Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top 50 Women Leaders in Consumer Products and Retail for 2023. This sector is characterized by intense rivalry among companies vying for consumer attention and market share. This year’s awardees have a keen understanding of shifting consumer behaviors, emerging technologies, and evolving preferences. They are at the forefront of those trends, making their contributions paramount for sustained success and growth. Serving in a variety of roles, they bring a fresh perspective to product development, marketing, customer engagement, and more. Their leadership has not only revitalized the organizations they serve but will also empower a new generation of leaders.
Among this year’s awardees is Diana Marshall, Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer at Sam's Club, who leads member-centric and data-driven initiatives to maintain the company's competitive edge, concentrating on revenue growth from memberships, eCommerce, retail ads, and financial services. Awardee Gigi Ganatra Duff holds the position of Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs at Nordstrom, overseeing public affairs, corporate social responsibility efforts, brand promotion, employee engagement, and crisis management. Also awarded is Carey Collins Krug, Senior Vice President and Head of Marketing for Abercrombie Brands, where she orchestrates a seamless customer experience across various touchpoints, encompassing digital strategies, influencer collaborations, media campaigns, brand positioning, and social media.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Women Leaders in Consumer Products and Retail for 2023.
1. Diana Marshall
EVP & Chief Growth Officer, Sam's Club
Diana Marshall serves as an Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer at Sam’s Club. In this role, she aims to keep Sam’s Club ahead of the curve through member-obsessed and data-driven strategies. She and her team are focused on identifying, developing and growing revenue streams such as membership income, eCommerce, MAP (retail ads business) and financial services, while doubling down on convenience as the differentiator for members.
Before joining Sam’s Club, Marshall began her career at Walmart 18 years ago as a replenishment trainee in consumables. During that time, she partnered with supply chain to create new inventory flow methods. She led various merchandising teams, enabling her to develop a deep understanding of omni-merchandising and product development across multiple areas in general merchandise and consumables. Most recently, Marshall served as the EVP of the Southwest Business Unit for Walmart US operations. There, she oversaw five regions across 12 states, including some 750 Supercenters and 225,000 associates. In addition, she had responsibility for the Walmart+ store experience and operations oversight for the Dallas Innovation Hub for end-to-end transformation.
Marshall earned her undergraduate degree in business administration from Oklahoma State University and her master’s in operations management from the University of Arkansas. She currently sits on the national board of directors for NextUp and is an executive advisor to the NextUp Northwest Arkansas region. She also is a member of the Walton Arts Center board with a passion for the arts and theater industry. Additionally, she is a current NACD member and holds an NACD Directorship Certification since 2022.
2. Gemma Kubat
SVP & President of Financial & Retail Services, Target
Gemma Kubat is the SVP and President of Financial and Retail Services of Target, one of the world’s most recognized brands and one of America’s leading retailers. Gemma is a progressive thought leader best known for revitalizing operations at large-scale retailers, positioning them for future success. Throughout her career, she has transformed business units and internal operations, enabled growth, and delivered exceptional P&L operating performance spanning both mature and emerging businesses and domestic and international markets.
In her career at Walmart Inc. and Target Corporation, she delivered sustainable business value, increased effectiveness and efficiency, leveraging her end-to-end supply chain, and global business and shared services experience, utilizing cutting-edge best practices and technologies. Her colleagues value her business acumen, growth mindset, innovative thinking, multicultural experience, and collaborative leadership style.
Gemma was a keynote speaker at the North American E-Tail Operations Summit, addressing “Supply Chain of the Future: Enabling Target’s Significant Growth”. She also served as chairperson for the Women’s Resource Council (ARG) at Walmart. Gemma currently serves as a board member and Governance Committee Chair for WomenVenture, overseeing the provision of loans to small businesses, which are primarily women-owned. She graduated from Swansea University with an undergraduate degree in politics and sociology.
3. Shannon Garcia
Global Chief Operating & Transformation Officer at Pizza Hut, Yum! Brands
Shannon Garcia is known for transforming some of the most iconic global brands in hospitality, retail, and restaurants including Starbucks, Yum! Brands, & Darden Restaurants. Given the massive disruption of consumer behaviors in the industry, Shannon brings a unique perspective in this time of reimagining brands faster than the rate that consumers are reimagining themselves. With a strong ability to connect brands to purpose and differentiation, she is known to put people at the center which unlocks the capability to drive performance. Currently, Shannon serves over 500,000 team members in 18,000 stores in over 100 countries as the Global Chief Operating Officer and Chief Transformation Officer at Pizza Hut of Yum! Brands.
Previously, Shannon was the president of Siren Retail and an SVP of US Business at Starbucks Coffee Company. She and her team created the strategy and innovation to drive key operational initiatives in Starbucks retail stores leading a $19 Billion business that elevated the customer and partner (employee) experiences in more than 9,000 retail stores in the United States that supported nearly 300,000 retail partners. Shannon was at the forefront of navigating the global pandemic creating an enterprise response team while driving innovation that surpassed shareholder expectations. This work evolved into the framework of the Starbucks Reinvention Roadmap. Garcia graduated from Medaille University with an undergraduate degree in finance.
4. Jennifer McKeehan
SVP of End-to-End Transportation and Delivery, Walmart
Jennifer McKeehan is a global operations and supply chain executive with more than 15 years of experience across retail and e-commerce channels. In August of 2022, she was named Senior Vice President of End-to-End Delivery at Walmart. In this role, her scope of influence encompasses first, middle, and last-mile fulfillment while embodying the culture to achieve the common purpose of saving people money so they can live better.
Before coming to Walmart Jennifer served as SVP and global head of supply chain for Peloton Interactive leading the team responsible for all operational aspects of supply chain including transformation across people, processes, and technology. She oversaw sales and operations planning, distribution, transportation, inventory allocation, technology, and final mile across all channels including connected fitness, accessories, and apparel. Jennifer was also VP of supply chain for The Home Depot leading the inventory planning and replenishment supply chain functions as well as digitization and integrated decision-making for all fulfillment channels across stores and online, managing $15B+ of inventory.
Jennifer was previously featured in Atlanta Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, Georgia Tech's 40 Under 40, and the Wall Street Journal, and was a Harvard Business School guest speaker. She is also a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2020. In her personal time, Jennifer serves on the Emerging Leaders Committee for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, cheering on Georgia Tech football and spending time with her husband and four children. Jennifer has an undergraduate degree in industrial engineering from Georgia Tech.
5. Anna Sandquist
Vice President and Category Officer - Home Theater & Headphones, Best Buy
Anna Sandquist is a Vice President and Category Officer of Home Theater & Headphones at Best Buy. At Best Buy, their purpose is to enrich lives through technology. To achieve this, over 100,000 employees provide solutions to their customers in over 1,000 locations, online, and in their homes. They’re a community of courageous change-makers, ambitious collaborators, and inspiring friends. Sandquist has 20 years of experience. She began her career in 2003.
Sandquist graduated from the University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management with an MBA in commerce and from the University of St. Thomas with an undergraduate degree in marketing and advertising.
6. Heidi Ryder
Executive Vice President of Merchandising, The TJX Companies
Heidi Ryder is an Executive Vice President of Merchandising for TJX Companies, Inc. where she sets the vision and strategy for a $10B apparel and home portfolio. As a member of the most senior merchant leadership team, Heidi is highly regarded as an off-price retail executive known for driving results and the strategic execution of plans. Ryder is a visionary leader who oversees a team of 130 merchants including buyers, DVP merchandise managers, and SVP general merchandise managers in men’s, children’s, and home.
Ryder began her retail career at Jordan Marsh department stores and gained experience in store management, operations, and buying. She then transitioned to the emerging off-price sector and moved into buying at TJ Maxx. After 14 years of combined buying experience and the acquisition of Marshalls, Ryder held positions of increasing responsibility, including DVP merchandise manager, and SVP general merchandise management positions across apparel, accessories, and home.
In addition to her executive responsibilities for the business, Heidi is a co-facilitator of the Women’s Leadership Network and is ardently leading the expansion of the program. She is active in philanthropic initiatives in the retail industry, and involved in Bowdoin College’s endowment fundraising and Reunion Committee. She has also been devoted to the Pan Mass Challenge fundraising for the past 5 consecutive years. Heidi enjoys skiing, cycling, photography, and travel. She received an undergraduate degree in history and government with distinction from Bowdoin College.
7. Emily Taylor
EVP & Chief Merchandising Officer, Dollar General
Emily Taylor is Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer at Dollar General. She leads the company’s merchandising, marketing, global sourcing, digital, merchandise operations, customer insights, channel innovation, and in-store experience efforts for Dollar General and its more than 18,000+ stores.
Taylor joined DG in 1998 and has held roles in numerous areas within the organization including pricing, merchandising, merchandise planning, financial planning and analysis, and investor relations. In 2014, Taylor was named SVP of non-consumable merchandising where she helped create and launch the company’s non-consumable initiative. In 2019, Taylor led the development and launch of the company’s most recent concept store, pOpshelf, as SVP of channel innovation.
Taylor is an active member of Women in Retail Leadership, Shoptalk, Network of Pricing Champions, Professional Pricing Society, and the Retail Industry Professionals Group. She earned an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina Asheville and an MBA from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University.
8. Christa Small
Chief Restaurant Officer of International Development Licensee Markets, McDonald's
Christa Small is the Chief Restaurant Officer of McDonald’s International Development Licensee Markets. She first joined the company in 2005. In her role, Christa provides operations and customer experience leadership within the international developmental licensee business units (Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Japan, and China). Her accountabilities include operations and customer experience strategy, supporting business unit execution, representing segments within the global operations leadership team, and supporting the development of the global operations talent pipeline. Small earned an MS in computer engineering and an undergraduate degree in electrical and electronics engineering from the University of Michigan College of Engineering.
9. Vinessa DePinto
Head of Brand Design Strategy, Tyson Foods
Vinessa DePinto is a senior global design leader who works at the heart of innovation, strategy, and design, inspiring cultural transformation that builds distinctive brands and design-integrated organizations. As Head of Brand Design Strategy, DePinto helps build and transform brands from concept and exploration to realization and commercialization. She leads design strategy and creative direction across Tyson's Prepared/Retail Foods portfolio, $9 billion of the company's $40 billion global business, in addition to co-creating the design model of the Innovation Lab where she leads the design of disruptive new-to-world brands.
DePinto has spent 20+ years in design and culinary strategy, working closely with global teams across the US, UK, and Italy in collaboration with agencies, strategists, designers, consumer insights, packaging engineers, chefs, culinary scientists, and supply chain leaders developing new brands from concept and creation through to commercialization. Her sharp business lens combined with expertise in concept ideation and brand experience creation has generated top revenue and transformed human experiences for iconic brands such as McDonald’s, ConAgra, Pepperidge Farms, and more.
DePinto is known as a brand builder, design thinker and doer, educator, and creator. She is celebrated for her visionary leadership, collaborative partnerships, and innate ability to drive and influence the transformation that builds meaningful brands people love. DePinto believes design is innovation, business-critical, and anchored in meaning and culture. She earned an undergraduate degree in humanities from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.
10. Julie Gruber
EVP & Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, Gap Inc.
As Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Julie Gruber leads the legal, compliance, government affairs, real estate, loss prevention, and global security functions for Gap Inc. As corporate secretary, she is a trusted advisor to the board and works closely with the chairman of the board and the CEO. Gruber’s teams protect the people, property, reputation, and information of Gap Inc.’s employees, customers, and communities.
Over her career, Gruber has had the opportunity to lead a variety of disciplines, including government affairs, sustainability, the Gap Foundation, corporate administration, and employee relations in addition to all aspects of legal and compliance. Gruber established Gap Inc.’s Cyber Security and Privacy Council, co-founded the company’s Risk Committee, and chairs the Integrity and Corporate Crisis teams. During her tenure with the company, she has built a strong track record of leading Gap Inc. through various crises, acquisitions, and global expansions. Additionally, she has significant experience in branding, intellectual property, and franchising.
An avid champion for diversity, Gruber drove Gap Inc. to join the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. In addition, she led Gap Inc. to be one of the first corporate legal department sponsors of Diversity Lab’s Mansfield Rule initiative, which helps drive and measure diversity across law firm leadership. Before joining Gap Inc., she was an associate at Bronson, Bronson and McKinnon in San Francisco and clerked for the Honorable Ronald M. Whyte in the Federal District Court in San Jose. Gruber is a graduate of the University of California’s Hastings College of Law and received her undergraduate degree in political science from Yale University. Gruber serves on the Board of LifeMoves - Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness and is on the Executive Committee for the American Heart Association’s Bay Area Go Red for Women Campaign.
11. Mary Benedum
Vice President of Marketing, Kohl's
Mary Benedum is the Vice President of Marketing at Kohl's. She first joined the company in 2001. Kohl’s is a leading omnichannel retailer with more than 1,100 stores in 49 states. With a commitment to inspiring and empowering families to lead fulfilled lives, Kohl’s offers amazing national and exclusive brands, incredible savings, and an easy shopping experience in stores, online at Kohls.com, and on Kohl's mobile app. Since its founding, Kohl's has given more than $750 million to support communities nationwide, with a focus on family health and wellness.
Previously, Benedum was a corporate communications at Kohler Co. She earned an MBA from the Wisconsin School of Business and an undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
12. Carey Collins Krug
Chief Marketing Officer, Abercrombie & Fitch
Carey Collins Krug is the Senior Vice President and Head of Marketing for Abercrombie Brands, the hallmark of which, Abercrombie & Fitch, is a brand intended to make everyone feel comfortable, confident, and stress-free, like the start of a long weekend. Krug is responsible for overseeing the 360-degree customer experience, including digital strategies, influencer marketing, brand partnerships, media campaigns, brand positioning, and social media. Krug joined Abercrombie & Fitch Co. from David Yurman where she served as CMO.
Previously, Krug worked at Ralph Lauren as the SVP of Global MKT overseeing the Polo Ralph Lauren brand, as well as Donna Karan as the VP of Global Marketing overseeing global brand direction for Donna Karan New York, DKNY, and DKNY Jeans.
13. Casandra Dominguez
Head of Consumer Insights, IKEA US
Casandra Dominguez began her professional career 16 years ago. Today, she is the Head of Consumer Insights at IKEA US. The IKEA Brand unites more than 200.000 co-workers and hundreds of companies with different owners all over the world. It’s one brand, but it reaches millions of hearts and homes. Their value chain is unique. It includes everything from product development, design, supply, manufacture, and sales.
Dominguez first got her start in 2007 as an investor relations & sales analyst at Proxima Alfa. From there, she went on to Merrill Lynch, before eventually rising to director of research at Cushman & Wakefield, her most recent position before joining IKEA. Dominguez graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with an MPA in economic development and growth and an undergraduate degree in international relations.
14. Gigi Ganatra Duff
Head of Communications & Corporate Affairs, Nordstrom
Gigi Ganatra Duff has served as the Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs at Nordstrom since March 2017. She leads the company’s public affairs including Nordstrom’s corporate social and environmental responsibility initiatives. Gigi and her team focus on external and internal communications strategies that promote, enhance, and protect the Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack company reputation including Nordstrom corporate citizenship initiatives, brand PR and events, charitable giving, employee engagement and issues, and crisis management.
Before joining Nordstrom, Gigi served as VP of communications of HSNi where she oversaw all corporate and consumer communications for the HSNi portfolio of 8 brands as well as HSNi Cares, the philanthropic arm of the company. Gigi also served as senior director of global public relations for Starwood Hotel’s design and luxury brands including St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Mèridien. Before that, she held leadership roles at Harrison & Shriftman, Terra Group, and Gen Art.
Gigi is a leader in her field with more than 20 years of experience in strategic marketing, brand development, corporate social responsibility, reputation management, public relations, and special events, including a rich background in fashion, art, hospitality, and real estate. Gigi started her career as an entrepreneur and has a passion for supporting and mentoring emerging talent. She currently serves on the board of directors at FIT, the Fashion Institute of Technology, and previously on the foundation board of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She supports numerous local nonprofit organizations in NY, Miami, and Seattle.
15. Maristella Brentani
SVP Product Style & Licensing Americas, EssilorLuxottica
Maristella Brentani is the SVP of Product Style & Licensing Americas of EssilorLuxottica. She first joined the company in 2022. EssilorLuxottica is a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of ophthalmic lenses, frames, and sunglasses. Formed in 2018 by the combination of Essilor and Luxottica, their company combines two centuries of innovation and human endeavor to elevate vision care and the consumer experience around it. They are home to the most loved and widely-recognized vision care and eyewear brands in the world. Their proprietary eyewear brands include Ray-Ban, Oakley, Costa, Vogue Eyewear, Persol and Oliver Peoples, complemented by over 20 prestigious licensed brands.
Previously, Brentani was a VP of product strategy and line planning in North America at Luxottica Group and before that a director of accessories and travel retail at Skagen. Earlier in her career she worked with Safilo as a product development team manager. Brentani earned an MA in business and marketing from Saint Elizabeth University.
16. Graciela Ponce
Vice President of Price & Promotion, RITE AID
Graciela Ponce is the Vice President of Price and Promotion of RITE AID, a full-service pharmacy that improves health outcomes. Rite Aid is defining the modern pharmacy by meeting customer needs with a wide range of vehicles that offer convenience, including retail and delivery pharmacy, as well as services offered through their wholly owned subsidiaries, Elixir, Bartell Drugs, and Health Dialog. Ponce has 20 years of experience. She began her career in 2003.
Before joining RITE AID, Ponce was a director of alternative retail formats at 7-Eleven and before that, an account manager at PictureStart FX. Earlier in her career she worked with Univision Radio as an account executive. Ponce graduated from Boston University with an MS in finance and business management and from St. Mary's University with an undergraduate degree in marketing and international business.
17. Jess Vultaggio
Vice President of Brands & Creativity, The Kraft Heinz Company
Jess Vultaggio began her professional career 19 years ago. Today, she is the Vice President of Brands & Creativity of The Kraft Heinz Company. Since joining Kraft Heinz in 2011, Jess has driven top-line growth, expanded share leadership, and strengthened equity and consumer love on some of the company’s most iconic brands, including the Heinz and Philadelphia Masterbrands. Jess developed Heinz’s “Meet the Ketchups” campaign which launched with the iconic 2016 “Weiner Stampede” Super Bowl ad. She also led Philadelphia’s brand expansion, while driving brand equity and brand performance, helping the brand reach over 70% value share for the first time in 2018.
Vultaggio graduated from Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business with an MBA and from Boston University with an undergraduate degree in philosophy and communications.
18. Sangita Naik
Chief Vendor Management Officer, Kering
Sangita Naik is the Chief Vendor Management Officer of Kering. She first joined the company in 2012 as an MIS supplier and purchasing and budget manager. A global Luxury group, Kering manages the development of a series of renowned houses in fashion, leather goods, and jewelry including Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, DoDo, Qeelin, Ginori 1735 as well as Kering Eyewear and Kering Beauté. By placing creativity at the heart of its strategy, Kering enables its houses to set new limits in terms of their creative expression while crafting tomorrow’s luxury sustainably and responsibly.
Previously, Naik was a budget and control analyst at Gucci and before that a sales planning administrator at L'Oreal. Naik earned an MBA in management from Montclair State University and an undergraduate degree in finance and marketing from The College of New Jersey.
19. Valery Ciarimboli
Vice President of eCommerce Operations, Giant Eagle
Valery Ciarimboli is the Vice President of eCommerce Operations of Giant Eagle, Inc. Founded in 1931, Giant Eagle is one of the 40 largest family-operated companies in the US and operates Giant Eagle, GetGo, and Market District stores. As they continue to grow and expand, their commitment to core values and the well-being of their team members, customers, and communities is as strong as ever. Ciarimboli has 27 years of experience. She began her career in 1996.
Before joining Giant Eagle, Ciarimboli was a senior business performance analyst at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Earlier in her career she worked with Mellon Bank as a financial analyst. Ciarimboli graduated from Westminster College with an undergraduate degree in business administration and finance.
20. Kristin Wolf
SVP of Enterprise Strategy & Transformation, Ulta Beauty
Kristin Wolf began her professional career 27 years ago. Today, she is the Senior Vice President of Enterprise Strategy and Transformation of Ulta Beauty. As a seasoned executive with 20+ years of strategy and operating experience in retail and CPG, Kristin leads her dynamic team at Ulta Beauty to develop innovative, nimble strategies that guide the enterprise, enable growth, and ultimately deliver on Ulta Beauty's mission to be the most loved beauty retailer.
Kristin is a results-driven leader with a passion for tackling tough business challenges while partnering with the C-suite to deliver fresh thinking that fuels enterprise-wide, transformational growth. In her current role, she leads cross-functional teams as they reimagine Ulta Beauty’s corporate strategy, with a focus on innovation and leadership in both the beauty and retail industries.
Kristin currently serves as an executive board member of the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation and a board member at the Chicago Scholars. She received her undergraduate degree in economics from Northwestern University and her MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
21. Cindy Deily
Vice President of Skincare Merchandising, Sephora
Cindy Deily serves as Sephora’s Vice President of Merchandising for Skincare. In her 17 years with the company, she has driven the strategic development of multiple categories at Sephora, including the Clean at Sephora program, skincare, hair, bath & body, sun, wellness, CBD, and sexual wellness/intimate care. She has been instrumental in growing Sephora’s differentiated skincare portfolio, managing 100+ brand partnerships, and effectively nurturing brands from infancy to industry dominance. Examples include Drunk Elephant, Tatcha, Youth to the People, Biossance, Farmacy, Summer Fridays, Topicals, Fresh, Caudalie, Fenty Skin, Ole Henriksen, and many more. She has actively driven and led industry-wide trend curation across skincare and haircare, helping to establish dry shampoos, masks, face oils, and clean skincare as key category trends in the US prestige beauty space.
In 2018, Deily spearheaded and continues to lead and evolve the ‘Clean at Sephora’ program and accompanying certification seal, including updating the initial 13 “no” ingredient list to include more than 50 ingredient groups today. She established the Wellness category for the retailer and continues to guide the Wellness brand portfolio in adapting their product and marketing strategies for optimal success within a prestige beauty environment. In February 2020, Deily established and oversaw the roll-out of Sephora’s CBD assortment, including CBD Standards - both firsts for a national prestige retailer. With her guidance, Sephora set baseline parameters around CBD sourcing and testing, reinforcing the retailer's commitment to serving as a trusted resource for its clients. In 2021, she led the evolution of Clean at Sephora with Clean + Planet Positive, establishing Sephora's commitment to influencing the beauty industry to a more sustainable future and defending the retailer's leadership in the Clean beauty space. Most recently, Deily led the launch of the Intimate Care & Sexual Wellness category at Sephora with a carefully curated selection of female-founded and led brands.
Deily earned an MA in international business and marketing from the University of Sydney and an undergraduate degree in English from UC Santa Barbara.
22. Lynne Broad
Chief Financial Officer, Pizza Hut US, Yum! Brands
Lynne Broad is the Chief Financial Officer for Pizza Hut U.S., leading Pizza Hut’s finance and development functions. Lynne has been with Yum for 14 years, holding several positions including head of finance and supply chain for Pizza Hut SOPAC (South Pacific), head of operations and development for Pizza Hut SOPAC, and Pizza Hut Asia as the senior director of franchising. In 2017 Lynne was appointed CFO of SOPAC and was responsible for all KFC finance activities including the development and execution of strategies, objectives, and plans to achieve consistent growth for KFC SOPAC. In 2019, Lynne was appointed chief financial and information officer for KFC SOPAC, expanding her role to be responsible for leading KFC’s digital and technology agenda including strategy and execution of the digital consumer experience.
Lynne holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Sydney in Australia and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and the Australian Institute of Directors.
23. Mindy Torrey
VP of Creative, Sally Beauty
Mindy Torrey began her professional career 20 years ago. Today, she is the VP of Creative of Sally Beauty, an international specialty retailer and distributor of professional beauty supplies with revenues of approximately $3.9 billion annually. In addition to her roles at Sally Beauty, Mindy is the founder of Mayday Designs. With only passion and talent, Mindy undertook what most with decades of experience only dream of doing. She not only created a boutique agency, Mayday Design, she successfully pitched, landed, and managed accounts. She then transitioned that entrepreneurial spirit into running the largest and most productive team in the creative department of a multi-billion dollar global company.
With a genuine passion for challenge and talent development with a proven ability to motivate and inspire creative teams to deliver superb innovative work under tight deadlines, limited budgets, and often junior talent, Mindy is an expert in concept and strategy development for clients large and small. Above all else though, Mindy is a true artist – someone with a true love of the craft who brings a vision and insight to projects like no one else.
24. Melissa Filipatos
Vice President of Channel Partnerships, Strategic Alliances, & Reseller Programs, Grainger
As Vice President of Channel Partnerships, Strategic Alliances, and Reseller Programs, Melissa Filipatos and her team help Grainger’s customers meet their goals by empowering diverse and small authorized Grainger resellers. She also leads Grainger’s Public Safety and Emergency Management team, whose mission is to ensure team member health and safety and support customers in preparing for, responding to, and restoring business operations. Before this role, Melissa served as VP of sales effectiveness, for the US and Canada, and led a team who consistently improved Grainger’s return on investment in its sales force. Preceding that, in the role of VP of sales effectiveness and sourcing, she integrated various centers of excellence across North America, and as VP of pricing execution, sales support, and sourcing she led a diverse team to improve operational efficiencies, cycle times, and win rates.
While in a leadership position with the Grainger Women’s Business Resource Group, Melissa played a key role in the sponsorship and execution of the first annual Women’s Leadership Summit. She maintains a passion for being a change leader and talent advocate across the organization; and is committed to fostering an environment that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion, where top talent can thrive.
Melissa joined Grainger in August 2002, holding positions of increasing responsibility in operations, sales, and sales leadership. She provided operational leadership, strengthened process efficiencies, and improved execution of Grainger strategy, while also strengthening sales force effectiveness in those roles. She currently sits on the board of directors of the Chicago YWCA, whose mission is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
25. Nicole Bierig Jordan
SVP of Commercial Strategy & Digital Transformation, Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits
Nicole Bierig Jordan serves as the Senior Vice President of Commercial Strategy & Digital Transformation at Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits. In this capacity, she manages the department of people focused on evaluating all aspects of the company’s business, focusing on how to increase efficiency, enter new business lines, or grow existing revenue (profitability) through digitization. This includes leading commercial strategy for her $20B+ company, as well as leading a comprehensive digital portfolio: including eCommerce, digital/automated retail execution, CRM, digital marketing, digital analytics and data science, strategic partner portals/TPM, marketplace, and digital partnerships. Launched in 2019, this digital portfolio has been incredibly successful under Nicole’s leadership, live in all Southern Glazer’s markets, Proof Commerce alone currently drives approximately $3.5B in revenue annually.
26. Emma Spagnuolo
EVP, Chief Operations Officer & Head of Tommy Hilfiger North America DTC, PVH Corp.
Emma Spagnuolo is currently the Chief Operations Officer for PVH Americas and CK Global. In her role, Spagnuolo is responsible for integrating the operations across the region in service of the PVH+ plan, to achieve sustainable, profitable, growth by winning with the consumer with great, high-quality essential products and exciting consumer engagement. PVH Corp. is one of the world’s largest and most admired fashion companies, connecting with consumers in over 40 countries. Their global iconic brands include Calvin Klein and TOMMY HILFIGER. Their 140-year history is built on the strength of their brands, their team, and their commitment to driving fashion forward for good. That’s the Power of Us. That’s the Power of PVH.
Before her current role, Spagnuolo was the head of strategy for PVH Americas. She entered this role after 6 years as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company, where she was a partner specializing in the retail and consumer goods industries. At McKinsey, she was the head of the North America Beauty Practice and tackled issues across merchandising, marketing, sales, human resources, and planning. She also spent considerable time in private equity, helping her clients make strong investments in the growing beauty space.
Prior to earning her MBA at The Wharton School, Spagnuolo worked in the retail industry, as a merchant, buyer, and planner.
27. Jessica Borton
Regional Vice President of Retail Operations, Starbucks
Jessica Borton began her professional career 23 years ago. Today, she is the Regional Vice President of Retail Operations at Starbucks. Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with more than 36,000 stores worldwide, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through their unwavering commitment to excellence and their guiding principles, they bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup.
Borton first got her start in 2000 as an HR staffing coordinator at Express Employment Professionals, her most recent position before joining Starbucks. She graduated from Western Oregon University with an undergraduate degree in social science and sociology.
28. Sharonda Weatherspoon
Senior Vice President of Stores, Ralph Lauren
Sharonda Weatherspoon is the Senior Vice President of Stores at Ralph Lauren and co-chair for the diversity and inclusion efforts. She is a dynamic performance-driven leader with more than 25 years in the retail industry. Sharonda is an accomplished executive with a reputation for driving results and profitability through high-performing teams. She is an inspirational leader that believes in working with team members to bring about sustainable solutions.
In addition to her roles at Ralph Lauren, Sharonda serves on the board of directors for the New Brunswick Education Foundation. She graduated from Winston-Salem State University.
29. Flavia Panza
VP of Consumer Brands, Dairy Farmers of America
Flavia Panza is Vice President of Consumer Brands for Dairy Farmers of America. In this capacity, she leads commercial capabilities across innovation, insights, R&D, and business development. Before being named to this role, Panza also served as a general manager and VP of sales, and senior marketing director for the same Chicago-based division.
Panza brings over 20 years of experience in general management in both operational (P&L) and strategic roles of increasing scope and complexity in the US and internationally. She has managed businesses ranging from $50M to $1.5B in revenue and teams of over 100 people. She has led regional, national, and global product launches. Her efforts have touched many iconic brands, including A1® Steak Sauce, Grey Poupon®, Miracle Whip®, Similac®, Ensure®, and Borden®, among several others.
Originally from Venezuela, Panza is fully bilingual in Spanish & English. She is also fluent in Italian and Portuguese. Panza earned an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Universidad Simon Bolivar and an MBA from the University of Rochester. Most recently, she completed an Executive Marketing Program at Northwestern University.
30. Jamie Wideman
Vice President Innovation, Molson Coors Beverage Company
Jamie Wideman is the Vice President of Innovation at Molson Coors Beverage Company. She first joined the company in 2020. For more than two centuries, Molson Coors has been brewing beverages that unite people to celebrate all life’s moments. From Coors Light, Miller Lite, Molson Canadian, Carling, Madri, and Staropramen to Coors Banquet, Blue Moon Belgian White, Blue Moon LightSky, Vizzy Hard Seltzer, Topo Chico Hard Seltzer, Simply Spiked, Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, Creemore Springs, Hop Valley and more, Molson Coors produces many beloved and iconic beer brands. Wideman earned an MBA in marketing management from DePaul University and an undergraduate degree in liberal arts and sciences from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
31. Rebecca Calvin
SVP & Chief Marketing Officer, Stater Bros. Markets
Rebecca Calvin is an SVP and Chief Marketing Officer of Stater Bros. Stater Bros. was founded in 1936 in Yucaipa, California, and has grown steadily through the years to become the largest privately owned supermarket chain in Southern California. Stater Bros. remains an iconic mainstay that continues to grow and operate more stores each year than the year before. Calvin is responsible for the retailer's marketing efforts, including sales and merchandising, integrated marketing, e-commerce, and food strategy and innovation.
Before joining Stater Bros. Markets, Calvin was an SVP and chief merchandising officer at The Save Mart Companies and before that an HBC merchandising director at Kroger. Earlier in her career she worked with Mariano’s as a VP of grocery, dairy, and frozen. Calvin graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.
32. Candan Erenguc
Chief Operating Officer, Anthropologie
Candan Erenguc is the Chief Operating Officer of Anthropologie Group, a global lifestyle brand that specializes in apparel and accessories, intimates, home furniture, décor, beauty, and gifts. Erenguc leads a team that oversees and executes all operations, inventory, and finance across North America, Canada, and the EU for Anthropologie, AnthroLiving, Terrain, and BHLDN.
Before joining Anthropologie, Erenguc served as the chief supply chain officer at Away, where she led the operations and technology functions for the brand disruptor, responsible for revolutionizing the luggage industry. At Away, Erenguc was responsible for spearheading supply chain, sourcing, product development, technology, logistics, and fulfillment. Before Away, Erenguc was the SVP of operations excellence at Lululemon in Vancouver where she led a variety of business transformation and growth initiatives including a global margin improvement program and a digital transformation initiative that spanned technology, process, and creative.
Candan came to retail after 10 years in consulting, serving clients in retail and consumer products at industry leaders Deloitte and IBM. Erenguc began her career at Ford Motor in Detroit, where she learned operations and technology on the factory floor. She graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in business and a master’s degree in operations.
33. Ashley Sheetz
Chief Operating Officer, At Home Group
Ashley Sheetz is the Chief Operating Officer of At Home Group. She first joined the company in 2017 as chief marketing officer and chief digital officer. At Home, The Home & Holiday Superstore offers up to 45,000 on-trend home products to fit every room, style, season, and budget. From furniture, mirrors, rugs, art and housewares to tabletop, patio, and seasonal décor, At Home offers décor for all, and always for less. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, At Home currently operates 264 stores in 40 states.
Previously, Sheetz was a CMO, and group vice president at Sally Beauty, and before that a CMO and VP of marketing and strategy at GameStop. Earlier in her career she worked with Publicis Advertising as an account executive. Sheetz earned an undergraduate degree in advertising from The University of Texas at Austin.
34. Anne Crisafulli
Chief Merchandising Officer, Madewell
Anne Crisafulli is the Chief Merchandising Officer at Madewell, leading its merchandising and buying across all channels including stores, digital, and wholesale. Crisafulli is a key brand leader and has 17 years of industry and diverse product experience, driving product strategy across the entire Madewell business including women’s denim, apparel, non-apparel, and Madewell men’s business and digital merchandising. In her almost two decades of experience, Crisafulli has exhibited her passion for high-quality, sustainable products and working for a brand with strong values. She is a modern and established leader who leverages strong cross-functional relationships, thrives in a collaborative environment, and is open to evolving her leadership style when presented with fresh perspectives.
Before joining Madewell, Crisafulli was a merchandising assistant at J.Crew. Crisafulli graduated from The Johns Hopkins University with an undergraduate degree in political science and business.
35. Malorie Maddox
Chief Marketing Officer, Scooter's Coffee
Malorie Maddox began her professional career 23 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Marketing Officer of Scooter's Coffee. Established in 1998, Scooter's Coffee has quickly distinguished itself as one of the premier franchises in the exploding specialty coffee industry. Since it began franchising in 2001, the company has experienced rapid growth, with more than 500 locations in 28 states now open, with several more in development throughout the United States.
Maddox earned an undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Kansas, and she has a Nebraska producer license in the insurance industry. She also was selected to attend Deloitte’s Chief Marketing Officer Academy at Deloitte University. Maddox currently serves on a variety of councils, boards, and committees, including the American Marketing Association, Argyle, Urban League of Nebraska, and the First Responders Foundation.
36. Rachel Madris
VP of Operations & Director of Sales & Operations, Centric Brands
Rachel Madris is the VP of Operations and Director of Sales & Operations of Centric Brands. She first joined the company in 2021. Centric Brands LLC is a global leading lifestyle brand collective that possesses unparalleled expertise in product design, development, sourcing, retail and digital commerce, marketing, and brand building. The company designs, sources, markets, and sells high-quality products in the kids, men’s, and women’s apparel, accessories, beauty, and entertainment categories. Its portfolio includes licenses for more than 100 iconic brands. The company's products are sold through leading mass-market retailers, specialty and department stores, and online. The company is headquartered in New York City, with US offices in Los Angeles and Greensboro, and international offices in Asia, Europe, Montreal, and Toronto.
Previously, Madris was a director of sales at Robert Graham Designs and before that an account executive at Joe's Jeans Inc. Earlier in her career she worked with Diesel as a senior customer service rep and sales assistant. Madris graduated from the University of Rhode Island with an undergraduate degree in communications and fashion merchandising management program.
37. Amy Kocourek
Chief Merchandising Officer, Kendra Scott
Amy Kocourek is the Chief Merchandising Officer of Austin-based jewelry and accessories brand Kendra Scott. In her role, she leads all product functions including design, merchandising, product development, production, planning, allocation, distribution, and logistics. Amy is a champion of the brand’s core pillars of fashion, family, and philanthropy integrating these into every customer experience within Kendra Scott.
Being drawn to emerging businesses and change, she has led the incubation of new businesses inside large companies. Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott is the latest example. Amy is a champion for innovation and has forged several unique product partnerships with relevant brands including the most recent Barbie x Kendra Scott collaboration. She sets vision with an eye for what’s next and takes bold action to lead a company’s focus delivering consistent results and accelerating sales year over year. Throughout her career, she has been known for her unwavering passion, clear vision, innovative thinking, and being a change agent.
Before Kendra Scott Amy was an EVP at Kohl's and was a part of the senior team that led the organization through digital transformation becoming a leading omnichannel retailer. Her career spans over 25 years of experience in the retail industry across several channels including vertical specialty, digital to department stores.
38. Kat Woodside
Chief Design Officer, cabi Clothing
Kat Woodside is the Chief Design Officer of cabi, a Los Angeles-based clothing brand changing the way women shop. Before leading the charge of all of cabi’s clothing, jewelry, and shoe designs, Woodside was the VP of design.
Before joining the cabi family, Woodside was the head designer of Paige Premium Denim, in charge of design development, launching their high-end contemporary line, Paige Black Label, and at the helm of the men’s collections. Before she transitioned to denim, she and a fellow designer created bellekat, a women’s line featuring chic and feminine tops, dresses, and sweaters, carefully crafted with specialty Japanese and Italian fabrics. Woodside graduated from California State University, Long Beach with an undergraduate degree in arts.
39. Gabrielle Traff
SVP of Customer Experience & Installation Services, 3 Day Blinds
Gabrielle Traff began her professional career 23 years ago. Today, she is the Senior Vice President of Customer Experience & Installation Services at 3 Day Blinds. 3 Day Blinds is the leading manufacturer and retailer of custom window coverings in the United States. They have offered outstanding service, superior value, unprecedented delivery time, and a broad range of fashionable products for over 40 years.
Traff first got her start in 2000 as a director of internet marketing and operations at Barton Cotton. From there, she went on to Total Wine & More, before eventually rising to SVP and general manager at Next Day Blinds, her most recent position before joining 3 Day Blinds. Traff graduated from Loyola University of Maryland with an MBA and from the University of Maryland with an undergraduate degree in business and management.
40. Angie Goldberg
Chief Growth Officer, Ardent Mills
Angie Goldberg is a dynamic leader with a strong financial background who excels at building powerful brands, driving consumer loyalty, and creating innovative products. She is an analytical thinker with a proven track record of translating consumer insights into uniquely positioned and profitable products that generate significant revenue growth.
Goldberg is currently the Chief Growth Officer at Ardent Mills, the premier flour-milling and ingredient company. As the head of innovation, research, quality, and technical services, marketing sales, and the Annex by Ardent Mills, her focus is on delivering consistent value to customers - all part of the plan for long-term, diverse, and sustainable growth. Goldberg is passionate about the role Ardent Mills plays as the trusted partner in nurturing customers, consumers, and communities through innovative and nutritious grain-based solutions.
Goldberg earned an MBA in marketing and management strategy from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management.
41. Megan Tamte
Co-Founder, Chief Brand Officer & Co-CEO, EVEREVE
Megan Tamte is a visionary entrepreneur. Over 20 years ago, a dressing room disaster inspired her to reimagine the women’s shopping experience, and today, she’s the Co-Founder, Co-CEO, and Chief Brand Officer of EVEREVE, a contemporary fashion retailer with over one million customers, 100+ stores from coast to coast, a booming e-commerce business and a fast-growing subscription box service, Trendsend.
Tamte attributes her success to her unwavering passion for people, an eye for curating an incredible product mix and fostering an unparalleled work culture, from the retail floor to the home office, rooted in the brand’s signature HEART values: humility, empathy, authenticity, relationships, and tenacity.
When she’s not leading EVEREVE with her co-CEO and husband, Mike, Tamte is sharing her retail knowledge and expertise with aspiring entrepreneurs, and proudly serving four other organizations, as a board member of the Chicago-based Common Ground Foundation, a board member of Warners' Stellian & Jaxen Grey fellow Minnesota-based retailer, and the Global Leadership Network. Tamte recently joined a team that welcomes refugees to Minnesota through the organization, Arrive Ministries.
42. Elizabeth McLaughlin
EVP of Sales, Westrock Coffee Company
Elizabeth McLaughlin currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Sales for Westrock Coffee Company where she oversees the development of new product portfolios and relationships for the largest retail chains in the world. Over the last several years, McLaughlin served as Westrock Coffee’s Group President of Sales, Marketing, and Client Services. McLaughlin was instrumental in building the company’s retail and private label manufacturing business, as well as leading the company’s sustainability initiatives, product development, and quality assurance programs.
Before joining Westrock Coffee, McLaughlin owned and served as COO of SIR Research, a consumer marketing research firm in Richmond, Virginia. She previously worked as the VP of sales and marketing at PBM Products, a private-label consumer products company. She began her career in 1996 at Alltel Corporation. McLaughlin graduated from the University of Arkansas with an undergraduate degree in arts.
43. Jessica Rennard
Chief Merchandising Officer, Helpsy
Jessica Rennard is an educator and revenue driver in the sustainable fashion sector. She has worked in the resale market for the majority of her career and has helped develop the industry. In 2020 she launched a secondhand business that supplies inventory to casual sellers that utilize e-commerce marketplaces. She now works for Helpsy as Chief Merchandising Officer. Helpsy is a certified B corp and clothing collection and resale company whose mission is to keep clothing out of the landfill. She holds a Master's in Public Administration and believes that Helpsy’s role in the circular economy plays a role in strengthening modern society.
44. Alexandria Collis
Senior Director of Operations, Princess Polly
Alexandria Collis is a highly accomplished leader renowned for building exceptional, efficient, and cohesive teams across operations, customer support, retail, and e-commerce. Drawing on her unique background as a former professional athlete and leader, she fosters innovation in her teams and finds joy in being a leader who inspires others through passion and purpose.
As the Senior Director of Operations at Princess Polly, one of the fastest-growing fashion brands in the world, Alexandria oversees strategy and innovation for CX, DC Operations, and Retail Operations departments. She is passionate about enhancing team dynamics and empowering her colleagues to become inspiring and energetic leaders themselves. Not only has she successfully established an industry-leading customer experience utilizing cutting-edge technology and platform optimization, but she has also crafted a highly scalable end-to-end customer support journey that fosters customer satisfaction and brand advocacy. With extensive knowledge and expertise in fostering Operational x Customer Experience synergy in e-commerce, her insights are highly sought after as a speaker on the topic.
Alexandria's outstanding achievements have been recognized across the industry with over a dozen prestigious awards, including Retail TouchPoints 40 Under 40, Stevie Awards for Sales and Customer Service: Woman of the Year in Customer Service, Customer Service Department of the Year - Retail, Young Customer Service Professional of the Year, Best Customer Satisfaction Strategy, American Business Awards Customer Service Executive of the Year, International Business Awards Customer Service Executive of the Year. Prior to her passion for operations, she was a professional figure skater and has performed in over 40 countries and 200 cities. She is a US Figure Skating Double Gold Medalist and continues to train and perform whenever she can.
45. Jean Thompson
Owner & CEO, Seattle Chocolate Company
Jean Thompson is the Owner and CEO of Seattle Chocolate Company, makers of the Seattle Chocolate and jcoco fine chocolate brands. Thompson has been running the company for the past 20 years. Before that, she was a stay-at-home mom and earlier still, had a career in the high-tech sector, including a stint with Microsoft. She serves on the boards of the Fine Chocolate Industry Association, Entrepreneur Organization, and Ethical Apparel Africa. Thompson graduated from Bates College with an undergraduate degree in psychology.
46. Monica Reese
Director of Private Brand Style - Decor, Lowe's Companies
Monica Reese began her professional career 26 years ago. Today, she is the Director of Private Brand Style in Decor of Lowe's Companies, an independent 501 organization founded by Lowe’s Companies, Inc., developing a community of skilled tradespeople to build and revitalize their homes, neighborhoods, and infrastructure for the future. From 2023 through 2027, the Lowe’s Foundation is investing $50 million to help prepare 50,000 people for skilled trades careers through grants to community and technical colleges, community-based nonprofit organizations, and national nonprofit partners with a strong local presence.
Reese first got her start in 1997 as a VP of merchandising for the PC category at Value America. From there, she went on to Furniture Brands International, before eventually rising to head of furniture division, buying & merchandising at Carpet Weaver's Commercial Flooring, her most recent position before joining Lowe's Companies. Reese graduated from Pratt Institute with an MA in interior design and from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with an undergraduate degree in public policy analysis.
47. Bani Malhotra
Senior Director of Product Management, eCommerce, Walmart
Bani Malhotra is the Senior Director of Product Management, eCommerce at Walmart. She first joined the company in 2021 to lead Personalization and is currently responsible for oversight of building best-in-class eCommerce Site Discovery and Inspirational Experiences for the organization. Prior to her current role, Bani was the head of product at Curology, led flagship products at Narvar, and held early hire lead positions at Shipt (acquired by Target), and Flipkart (acquired by Walmart).
Bani spent the early years of her career in investment banking M&A, and venture capital, and brings in more than 10 years of eCommerce experience across the retail, grocery, and telehealth industries for direct-to-consumer, marketplace, and subscription business models. Bani is passionate about supporting aspiring and early PMs and is an active member of Women in Product at Walmart and the Community, and is also an instructor at Product School, USA. She earned an undergraduate degree from the Indian Institute of Technology and an MBA from the Indian School of Business with majors in strategy and finance. She lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two kids.
48. Lauren Forbes
Director of Diamonds and Gemstones, Valerie Madison Fine Jewelry
Lauren is the Director of Diamonds and Gemstones for Valerie Madison Fine Jewelry, an independent jewelry designer, located in Seattle, WA. With a data-driven mindset, she manages all buying for the company and implements new strategies for stone procurement, pricing analytics, and inventory management to maximize GMROI. She has developed top-tier luxury sales training and product knowledge training modules for the VMFJ sales staff; acting as a leader and mentor for the sales team. With her passion for luxury goods, she elevates the VMFJ brand through innovative ideas related to trend forecasting and sales campaigns. In addition to her responsibilities, she has ranked as the top salesperson in 2021 and 2022, bringing in 40% and 32% percent of the company’s annual revenue.
After obtaining her undergraduate degree in geology from Western Washington University she received her graduate gemologist and graduate pearl's diplomas through the Gemological Institute of America. Lauren is a JA Certified Senior Sales Professional and Jewelers of America 20 under 40 class of 2023. She currently serves on Seattle's Women's Jewelry Association board as VP of programming and is the founding president of the GIA Alumni Collective's Seattle Chapter.
49. Jeanette Jolley
Creative Director, Camping World
Jeanette Jolley, a highly accomplished television and commercial producer, currently serves as the Creative Director at the Fortune 500 Company Camping World. Jeanette is a visionary leader, adept at orchestrating complex productions and inspiring teams to deliver exceptional results consistently. Her expertise spans over 20 years in the entire spectrum of television production, from meticulous pre-production planning to seamless post-production execution, making her a formidable force in high-pressure business environments.
Commencing her career at Paramount Pictures two decades ago, Jeanette has spearheaded numerous national television broadcasts for prominent networks such as CBS, TLC, FOX, HGTV, Discovery, NBC, and Netflix. Her portfolio boasts an impressive array of projects, including the Emmy Award-Winning ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, the Emmy-nominated ABC’s Ocean Treks with Jeff Corwin, CNBC’s Blue Collar Millionaires, as well as compelling AudienceNetwork music documentaries, among others.
Beyond her contributions to television, Jeanette’s prowess extends to the realm of commercial and branded entertainment, where she has worked with clients, including Chevrolet, La-z-boy, Kraft, Hilton, Marriott, and an extensive roster of brands, including her current affiliation with Camping World. Her global expeditions, documenting cultural diversity and adventure across over 80 countries have further honed her ability to tell compelling stories that resonate with audiences worldwide.
Outside of her production endeavors, Jeanette serves as a regional Emmy judge, valued panelist, and guest speaker at film and TV organizations throughout the US. She is equally dedicated to philanthropic pursuits, particularly in championing the cause of orphan and foster care children globally. Her journey as an adoptee from Orange County, California, fuels her advocacy, making her a compassionate advocate for those in need.
50. Rachael Weiss
Global Director of Store Experience & Design, Mars
Rachael Weiss is the Global Director of Store Experience & Design of Mars. For more than a century, Mars, Incorporated has been driven by the belief that the world they want tomorrow starts with how they do business today. Every year, their diverse and expanding portfolio of quality confectionery, food, and pet care products and services delight millions of people and support millions of pets. With around $48 billion in annual sales, they produce some of the world’s best-loved brands including Ben’s Original™, Masterfoods®, DOLMIO®, CESAR®, CocoaVia®, DOVE®, EXTRA®, KIND®, M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, and WHISKAS®.
Before joining Mars, Weiss was a global program manager & merchandise director at Cisco and before that a VP of merchandising and chief merchant at GANTRY. She worked with Wellington Management as a marketing event coordinator earlier in her career. Weiss graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a master’s in graphic design and from Binghamton University with an undergraduate degree in literature and rhetoric.