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Retail technology often gets lost in hype. But what does it actually mean for leaders on the ground?

In this episode of Retail Leadership with Steve Worthy, I sit down with Ricardo Belmar, Producer and Host of The Retail Razor Podcast Network.

We cover:

• Why “perfect test stores” can hide scalability failures
• The difference between replacing tasks and replacing people with tech
• AI’s real challenge: implementation and process readiness
• The skills leaders need to guide retail through the next five years

Ricardo’s perspective cuts through the clutter and gives leaders a clear, practical lens for technology, leadership, and the future of retail.

📍 Connect with Ricardo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rbelmar/
🎧 Listen to Ricardo on Retail Razor -  https://retailrazor.com 

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In this episode of Retail Leadership with Steve Worthy, I sit down with Lucas Piccinin, founder of NetConV, a platform designed to bring real-time expiration date transparency to grocery eCommerce.

We explore how grocers can turn a persistent operational headache into a competitive differentiator by:

• Integrating seamlessly with existing ERP systems
• Using algorithms to dynamically price products based on freshness
• Overcoming cultural and operational resistance to digital transformation

Lucas also shares his founder journey—from selling groceries online to spending three years perfecting the tech—and why U.S. grocers who adopt now will have a decisive edge in the market.

Whether you’re leading operations, innovation, or eCommerce strategy, this episode will challenge how you think about inventory, pricing, and customer trust.

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DOWNLOAD - The Campus 2025 Retail Leadership Development Report, HERE.

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Everyone’s talking about AI, but few retail leaders are asking the deeper question:
Is your company truly AI-ready—or just overwhelmed with data?

In this episode, I sit down with, Abhijit Patharkar, the co-founder of Nexlytix to unpack the unspoken barriers to effective AI in retail: siloed systems, misaligned storytelling, broken decision-making, and the myth that more dashboards mean more clarity.

We cover:

• What AI readiness really looks like
• Why storytelling must change based on who's reading the data
• The danger of building AI on broken foundations
• How leaders can shift from chasing tech to shaping strategy

If you're leading in retail and trying to make sense of AI’s role in your future—you need this conversation.

Listen now and rethink how your business makes decisions.

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DOWNLOAD - The Campus 2025 Retail Leadership Development Report, HERE.

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What if your customer feedback system could make you a better leader—not just improve your metrics?

In this episode of Retail Leadership with Steve Worthy, we’re joined by Eric Sangerma, Head of Growth at Simplesat—the customer feedback platform trusted by brands around the world.

Simplesat helps retail leaders capture, interpret, and act on customer sentiment in real time. But Eric’s philosophy goes even deeper. He believes feedback is the foundation for great leadership—if you’re brave enough to hear it.

In this episode, we explore:

• How retail brands can close the loop on feedback to build loyalty
• The leadership habits that create stronger, more human teams
• Simplesat’s quiet but powerful approach to team growth
• Why journaling may be the most overlooked tool in leadership

Simplesat is also a proud sponsor of the 2025 Retail Leadership Study, helping us explore the connection between team development, customer experience, and long-term brand performance.

 “Customer feedback is the new currency—but only if you know how to spend it.”

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Support the show

DOWNLOAD - The Campus 2025 Retail Leadership Development Report, HERE.

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SPONSORS:

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Some stores just stop you.

You walk in, and for a moment—maybe longer—you forget you're in a place built to sell. You're in something more. A feeling. A point of view. A brand that knows who it is.

This episode is a love letter to those stores—and the people who know how to spot them.

Steve sits down with two of his favorite retail minds (and friends), Jack Stratton and Ian Scott, for a fast-moving conversation that feels more like a pub chat than a panel. Together, they unpack what they’ve seen, what leaders keep missing, and why a well-done retail safari might be one of the most underused leadership tools in the industry.

A deeper look at:

• Why the best stores aren't just places to shop—they're spaces that show you what matters now
• How curiosity is still one of the best skills a retail leader can have
• What most companies get wrong when rolling out tech, and how store teams quietly absorb the fallout
• The subtle power of retail culture—and what happens when you stop paying attention to it
• What Lush, IKEA, and Gentle Monster understand that many legacy brands still don’t

You'll hear real stories, playful jabs, and honest truths about what it takes to build—and notice—a store that makes people feel something.

For retail leaders wondering how to stay inspired, how to lead store teams with more empathy, or how to reconnect with the part of retail that still excites them—this episode is a reminder: stores are still cool. You just have to know where to look.

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Support the show

DOWNLOAD - The Campus 2025 Retail Leadership Development Report, HERE.

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SPONSORS:

Simplesat.io

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NetConV

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Many retail leaders operate with a limited perspective, often assuming that their market’s approach is the gold standard. But in a world where consumer behaviors, technology, and retail strategies vary dramatically by region, leaders who fail to think globally risk falling behind. 

The challenge isn’t just understanding different markets—it’s learning how to apply global insights in a way that drives innovation and growth.

In this episode, Steve sits down with PAULA MACAGGI, host of Off Bounds and a global retail expert, to explore how retail leadership shifts across different cultures and economies. Paula shares her journey from Brazil to New York and beyond, offering a fresh perspective on how retail operates on a global scale. 

From her insights on consumer engagement in Brazil to the technological advancements shaping China’s retail landscape, this conversation is a deep dive into what leaders can learn when they break out of their local mindset.

Offbounds Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@off-bounds

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DOWNLOAD - The Campus 2025 Retail Leadership Development Report, HERE.

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SPONSORS:

Simplesat.io

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AI is transforming retail at an unprecedented pace, and in this episode of Retail Leadership with Steve Worthy, we explore what leaders need to know now. 

From sneaker culture to digital transformation, Jenna Flatman Posner shares how her background as an elite athlete shaped her approach to leadership, strategy, and innovation. 

We break down AI’s real impact in retail—cutting through the hype to reveal practical applications, branding challenges, and the evolving balance between human expertise and automation. Discover how AI is reshaping customer experiences, store operations, and leadership strategies, and why executives who fail to adapt risk falling behind. Whether you’re navigating AI adoption or rethinking retail’s future, this episode delivers bold insights and actionable takeaways to help you lead with confidence.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
01:18 - Jenna Flatman Posner, Chief Digital Officer
02:55 - Sneakerhead Culture
09:03 - Early Sports Career and Olympics Journey
10:57 - Personal Athletic Journey
17:34 - Transitioning from Athlete to Entrepreneur
20:25 - Importance of AI in Today's World
21:10 - AI Applications in Retail
24:07 - AI Branding Challenges
27:17 - Human vs. AI Work Dynamics
30:31 - Future of AI Technology
34:04 - Future of Retail Trends
39:18 - Steve's Vision for AI Future
39:45 - Retail Leadership Strategies
42:20 - Retail AI Council Initiatives

Support the show

DOWNLOAD - The Campus 2025 Retail Leadership Development Report, HERE.

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SPONSORS:

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When Retail Stops Growing You, What’s Next?

No one tells you what happens when you outgrow your company.

You hit every metric, you do everything right, and yet the growth stops. Your company still expects results, but they’re not developing you. They’re not stretching you. And if you’re being honest, you’re starting to feel it.

The hard truth? Most senior leaders won’t admit when they’ve hit this wall. They keep showing up, running the same play, hoping something shifts. But real leadership isn’t just about surviving in a system that stopped investing in you, it’s about taking control of your next move.

In this episode, I break down:

•  The moment you realize your company isn’t developing you anymore
• Why top leaders don’t wait for permission to grow
• How to build your own “third place” for real strategic development

This one’s for the leaders who know they need something different—but aren’t waiting around for someone else to create it.

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DOWNLOAD - The Campus 2025 Retail Leadership Development Report, HERE.

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SPONSORS:

Simplesat.io

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Retail leaders talk about innovation, but are they solving the right problems? Too often, companies chase the latest trends—AI, automation, new products—without stepping back to ask: What actually drives transformation?

In this episode of Retail Leadership with Steve Worthy, we sit down with Matt Mueller, innovation strategist and author of The Mindful Innovator, to discuss his upcoming Campus Masterclass: Master the Future of Leadership – Strategies for Lasting Transformation.

We break down: 

• The biggest mistake retail leaders make when approaching innovation.
• Why most companies solve the wrong problem (and how to fix it).
• The “chicken cage” effect—why leaders resist change and how to guide them through transformation.
• The power of mindfulness in leadership and how it can sharpen decision-making.
• What attendees will gain from Matt’s exclusive Masterclass inside The Campus.

If you’re a senior retail leader looking to drive real, lasting change, this is an episode (and a Masterclass) you can’t afford to miss.

🔗 Sign up for Matt’s Masterclass now at LINK

🎙 Subscribe to Retail Leadership with Steve Worthy for more high-impact conversations with top retail leaders.

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Support the show

DOWNLOAD - The Campus 2025 Retail Leadership Development Report, HERE.

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SPONSORS:

Simplesat.io

Bellwether

NetConV

Nexlytix

________________________

JOIN THE CAMPUS

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Retail is more complicated than it needs to be, and in this episode of Retail Leadership with Steve Worthy, we cut through the noise with Walter Holbrook, a seasoned retail executive with over 60 years of experience—from stockroom to boardroom. 

Walter shares the hard truths about leadership, execution, and why common sense is missing in today’s retail landscape. He challenges leaders to rethink how they approach hiring, communication, and operational execution, emphasizing the need for honesty, grit, and a willingness to embrace friction as a path to improvement. 

From stockouts to corporate misalignment and the real reasons behind retail’s struggles, Walter brings unfiltered insights and no-nonsense solutions to help leaders simplify, execute, and lead with impact.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Introduction
01:19 - Retail Leadership Insights with Steve Worthy
01:53 - Walter's Career Journey
06:32 - Key Success Factors in Walter's Career
11:05 - Walter's Career Pivot
11:19 - Transitioning from Corporate to Consulting
16:55 - The Importance of Honest Communication
20:30 - Causes of Stockouts in Retail
24:25 - How Friction Leads to Improvement
27:10 - Effective Communication from Store to Corporate
29:50 - Addressing Friction Between Home Office and Stores
34:33 - Strategies for Retail Leaders
38:41 - Career Programs vs. Job Opportunities
43:20 - Understanding the Enneagram in Leadership
47:58 - Future Trends in Retail
51:40 - The Need for Malls in the Future
54:30 - Advice for Aspiring Retail Leaders
56:48 - Connecting with Mickey

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Support the show

DOWNLOAD - The Campus 2025 Retail Leadership Development Report, HERE.

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SPONSORS:

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Bellwether

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Nexlytix

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