Membership Women in Retail Leadership Circle -
Mimi Ruiz Vice President of E-Commerce Columbia Sportswear Company
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3:30 pm
4:05 pm
Beyond the AI Hype: Turning AI Wishing Into Real Business Impact
AI is everywhere, but are companies actually ready to put it to work? Drawing on her 30 years in technology leadership, including eight years as CIO of lululemon, Julie Averill will challenge the idea that simply adopting AI, launching pilots or adding “AI” to a job title constitutes transformation. She’ll explore the gap between AI ambition and execution, why so many enterprise AI initiatives stall, and what leaders need to get right across data, technology, people and processes before AI can deliver meaningful business value.
Keynote
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Julie Averill CEO and Chief Impact Officer Gold Thread LLC
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4:05 pm
4:50 pm
Top Challenges: A Collaborative Discussion
Join us for an engaging and interactive session where we will tackle the most pressing challenges facing retail leaders today. This collaborative forum will provide valuable insights, peer-to-peer learning, and practical takeaways as we explore solutions to the issues that matter most to you.
Speaker
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Pamela Neferkará Independent Board Director and Brand Leader
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4:50 pm
5:30 pm
Leading With Impact: Real Stories, Tough Decisions and Lessons LearnedJoin an engaging conversation with senior women leaders as they share candid stories about the decisions, challenges and turning points that have shaped their careers and businesses. From navigating uncertainty to failures, pivots and lessons learned, this session offers a practical look at what it takes to lead through constant change. We’ll explore how leaders prioritize when everything feels important, where they’re using AI, how they’re developing talent, and the difficult decisions they’ve made — including what they’ve had to let go of and what didn’t work.
Speakers
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Mimi Swain Chief Marketing Officer and Commercial Growth Leader Amazon Devices & Services -
Kim Waldmann Chief Commercial Officer REI -
Angie Callaway Vice President and General Manager, Global Nike Stores Nike
Moderator
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Amber Jackson CEO Hype & Harvest
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5:30 pm
6:30 pm
Reception/Networking
An opportunity to unwind, network, and continue discussions in a more informal setting.
Partners
Supporting Partners
