Sunday
January 16
8:30 am–8:45 am
Javits North, Level 5, SAP Theatre
Keynote Session
Sunday
January 16
8:45 am–9:15 am
Javits North, Level 5, SAP Theatre
Under Brian Cornell’s leadership, Target is creating spectacular growth. Cornell’s vision includes a strategy with stores at the center of Target’s omnichannel platform and same-day digital fulfillment leadership. He also led outsized investments in team member pay, benefits and wellbeing, a curated assortment and more. Now, Cornell and his team are stepping up to even bigger challenges. In this fireside chat with NRF President and CEO Matt Shay, hear directly from Cornell, this year’s recipient of the NRF Foundation’s Visionary award, on how Target is leveraging its size, scale and resources to drive continued growth and achieve significant societal and sustainability ambitions in service to all.
Sunday
January 16
9:15 am–9:45 am
Javits North, Level 5, SAP Theatre
Many digital-first companies focus solely on growth, believing it will automatically lead to profitability -- especially in e-commerce. Yet growth is only as good as the loyalty and trust you earn with your customers. Pet e-commerce leader, Chewy, is a premier example of how to drive massive growth -- with expected revenues this year of approximately $9 billion, nearly tripling in 3 years’ time – without losing sight of its North Star: an unmatched commitment to customers. Hear how Chewy CEO, Sumit Singh scaled the beloved pet retailer from a boutique startup to a world-class institution by doubling down on its mission to be the most trusted, convenient destination for pet parents and partners everywhere. A 2022 honoree of NRF's People Changing Retail's Future, Sumit has led Chewy's successful journey as CEO since March 2018 by rapidly innovating across the pet industry, from Food & Accessories, to Pet Healthcare and Services, now reaching both B2C and B2B customers.
Sunday
January 16
9:45 am–10:15 am
Javits North, Level 5, SAP Theatre
Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are moving organizations to reevaluate the makeup of their workforce and better represent the communities they serve. This high-powered panel discussion, featuring CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion signatories, will explore today’s talent landscape and how the pandemic-era and hybrid work models are impacting human capital strategies. The panel of executive leadership committed to action will unpack the imperative to recruit, advance, and retain diverse professionals as we work together to foster more inclusive workplace cultures while continuing to drive meaningful progress around DEI.
Sunday
January 16
3:30 pm–4:00 pm
Javits North, Level 5, SAP Theatre
PepsiCo Foods CEO Steven Williams oversees all aspects of PepsiCo’s nearly $21 billion snack and convenient foods business in North America, including Frito-Lay North America (FLNA) and Quaker Foods North America (QFNA). In his role, Steven is accountable for more than 66,000 associates and over 500 locations across the United States and Canada. In this fireside chat, Steven will share insights from his more than 24 years of experience at the CPG stalwart about satisfying customers and consumers, and driving business growth through a relentless focus on building a faster, stronger and better business.
Sunday
January 16
4:00 pm–4:30 pm
Javits North, Level 5, SAP Theatre
Retailers face many challenges today: intense competition, diverse customer expectations, operational complexity, and ongoing cost pressure, all while navigating continuing disruptions and uncertainty. And in the past 18 months, the industry has seen a dramatic acceleration of digital transformation. This breadth of challenges and pace of change requires a new degree of agility, flexibility, and security to meet customers where they are now and where they want to go next. Join this fireside chat with IBM Chairman and CEO, Arvind Krishna, as he explores how retailers can leverage data, AI, and hybrid cloud technologies to quickly expand their digital experiences, automate operations, and enable consumers to shop anywhere and any way they choose.
Monday
January 17
8:30 am–9:15 am
Javits North, Level 5, SAP Theatre
Contributing a projected $4.1 trillion to U.S. GDP, the American retail industry is responsible for one in four jobs in the U.S. workforce. As an industry, retail has real power to lead and enact change for good to help fight financial instability, particularly for the underrepresented communities and people it serves. Hear from renowned business leader and current chairman and managing director of General Catalyst, Ken Chenault, who co-founded OneTen, a coalition of leading executives committed to upskilling, hiring, and advancing one million Black Americans over the next 10 years into family sustaining careers with opportunities for advancement. The former chairman and CEO of American Express, Ken will share why OneTen was launched in 2020 and how it plans to meet its ambitious goals.
Monday
January 17
9:15 am–9:45 am
Javits North, Level 5, SAP Theatre
Retailers play a vital role in society as engines of creativity, innovation and economic opportunity. The long-term success of these companies and the global economy depends on businesses investing in the economic security of their employees and the communities in which they operate; ensuring consumers are provided the goods and services they want and in many cases need – however they want to shop; employing environmental, social and governance (ESG) and sustainability initiatives that support good citizenry; and fortifying their supply chains to overcome unforeseen challenges. In this engaging fireside chat, Walmart U.S. President and CEO John Furner takes a long view on the next normal for the retail industry where innovation fuels growth and customer-centric thinking underpins longevity and a bright future ahead. Hear John's insights on the most pressing business imperatives facing the retail industry that, after an unprecedented 22 months, is surging forward with confidence.
Monday
January 17
9:45 am–10:15 am
Javits North, Level 5, SAP Theatre
The luxury lifestyle brand Ralph Lauren is on offense, investing to deliver value for its employees, consumers, communities, partners and investors around the world. In this fireside chat, Ralph Lauren CEO Patrice Louvet will share how, even as retailers continue to navigate a volatile global environment, the company is leveraging its iconic heritage while proactively translating its founder’s vision for a constantly evolving world — from building a resilient supply chain to making investments in areas like digital and personalization, as well scaling innovation to create a more circular economy.
Monday
January 17
3:30 pm–4:00 pm
Javits North, Level 5, SAP Theatre
The retail industry is no stranger to myriad shifts in its ecosystem of players, from sourcing to sales. Best-in-class retailers maintain healthy leads ahead of competitors by evaluating the landscape and pulling the appropriate levers for agile responses to new challenges and forecasted opportunities for growth. In this fireside chat, Best Buy CEO Corie Barry will provide insights on the evolution of Best Buy's business, consumer shopping behaviors, and retail overall. This discussion will explore changes in the business from the last 18 months; the series of strategies Best Buy has deployed to differentiate from competitors, such as use of consultants, designers, services and support; matching its specialty expertise with the evolution of how people are shopping; and how previous investments in modernizing its supply chain have minimized disruptions and allowed increased inventory compared to levels of the past two years.
Monday
January 17
4:00 pm–4:30 pm
Javits North, Level 5, SAP Theatre
The past 18 months have accelerated changes in how consumers shop for groceries and what they expect in terms of ease, choice and speed of delivery. With this new reality, building enduring relationships that transcend the transaction and drive long-term loyalty is a top priority for Vivek Sankaran, who heads the nation’s second-largest grocer. This fireside chat will delve more deeply into the staying power of pandemic-driven behavior changes among consumers and how Albertsons is leveraging the power of technology to better serve them.
Monday
January 17
4:30 pm–5:00 pm
Javits North, Level 5, SAP Theatre
A longstanding and successful retail veteran, Lowe’s chairman and CEO Marvin Ellison will discuss how the home improvement retailer continues to accelerate its business transformation, with focus on executing the company’s “Total Home” strategy. In this fireside chat, Marvin will provide insights on Lowe's deepening connections with associates, consumers, and communities through its 100 Hometowns initiative and the company's ongoing support of diverse small businesses. Hear how the home improvement retailer has leveraged the momentum from consumers' reconnection to their homes to provide best-in-class customer engagement, enhance its omnichannel offerings and increase market share in a highly fragmented home improvement market.
Tuesday
January 18
8:45 am–9:15 am
Javits North, Level 5, SAP Theatre
Nordstrom has focused on providing customers with unparalleled service and personalized shopping experiences for 120 years. To translate its heritage of excellence in service to a digital world, the retailer remains focused on leveraging physical and digital assets to create a truly seamless and interconnected experience wherever and however customers choose to shop. Nordstrom’s digital-first approach to merchandising enables its merchants to leverage customer insights to ensure the company is deploying the right product to the right place at the right time. Through this agile approach, the fashion retailer is able to blend its deep relationships with data-driven insights to offer a product selection that resonates with customers and sparks a sense of discovery.
Tuesday
January 18
9:15 am–9:45 am
Javits North, Level 5, SAP Theatre
Consumers’ spending power has grown more in the past 20 months than in any time prior. Carla Harris, Morgan Stanley Vice Chair and Senior Client Advisor of Global Wealth Management extrapolates which impacts on businesses, consumers and the global retail industry will affect the near-term health of the global economy and how this might translate to vigorous consumer spending continuing to surge forward or revert and recede. Carla is a sought after speaker responsible for improving the access to capital for female and multicultural founders, as well as increasing client connectivity at Morgan Stanley. Hear one of the most admired business thinkers unveil the philosophy behind the true leadership, with memorable stories, lessons and practical advice from a leader who truly believes in human magic.
Tuesday
January 18
9:45 am–10:15 am
Javits North, Level 5, SAP Theatre
We are in a climate crisis and inaction is not an option - what if we reframe the relationship between climate change and economic prosperity? What seems like a cost today becomes an investment in the future. In this session, we will discuss how leaders across a broad ecosystem are needed to transform to a net-zero economy. This will require reimagining, reinventing, and redesigning many of the day-to-day experiences, as well as how businesses and economies operate. Join Kate Hardin, Executive Director of Deloitte's Research Center for ER&I and IKEA U.S. CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer, Javier Quiñones as they discuss driving tangible climate, economic, and social change across retail. In this mainstage session, you’ll understand the economic cost of action versus inaction; key insights on approaching global change; and how retail can navigate the climate ecosystem, taking a systems approach, where some choices will get you further ahead.
Tuesday
January 18
2:00 pm–3:30 pm
Javits North, Level 5, SAP Theatre
2022 shows promise of a strengthening economy and healthy consumer spending with pent-up demand for goods and services. Positioning an organization to effectively leverage positive economic factors and a strong consumer still takes vision and a sense of staying true to the organization's mission given an increasingly level retail playing field. In three successive fireside chats, attendees will hear from influential female leaders who continue to steward their organizations with a combination of agility and a vision for growth to rule their domains.
In the opening discussion, WW International president and CEO Mindy Grossman will share her vision positively impacting the health and wellness industry with community, connection and personalization at scale.