Retail CEO Forum
Tucson, Arizona

Program

Last Year's Program

  • Sunday Jan 29, 2023
  • Monday Jan 30, 2023
  • Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Registration & Information Desk

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12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Executive Committee Meeting and Lunch

Private meeting and Lunch of the RILA Executive Committee.

1:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Board of Directors Meeting

Private meeting of the RILA Board of Directors.

5:00 PM – 6:30 PM

Welcome Reception

Kick off the Retail CEO Forum at this casual opening reception, where you can meet and reunite with fellow Forum participants. Dress casually for a relaxed evening of fun and networking.

6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

RILA Board Chair's Dinner

Join members of the Board and other invited CEOs at this opening dinner. (Invite Only)

7:00 AM – 7:45 AM

Breakfast

Please join us for breakfast and networking before the programming day begins.

7:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Registration & Information Desk

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8:00 AM – 8:30 AM

Welcome Remarks

The Retail CEO Forum will open with the themes that will drive RILA's work on behalf of the industry for 2023.

Speakers
Corie Barry
Chief Executive Officer, Best Buy Co., Inc.
Incoming Chairwoman, RILA
Brian Dodge
President
RILA
8:30 AM – 9:10 AM

The Business Imperative of Mental Health and Wellbeing

Whilst mental health is becoming less stigmatized, companies are still trying to figure out what strategies and tactics to use to build compassionate and resilient work environments. This conversation will explore the challenge of addressing mental health and wellbeing.

Speakers
Jimmy Etheredge
Chief Executive Officer - North America
Accenture
Michelle Peluso
Chief Customer Officer & Co-President of Retail
CVS Health
9:10 AM – 9:30 AM

Networking Break

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9:30 AM – 10:10 AM

Retail CEO Spotlight: Conversation with Rodney McMullen

The highly anticipated CEO spotlight features Rodney McMullen who will share his perspective on leading Kroger through demanding times – COVID-19, supply chain challenges, retail crime and inflation – and making the most important decisions to deliver superior value to his customers, associates, communities, and shareholders.

Moderator
Brian Dodge
President
RILA
Speaker
Rodney McMullen
Chief Executive Officer
The Kroger Co.
10:10 AM – 10:30 AM

Networking Break

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10:30 AM – 11:10 AM

DEI: Measuring Value Inside and Out

This discussion will address the multifaceted challenges of implementing and measuring the success of DEI strategies at scale by leveraging case studies focused on both recruiting and engaging Black employees and Black-owned brands. From effectively using metrics to build and retain diverse teams to measuring the business outputs of those teams, including for DEI-related projects, this conversation will help decisionmakers articulate how their DEI programs are clearly linked to enterprise value.

Moderator
Erin Hiatt
Vice President, CSR
RILA
Speakers
Kim Adams
Vice President, DEI and Talent Acquisition
Ulta Beauty, Inc.
Valerie Irick Rainford
CEO
Elloree Talent Strategies
11:10 AM – 11:40 AM

ORC 2.0: Retail Driving Vibrant Communities

The INFORM Consumers Act has been signed into law, and states around the country are funding task forces to investigate and prosecute criminal rings selling stolen product online.  But is that enough?  From vacant downtown offices to the challenges of addiction and homelessness, the underlying issues that negatively impact communities also lead to major operating challenges for retailers and shopping districts. This session will discuss how RILA will be partnering to take the next step in the effort to combat retail theft by leaning in to help address these community-wide problems. 

Speakers
Jason Brewer
Senior Executive Vice President, Communications & Marketing
RILA
Michael Hanson
Senior Executive Vice President, Public Affairs
RILA
Lisa LaBruno
Senior Executive Vice President, Retail Operations
RILA
11:40 AM – 1:10 PM

Networking Luncheon

Getting to know your peers in the industry is a key opportunity of the CEO Forum, and this informal networking lunch is a perfect setting to meet and connect.

1:10 PM – 1:50 PM

The Economic Road Ahead

This presentation will dive into the economy, markets, and the key forces retailers must navigate in 2023.

Speakers
Benjamin Frost
Global Co-Head, Consumer Retail Group
Goldman Sachs
Vishaal Rana
Managing Director, Cross Markets Consumer Retail Group, IBD
Goldman Sachs
1:50 PM – 2:10 PM

Networking Break

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2:10 PM – 2:50 PM

A Practical Conversation to Preserve Retail Workforces

Retail workforces are undergoing profound change. Union organizing strategies effectively capitalize on social justice momentum, perceived gaps in a company’s stated values and actual behavior, and an appetite among younger workers to embrace activism and protest for change. This session willl focus on these trend and how smart management teams can prepare for this new state of play.

Moderator
Lacey Bundy
Chief Legal Officer
PetSmart, Inc.
Speaker
Gene Scalia
Partner
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
2:50 PM – 3:10 PM

Networking Break

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3:10 PM – 3:50 PM

Growth, Trends, and the Outlook for Implementing Digital at Scale

This conversation will discuss key trends in digital retail from how to interpret growth metrics, to frameworks for evaluating technology investments, to the key questions CEOs should be asking their digital leads. This session will also deliver insights into technologies that are tablestakes and the state of tech talent today.

Moderator
Krystina Gustafson
Senior Vice President, Content
Shoptalk
Speaker
Tim Simmons
Chief Product Officer
Sam's Club
3:50 PM – 4:10 PM

Networking Break

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4:10 PM – 4:50 PM

Policy, Politics, and Talent: Leading in Challenging Times

Join Award-winning Journalist Katty Kay as she interviews Mitch Daniels about his views on the state of politics in Washington with divided control, the most important policy issues facing the country, and the 2024 presidential primary. Their wide-ranging discussion will also cover the future of talent and skills development in the workforce and the lessons he learned about leadership as Governor of Indiana and President of Purdue University.

Moderator
Katty Kay
Journalist, Author & Broadcaster
BBC World News
Speaker
Mitch Daniels
President, Purdue University
Former Governor of Indiana & Director, Office of Management & Budget
4:50 PM – 5:00 PM

Closing Remarks

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6:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Monday Night Dinner & Entertainment

End the day with an informal dinner and entertainment – another casual and fun networking opportunity.

7:00 AM – 7:45 AM

Breakfast

Please join us for breakfast and networking.

7:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Registration & Information Desk

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8:00 AM – 8:05 AM

Welcome Day Two

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8:05 AM – 9:05 AM

Wall Street’s View of Retail in 2023

This conversation will focus on the state of the retail industry, the critical metrics driving market valuations, and how investors view the economic landscape.

Moderator
Joel Anderson
President & Chief Executive Officer
Five Below, Inc.
Speakers
Simeon Gutman
Managing Director
Morgan Stanley & Company Inc.
Josepha Kaufman
Investment Analyst
T. Rowe Price
Yasmine Nainzadeh
Consumer Sector Head
Centenus Global Management
9:05 AM – 9:25 AM

Networking Break

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9:25 AM – 10:05 AM

Society as Stakeholder: The Future of Stakeholder Capitalism

Business leaders are reevaluating their responsibilities toward and relationship with key company stakeholders. This conversation will focus on the role of the CEO and companies amidst this shifting landscape as documented in Alan Murray’s Tomorrow’s Capitalist: My Search for The Soul of Business.

Moderator
Karyn Schoenbart
Former Chief Executive Officer & Board Member
The NPD Group
Speaker
Alan Murray
Chief Executive Officer
Fortune Media
10:05 AM – 10:15 AM

Closing Remarks

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Attend the can’t miss event for retail executives!

Register