Ron Thurston

Ron Thurston is a two-time bestselling author, keynote speaker, podcast host, and one of America’s most respected voices on frontline leadership and the future of retail work. With 30+ years of executive experience leading teams for iconic brands—including Apple, Gap, West Elm, Bonobos, Tory Burch, and Saint Laurent—Ron is a passionate advocate for the people who make retail thrive.

He is the author of RETAIL PRIDE: The Guide to Celebrating Your Accidental Career and HUMAN PRIDE: Optimizing Your Human Potential in a Digital Job Market, and the host of Frontline Fridays and Retail Intelligence in Action, two podcast series dedicated to elevating retail careers and exploring the impact of AI on frontline work.

Ron’s work is rooted in the belief that when you lead with pride—not pressure—you unlock extraordinary human potential. In 2021, he bought an Airstream and traveled across the country to meet and interview hundreds of retail employees, store managers, and brand leaders, amplifying their stories and documenting the critical role of frontline talent in shaping the industry’s future.

Today, Ron advises retail and retail tech brands around leadership, talent, AI integration, and customer experience, and speaks at major conferences and company offsites around the world.