Welcome to Omnichannel Reimagined: A new RETHINK Retail & VTEX Video Podcast Series giving senior retail leaders an insider’s edge on the trends, tech, and tactics shaping the future of B2C and B2B commerce, from seamless digital storefronts to AI-powered experiences.

In Episode 1, Top Retail Expert Brendan Witcher sits down with Santiago Naranjo, CRO at VTEX, to explore how AI is reshaping the buyer journey, whether websites are becoming obsolete in an AI-first world, the risks of letting AI platforms control customer relationships and how enterprise brands can remain indispensable, even when shoppers never visit them directly. 

🎧 Tune in now to rethink what omnichannel really means in 2025 and beyond

Ep. 1: Are Ecommerce Sites Dead in the Age of AI?

What happens when passion, purpose, and technology collide on water?

In this Rethink Retail: Global Leaders episode, host Ninaad Acharya sits down with Bruce Smith, Founder & Chairman at Hydrow, the premium connected rowing experience redefining home fitness.

They explore:
- How daily movement can make the world a kinder place
- What it takes to build three companies in one — hardware, software, and content
- The challenge of scaling while keeping authentic community at the core
- Why “the customer is the company” at Hydrow
- How founder mindset and leadership evolve through growth
- The next frontier: personalization, AI, and the end of cohorts

Join the conversation with our global retail community at www.globalretailleaders.com

Building Community, Innovation, and the Future of Connected Fitness

In this Rethink Retail podcast episode live from Groceryshop, David Weinand (Incisiv) speaks with Elisa Lyew, founder of Elisa’s Love Bites, on transforming her passion for clean, better-for-you desserts into a fast-growing national brand.

They explore:
- How Elisa pivoted from a decade-long NYC bakery to a scalable CPG model
- Why clean ingredients, gluten-free recipes, and refined-sugar-free sweets set the brand apart
- The focus on a hero product — the chocolate-chip cookie — as the foundation for national expansion

Join the conversation with our global retail community at www.globalretailleaders.com

From NYC Bakery to National CPG: The Rise of Elisa’s Love Bites

Dr. Megan Gerhardt joins Leadership NOW to unpack Gentelligence, her research-driven approach to leading an intergenerational workforce. We talk about why the narrative around generations has been so negative and how chronocentrism quietly convinces each age group that its way is the only right way to work.

Megan explains how Gentelligence reframes age differences as a form of intelligence rather than a headache and why standards can stay high even as leaders expand the paths people take to meet them. We get into mental health expectations, feedback styles, and the small clashes that can either harden into resentment or become fuel for better practice.

We close with practical ideas for building age-inclusive climates on purpose, from mutual mentoring and cross-generational projects to benefits and learning programs that work for early-career talent and older workers alike.

More information about Megan Gerhardt: https://www.gentelligence.org/

More information about Dan Pontefract: https://www.danpontefract.com/

Dr. Megan Gerhardt On Gentelligence And Leading Across Generations

What happens when technology meets true customer empathy?

In this episode of Rethink Retail: Global Retail Leaders, host Alex Baker sits down with Uttam Kumar, Engineering Manager at American Eagle Outfitters, to discuss:
- How engineers are becoming storytellers and changemakers in retail
- The real role of AI — beyond recommendations, toward anticipation
- Why successful digital transformation starts with people, not tech
- Moving from waterfall to agile: lessons from 17+ years in retail systems
- How hyper-personalization and data discipline define the next retail decade

🎧 Listen to the full conversation

Join the conversation with our global retail community at www.globalretailleaders.com

Engineering the Future of AI and Customer Experience

What happens when automation, speed, and smart fulfillment collide in the grocery industry?

In this episode of the Global Retail Leaders Podcast by RETHINK Retail, host Theo sits down with Petr Lizner of Rohlik Group - one of Europe’s fastest-growing online grocers, to walk us through how Rohlik’s blend of automation hardware and in-house software is redefining what modern grocery can achieve.

They explore:
- How Rohlik scales high-efficiency online operations across multiple countries
- How scalable automation can work in the online grocery environment
- The surprising fulfillment metrics, like near-zero commercial shrink, that online models can outperform offline retail on.

Join the conversation with our global retail community at www.globalretailleaders.com

Rohlik Group: Leading Online Grocery Growth

On this episode of “Building a Modern Food Brand,” host Christina Downey sits down with Matthew Newman, CCO at It’s Skinny, to talk about the hard choices founders must make early — and why focus, discipline, and a clear go-to-market strategy matter more than saying “yes” to everyone.

Matthew shares:
- Why startups must define where they want to live — and hold firm
- How It’s Skinny reset its core strategy before scaling
- The breakthrough behind their new low-carb, low-calorie rice innovation

🎧 Listen Now

Join the conversation with our global retail community at www.globalretailleaders.com

It’s Skinny – “Building a Modern Food Brand”

How is PepsiCo reshaping its future while staying true to the brands consumers love?
In this episode, host Matt Mueller sits down with Michael Del Pozzo, President of PepsiCo North America, to explore the company’s bold new chapter.

They discuss:
- How PepsiCo balances data-driven precision with creative instinct
- What’s fueling innovation across beverages, snacks, and brand refreshes
- How “One PepsiCo” is accelerating speed, collaboration, and retail partnerships

Join the conversation with our global retail community at www.globalretailleaders.com

How PepsiCo Is Accelerating Innovation & Growth

Cyber threats aren’t evolving, they’re accelerating. 🚨

In this new AiR Podcast episode, Renee Hartmann sits down with Kenneth Ogami, Industry Leader for Retail & Hospitality at Palo Alto Networks, to unpack the new language of retail resilience.

Kenneth brings 20+ years of hands-on retail security experience — from securing Westfield’s digital ecosystem to helping luxury brand Amiri scale securely through hypergrowth. His message is clear: compliance is no longer enough - resilience is the strategy.

Key takeaways:
- The retail attack surface has expanded dramatically across omnichannel, IoT, and connected store ecosystems.
- AI is accelerating threats through deepfakes, automated fraud, and sophisticated social engineering.
- Zero Trust is emerging as a business enabler — reducing risk while simplifying operations.
- Fragmented security stacks are holding retailers back; unified visibility is now essential.
- AI agents are reshaping future operations, requiring new security mindsets and governance.

🎧 Listen now and future-proof your retail organization.

Special thanks to Palo Alto Networks for making this episode possible. 
Visit their NRF booth #3956 to see how top retailers are building cyber resilience that scales.

Beyond Compliance: The New Language of Retail Resilience

In this age of low commitment, one of the most important commitments we make is to a local church.  It's not a contract; it's a covenant.  While there is no explicit biblical command to join a local church, we show that covenant membership in a local church is necessary for us to carry out what the New Testament requires of Christ followers.

✖️First Time? - BlueprintChurch.tv/firsttime 
✖️Worship & Kids Resources - BlueprintChurch.tv/kids 
✖️Give Online - BlueprintChurch.tv/give

(12-7-25 ) Ekklesia -- Covenant Membership

Dan Pontefract is an award-winning author, leadership strategist, and culture change expert. Dan's podcast explores all aspects of leadership, organizational culture, purpose, and professional development. 
 
Dan is the best-selling author of five books: WORK-LIFE BLOOM, LEAD. CARE. WIN., OPEN TO THINK, THE PURPOSE EFFECT, and FLAT ARMY. A renowned speaker, Dan has presented at four different TED events and also writes for Forbes and Harvard Business Review. Dan is an adjunct professor at the University of Victoria, Gustavson School of Business, and has garnered more than 20 industry awards over his career.
 
Previously, as Chief Envisioner and Chief Learning Officer at TELUS—a Canadian telecommunications company with revenues of $14 billion and 50,000 global employees—he launched the Transformation Office, the TELUS MBA, and the TELUS Leadership Philosophy, all award-winning initiatives that dramatically helped to increase the company’s employee engagement to record levels of nearly 90%. Prior to TELUS, he held senior roles at SAP, Business Objects, and BCIT. He is honoured to be on the Thinkers50 radar list.

RETHINK Retail - the evolution of retail in today’s connected world.
Join us as we explore the most recent trends and innovations in commerce.

New tracks tagged #leaders