A SEAT at THE TABLE: Conversations with Today's Top Industry Leaders

Everyone wants to build a brand. But few people actually know how.For most, a brand is a logo and a vague mission statement - and little more.And you can really blame them. Creating a unique brand identity - and articulating it so that others (ideally customers) understand what you stand for - is a lot bigger undertaking than it seems.I'm Jane Singer, and welcome back to A Seat at

AI has become one of the most talked about technologies. A lot of the hype makes AI seem like a magic wand that can do anything or an evil demon that will leave massive numbers of people without jobs. While it's unlikely, at least for now, that these extreme cases are true, there is little doubt that AI is a technology we need to understand. For most companies, the challenge is ide

The apparel industry is being forced to re-imagine itself in the face of pressure to meet new green standards.Suddenly, what we thought was sustainable turns out to be merely a ‘good try’ - but not enough.While apparel needs to now recycle, be circular, reduce carbon emissions and lower water usage, it also has to appeal to consumers - who want clothing that is eye catching, co

Retail sales continue to outperform expectations - in both the US and in key European markets. Yet analysts are still waiting for that slowdown that was supposed to be driven first by inflation - and then by higher interest rates.Yet, consumers are proving resilient - but for how long?Long term a lot is likely to come down to the retailers themselves. Those with the right products

It seems we live an age of documentation. There are increasing levels of regulations around everything - and the supporting documentation around those regulations keeps getting more complex. Paper work that used to be handled by one or two people now requires a department with a hierarchy of staff - just to understand the regulations - let alone do all of the necessary documentatio

Telehealth got a serious toehold into healthcare during the pandemic. Now it looks set to be a massive disrupter to the healthcare industry, powered by greater digitization and the use of AI. If it comes to its full potential, more people will be able to get better healthcare - at more affordable prices.The opportunity here is so massive that Amazon has been betting heavily on digi

After decades of being counseled to become specialists - to find our niche - to be known as an expert in a specific field - it seems now the pendulum might be shifting in the opposite direction.Are we at the cusp of a new era that favors generalists? And if so, why the change? And just as importantly, we do we need to do to get ahead of the curve?Today we are joined by Ed Fidoe, fo

One of the biggest supply chain concerns right now is materials costs.While most stakeholders would like to see costs go down, everyone would at least like some clarity on what prices might be like - especially for cotton, which plays a key role in the apparel supply chain.While nobody has that proverbial crystal ball that can see the future, there are people who have the kind of f

After decades of wanting bigger and more, people have been starting to recognize the benefits of downsizing.It’s not just about buying less stuff or finally clearing out the closets, garage or basement. Over the past decade there has been a clear and growing trend towards to choosing smaller houses - much smaller.The most recent iteration of this development has been the growing

I just sat down with Brian Librach to discuss his new book "The Retail Leaders Roadmap" and the conversation was powerful!A lot to unpack!Some of the key insights you're going to get from Brian include:1. The five practices of building character, and their significance in career development.2. Strategies for career advancement within a retail environment, including the importance o