Chief Merchandising & Digital Officer
Ulta Beauty
Lauren was named Chief Merchandising and Digital Officer in June 2025. Lauren has executive responsibility for Ulta Beauty’s merchandising, ecommerce, wellness, and marketplace functions, and also leads the company’s assortment brand building strategy.
Lauren has more than two decades of global beauty and retail expertise, and most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Revolution Beauty, the UK-based beauty products company. Prior to Revolution, she served in a number of leadership roles at Walgreens Boots Alliance, including Group Vice President, General Merchandise Manager for Beauty & Personal Care in the U.S. as well as roles in the U.K. as the Head of Prestige Beauty & Fragrance and Head of No. 7 Beauty Brand & Mass Beauty Categories. Lauren currently serves on the board of Cosmetic Executive Women.
Tuesday Jan 12
10:45am - 11:15am
Consumer behavior is shaped as much by emotion as by economics, with shoppers seeking joy, reassurance, and a sense of connection – not just efficiency – in their purchasing experiences. Every purchase must “earn its place,” which means retailers need to build trust, personalization, and emotional connections rather than relying solely on convenience-driven tactics. And with AI reshaping the journey and shopper expectations shifting rapidly, retailers that prioritize meaningful, human-centered moments over transactional speed will differentiate themselves – and hopefully build loyalty. Ultimately, consumers want to feel a sense of belonging, community and identity.
