Happy Women’s History Month! To celebrate, we asked a few female leaders in our community to share career advice or marketing tips to help pave the way for future leaders in the retail industry.
Kacey Sharrett, Former Head of DTC, GoPro
“Life is too short to hate your job and burnout is rarely caused by just working long hours. Burnout is caused by working on goals that you don’t believe in for people that don’t treat you right. Know how to identify both and take another path before you have any regrets. Retail is tough enough as it is.”
Kimberly Minor, CEO, WOC Retail Alliance
“The path to leadership is not about competing with each other—it’s about learning, executing, and lifting as we climb. In a time when corporations are retreating from the very programs designed to level the playing field, we must remain steadfast in our goals. Success is not given; it is built through knowledge, excellence, and unwavering support for one another. Focus on what you can control—your skills, your impact, and your network. When we stand together, we don’t just survive the shifts in our industry—we thrive despite them. Keep pushing forward. Keep showing up. And most importantly, keep building a future where we all rise.”
Emily Culp, Chief Strategy & Brand Officer, BodyHealth
“The grass is always greener where you water it. As a leader, one of the most valuable resources you have is time—where you choose to invest it will determine the impact you create. Be intentional about your priorities, focus your team’s energy wisely, and collectively, you will drive meaningful and impactful results.”
Melissa Campanelli, Co-Founder, Women in Retail Leadership Circle
“Embrace your unique perspective and lead with authenticity. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn, and every success is a chance to uplift those around you. Remember, the courage to take bold steps today paves the way for the trailblazers of tomorrow.”
Amy Carr, Chief Marketing and Digital Officer, Third Love
“A career in retail is never one way or straight up. Sometimes, as women we play it safe or overthink new opportunities. Don’t be afraid to take risks and do what is hard. It is those opportunities that lead to interesting and successful careers.”
Linh Peters, Former CMO, Walgreens
“Your direct manager is the most important factor to having a meaningful career. Work for someone who advocates for you, is willing to take risks on you, gives you stretch opportunities and will back you up if things get tough.”
Allyssa Kaiser, Vice President, DTC + Performance Marketing, NEST New York
“Be the catalyst for change. Don’t let nay-sayers, fearing the unknown, prevent you from realizing new opportunities. Being a change agent is a tough job, but if you do it right, you will open many, many doors—for your organization and your career. The most successful leaders and innovators don’t blindly chase every shiny object that comes along, but they find the status quo unsettling. Adopt a growth mindset, and you’ll be golden.”
Mara Sirhal, Former Chief Merchant & Brand Officer, Saks OFF 5TH
“Take advantage of in-person networking and development opportunities to build meaningful relationships. Allow yourself to be vulnerable and don’t be afraid to ask for help, input, guidance and support! Not only will it deepen your connections and provide you with space to grow and learn from others outside of your day job, but it will open many doors for you along the way.”
Julie Evans, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Omaha Steaks
“The retail landscape is dynamic and constantly evolving. Embrace the change, stay informed, take risks, learn from setbacks, and view challenges as opportunities to grow. Your resilience will inspire your team and keep your organization relevant and innovative.”
Christiane Pendarvis, Co-CEO, Pattern Beauty
“Whatever it is that you’ve been charged with doing, whatever the responsibilities are of your role, do it and them well. Exceed everyone’s expectations. Advancing, gaining extra responsibilities, being awarded with new and more interesting projects, they all start with excelling in your current role. That’s where you create confidence and trust which are foundational to long term success.”
If you want to learn more from female retail leaders, join us the 2025 CommerceNext Growth Show to hear from leaders at Women in Retail Leadership Circle and WOC Retail Alliance. Register now to secure your spot in NYC on June 24-26!
