In this episode of Founders Future, host Ammar Elm sits down with Leslie LaCosta, co-founder and principal consultant at Metamorphosis Studios, a boutique consulting firm specializing in retail transformation, customer experience, and operational excellence. With over 25 years of experience in retail leadership roles at companies like Party City and Bed Bath & Beyond, Leslie shares her journey from a part-time store associate to corporate leadership and what inspired her to start her own firm.

Leslie dives into the unique challenges she saw in retail leadership—particularly the gaps in operational focus and strategic direction—and how her firm helps clients drive customer satisfaction and loyalty by removing friction points and optimizing processes, policies, and omni-channel systems. She explains the importance of balancing core internal teams with outside expertise to accelerate change and improve operational efficiency.

Listeners will learn about Metamorphosis Studios’ ideal clients, engagement models, and how Leslie customizes consulting to each company’s unique needs while emphasizing the value of deep industry experience over cookie-cutter solutions.