PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Jay H. Baker Retailing Center at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the RLC Global Forum today announced the initial speaker lineup for their 2024 CEO Summit: Innovate for Impact. The exclusive, invitation-only event will be held on October 15 in New York City and will bring together visionary retail and brand executives to share insights on how leading companies are innovating to successfully navigate ongoing economic challenges and shifting consumer preferences and behavior.
In addition, the event hosts announced that Mary Dillon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Foot Locker, Inc., will be honored the night before the summit with the Retail Excellence Award in recognition of her industry leadership and philanthropic contributions. Dillon is a highly respected leader known for her consumer marketing and operational expertise and passion for the consumer. Prior to joining Foot Locker, she served as Executive Chair of Ulta Beauty, after having served as CEO for eight years and guiding the company as it became the leading beauty destination in the U.S. and a successful omnichannel retailer with a best-in-class loyalty program. Dillon made history by becoming only the third woman to lead two Fortune 500 companies. Previously, she was a senior executive at several other renowned companies, including McDonald’s and PepsiCo. Beyond her business achievements, Dillon has made significant philanthropic contributions over the years, including serving as a trustee of Save the Children Federation, championing the Foot Locker, Inc. Foundation, the company’s community empowerment program, and serving on the boards of several nonprofit organizations.
“Retailers and brands are facing complex challenges due to economic and supply chain uncertainties as well as a highly fickle consumer,” said Thomas S. Robertson, Joshua J. Harris Professor and Professor of Marketing at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. “To operate efficiently and thrive today, they have to continually innovate. But executives also need to be discerning about new tools like generative AI and how they adjust their business models and product offerings to serve today’s customers.”
The invitation-only CEO Summit will bring together a distinguished group of 150 CEOs, senior retail and brand leaders, retail technology visionaries, DTC brand founders and investors for a truly unique experience focused on the future of retail. The day’s programming will offer an inside view and frank discussions of how leading organizations are driving profitability and customer loyalty by innovating and collaborating mindfully in an increasingly fragmented retail landscape.
Confirmed speakers to date include:
- Mark DesJardine, Associate Professor of Business Administration and Harvey H. Bundy III T’68 Faculty Fellow at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and Senior Fellow at Wharton’s ESG Analytics Lab
- John Furner, President and CEO of Walmart U.S.
- Ethan Mollick, Ralph J. Roberts Distinguished Faculty Scholar, Associate Professor of Management and Co-director of the Generative AI Lab at Wharton
- Matthew Shay, President and CEO of the National Retail Federation (NRF)
- Dana Thomas, journalist, New York Times bestselling author and author of Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes
“Retail leaders must think differently and act boldly in these volatile times,” said Panos Linardos, Chairman of the RLC Global Forum. “At the 2024 CEO Summit, we are committed to unpacking the key drivers of change and challenging retail leaders to address ongoing industry shifts with foresight and strategic prowess.”
About the Baker Retailing Center
The Jay H. Baker Retailing Center is an interdisciplinary industry research center at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The Center influences research and encourages discussion on trending retail topics through programs and resources with faculty, students, and industry leaders. It was established in 2002 through a generous gift by Jay and Patty Baker. Jay Baker, former president and director of the Kohl’s Corporation, is a graduate of the Wharton School, class of 1956. Learn more about the Baker Retailing Center at bakerretail.wharton.upenn.edu.
About the Wharton School
Founded in 1881 as the world’s first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With a faculty of more than 235 renowned professors, Wharton has 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, Executive MBA, and doctoral students. Each year 13,000 professionals from around the world advance their careers through Wharton Executive Education’s individual, company-customized, and online programs. More than 100,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. For more information, visit wharton.upenn.edu.
About the RLC Global Forum
The RLC Global Forum is a leading platform that brings together the world’s most influential global retail leaders, innovators, and policymakers to drive positive industry change. The forum marks the next phase of the Retail Leaders Circle’s (RLC’s) decade-long mission to connect and empower leaders within the retail sector. Through high-level discussions and strategic cross-industry initiatives, the forum addresses the long-term forces shaping a brighter future for retail and its interconnected sectors. https://rlcglobalforum.com/