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 Boston, we’ll explore how to lead through change, build resilience and recognize when it’s time to reinvent, while making smarter investments and finding new ways to win and retain customers.
* Leadership, resilience and reinvention: Lead through uncertainty, setbacks and change while keeping teams focused and moving forward.
* Winning the next customer: Find, attract and retain new customers without losing what makes a brand distinctive.
* Growing with purpose: Decide what to preserve, what to change and where to invest as your business evolves.
* Prioritizing for impact: Focus resources, make difficult choices and say no when everything feels urgent.
* Practical ideas for leading through uncertainty and building resilient, focused teams.
* Fresh thinking on how to attract, win and retain new customers.
* A clearer framework for deciding what to preserve, what to change and when to reinvent.
* Smarter approaches to prioritizing investments and focusing resources where they can have the greatest impact.
Arrive, check in, and connect with fellow attendees as the event begins.
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.
Great leadership requires knowing what matters most, especially when everything feels urgent. In this candid fireside chat, Barbara Wagner will share lessons from her leadership journey, including how she prioritizes competing demands, leads through uncertainty and change, builds trust, and keeps teams focused on what drives impact. She’ll also discuss driving profitable growth, embracing AI, and the career risks and reinventions that shape a leader’s path. Attendees will leave with practical insights for leading with greater clarity, confidence, and resilience.
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 AHA is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke.
Recharge and connect with fellow attendees through a lively networking activity designed to spark conversation and new connections.
Take an extended break to connect with other attendees.
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.
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.
Building a mission-driven brand is never a straight line. In this candid conversation, Beth Greenlaw, founder and once again CEO of Sea Bags, will share the story behind transforming an entrepreneurial business into a scalable lifestyle brand while navigating major operational, cultural, and leadership shifts along the way. From partnering with industry experts, redefining company culture, and modernizing outdated technology to aligning stores and e-commerce, making difficult investment decisions, and navigating unexpected setbacks, this session will explore what it truly takes to evolve a growing business without losing the authenticity that made it successful in the first place. Through honest storytelling and practical leadership lessons, attendees will gain insight into change management, scaling a brand, and leading growth through change and uncertainty in today’s retail landscape.
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.
Take an extended break to connect with other attendees.
An opportunity to unwind, network, and continue discussions in a more informal setting