NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Retail leaders from Saks, Google, Coach, Ulta Beauty, Aerie, Madewell and Olaplex were among those named to the third annual list of the 25 Most Inspirational Women Leaders. The list, released ahead of International Women’s Day, recognizes some of the most respected names in global retail and is selected by three prominent business networks—the Retail Influencer Network, The DealmakeHers and The Z Suite—in partnership with Women in Retail Leadership Circle.
This year’s honorees all have a shared passion for driving inclusivity and diversity in leadership, mentoring future generations of female leaders with authenticity and integrity, and shaking up the old ways of doing business to protect the future of our brands and planet.
“We’re thrilled to honor these 25 women who have had an outsize impact on the retail industry and whose vision and leadership continue to inspire us daily,” said Stacy Berns, President of Berns Communications Group and founder of the Retail Influencer Network, The DealmakeHers and The Z Suite.
This year’s Most Inspirational Women Leaders are (in alphabetical order):
- Aimon Ali, Founder, Fashion Talks
- Amanda Baldwin, CEO, Olaplex
- Lori Coulter, Co-Founder and CEO, Summersalt
- Britta Cox, Co-Founder, AQUIS & K18 Hair
- Katie Diasti, Founder and CEO, Viv Period Care
- Gina Drosos, CEO, Signet Jewelers
- Mandy Fields, CFO, e.l.f. Beauty
- April Hennig, Chief Merchant, Moda Operandi
- Katherine Homuth, CEO, SRTX
- Stephanie Horton, Senior Director, Global Marketing, Commerce, Google
- Adrienne Lazarus, President, Madewell
- Cate Luzio, Founder and CEO, Luminary
- Fern Mallis, Founder of NYFW, Fern Mallis LLC
- Tracy Margolies, Chief Merchandising Officer, Saks
- Stacey McCormick, Chief Marketing Officer, Aerie
- Mecca E. Mitchell, SVP, Leadership & Organizational Development, DEI, and Community Impact, Burlington Stores
- Kerry O’Brien, CEO, Founder and Designer, Commando
- Elizabeth Preis, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Anthropologie Group
- Liz Rodbell, President and CEO, Hudson’s Bay
- Joon Silverstein, SVP, Global Marketing and Sustainability at Coach, and Head of Coachtopia
- Lori Singer, President, Parlux
- Kecia Steelman, President and COO, Ulta Beauty
- Mary van Praag, Global CEO & Board Member, Milani Cosmetics
- Carla Vernón, CEO, The Honest Company
- Annie Young-Scrivner, CEO, Wella Company
The 2024 honorees’ names and photos will appear on the American Eagle billboard in Times Square on March 5 and a social media campaign will feature each of the honorees’ leadership legacies.
Berns Communications Group’s Retail Influencer Network is an exclusive community of senior business leaders and influential investors and analysts whose thought leadership is shaping the global retail industry. The DealmakeHers is an invitation-only group of the most powerful female dealmakers in the retail and consumer space. The Z Suite is an exclusive network of Gen Z students and early career professionals who serve as generational thought leaders in the retail and consumer space and work closely with some of the most respected and influential retail and brand leaders.
About the Retail Influencer Network
The Retail Influencer Network is a carefully selected group of senior business leaders and influential investors and analysts whose thought leadership is shaping the global retail industry. Members of the network regularly share their expertise on consumer behavior and trends, retail technology, and the most effective commerce strategies across broadcast and digital business media outlets and at prestigious industry conferences and events.
About Berns Communications Group
Berns Communications Group (BCG) is a women-led firm breaking the mold in strategic communications by building communities and connecting clients with the most impactful influencers and thought leaders in the retail, fashion, consumer and technology sectors.
About Women in Retail Leadership Circle
Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) is an exclusive community of women executives at leading retailers and brands. Their mission is to foster leadership development for members by providing an unparalleled mix of events, content and elite connections. The WIRLC community is comprised of successful, motivated and passionate women from the entire retail and brand ecosystem who have a strong belief that investing in themselves and in other women is good business. Learn more at www.womeninretail.com.