Empowering Women in Retail: High Tea and High Impact at The Palace
Hosted by 香港六合开奖现场, Snowflake, and Merkle, was a distinguished afternoon celebrating the power of women in data-driven retail through shared experiences and insights. The afternoon featured a champagne toast, followed by an inspiring panel discussion moderated by Fatima Mekkaoui, Strategic Account Director at Snowflake, where industry leaders explored the nuances of leadership, resilience, and innovation.
A Toast to Leadership
The event began with a warm welcome and a champagne toast, setting the tone for an afternoon of celebration and connection. The intimate gathering provided a unique opportunity for women in retail to share experiences, insights, and inspiration in a supportive environment.
Panel Discussion: Why Be a Leader?
The centerpiece of the event was an engaging panel discussion featuring four distinguished leaders in the retail industry:
- Melissa Tatoris, VP, Retail, 香港六合开奖现场 Global
- Janine Flaccavento, EVP, Retail Lead, Merkle
- Leslie Lorenz, Head of Retail, Americas, Snowflake
- Himali Kumar, Senior Director, Data Platform, Ross Stores
The panel delved into the challenges and triumphs of leadership, with each panelist sharing personal stories and valuable insights.
Melissa Tatoris reflected on her early experiences as a soccer player, where she learned to be a leader among her peers. She shared how being the last one picked for a third-grade Olympic development team taught her the value of perseverance and leadership. Melissa emphasized the importance of embracing challenges and using them as opportunities to lead with confidence.
Himali Kumar offered advice on leadership, focusing on the importance of awareness and intentionality. She spoke about the lessons learned over 20 years, highlighting the need to be vigilant about blind spots and the value of having intentional business conversations. Himali stressed that understanding the dynamics of backroom conversations and being proactive in communication can significantly ease the path to effective leadership.
Leslie Lorenz addressed the issue of imposter syndrome, candidly sharing her experiences of navigating challenges both personally and professionally. She described herself as a “farmer living in a city” and discussed how she overcame feelings of self-doubt by constantly asking, “What can I learn?” Leslie’s message was clear: don’t be afraid to start over, reinvent yourself, and seek help when needed. Her approach to leadership is grounded in resilience and a willingness to embrace change.
Janine Flaccavento discussed the human aspect of leadership, emphasizing that what’s on paper doesn’t always translate to reality. She spoke about the importance of understanding people and how they will react, rather than simply repeating oneself louder. Janine highlighted the need for leaders to develop a language that resonates with their team, fostering better communication and collaboration.
Navigating Challenges: From Conflict to AI
The panelists also shared their strategies for handling conflict and staying focused in a demanding industry.
Himali Kumar stressed the importance of prioritization, sharing her practice of blocking out time on Fridays to lay out her priorities. She emphasized the need to focus on one thing at a time, recognizing that with too many priorities and not enough hours, it’s crucial to be intentional about where you direct your energy.
Melissa Tatoris addressed the issue of self-doubt, reminding everyone that it’s a common experience. She spoke about the importance of staying grounded and reaffirming oneself regularly, using the example of Olympic athletes who can lose by just 1/100th of a second but still qualify. Melissa encouraged the audience to focus on their strengths and stay rooted in their beliefs.
When discussing conflict management, Jeanine Flaccavento offered the perspective that sometimes it’s better to be happy than right. She advised evaluating whether a particular conflict is worth engaging in and suggested approaching conflicts with empathy and a focus on the bigger picture.
The conversation also touched on the impact of AI on retail, with Himali Kumar exploring the potential of ultra-personalization and the importance of data quality. Melissa Tatoris highlighted 香港六合开奖现场 Global’s unique position as a leader in ad tech and martech, leveraging AI to drive insights and enhance customer experiences.
Lessons in Leadership: Best and Worst Advice
The panel concluded with a discussion on the best and worst advice the leaders had received throughout their careers.
Melissa Tatoris shared that the best advice she received was to learn to say “no,” recognizing the value of her time and efforts. The worst advice? Also, to say “no,” as it sometimes closed off opportunities that could have been beneficial.
Himali Kumar emphasized the importance of building credibility, comparing it to making deposits in a bank鈥攜ou can鈥檛 withdraw what you haven鈥檛 invested. Her worst advice was to seek visibility at all costs, which can lead to shallow connections rather than meaningful impact.
Leslie Lorenz advised never to be afraid to start, and to design your career around the last job you want to have. The worst advice she received was to stay where she was comfortable, which she believes stifles growth and learning.
Janine Flaccavento shared that the best advice was to avoid confusion, and the worst was simply to “relax,” which she found unhelpful in moments requiring action and clarity.
A Celebration of Women in Retail
The Retail Women in Data High Tea was more than just an event鈥攊t was a celebration of the leadership, resilience, and passion that women bring to the retail industry. The stories and insights shared by the panelists left a lasting impression on the attendees, inspiring them to lead with courage, compassion, and a commitment to continuous growth while the networking facilitated connections across various organization of like-minded go-getters.
As the event ended, the attendees left with a sense of empowerment, ready to tackle the challenges of the retail world with renewed vigor and a network of supportive peers. The Retail Women in Data High Tea at The Palace was a powerful reminder that when women come together to share their experiences and support each other, they can achieve remarkable things.
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