Navigating New Retail Realities

Consistently named a top retail influencer, Carol Spieckerman is a recognized authority on retail and brand strategy. As president of Spieckerman Retail, she helps retailers, brand marketers, agencies and tech companies navigate retail from now to next. Spieckerman regularly contributes to major retail and business media outlets across a broad spectrum of retail topics and trends. On this new retail podcast, Spieckerman Speaks Retail, Spieckerman will be speaking on her Retail Trajectories – themes and calls to action that transcend categories, channels, business models and touch points.

 

We all know that this has been year like no other, yet unprecedented disruption has sparked new thinking and awakened ingenuity. Carol’s guest is uniquely qualified to bring much-needed perspective on lessons learned and best practices going forward. Courtney Hawkins’ passion for retail started early and she has since been responsible for over $1.5 billion in P&L as she served in executive roles with iconic brands like Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic and now, as VP of retail for fashion innovator The RealReal. In this far-ranging interview, Courtney and Carol roll through pivotal developments encompassing bricks and clicks and Courtney shares advice for retailers and brands seeking to secure their place in the new retail era.

In this interview, you’ll learn:

  • How to drive discretionary categories as consumers obsess on essentials
  • Why digitally native brands often have the upper hand
  • How to court consumers without compromising brand integrity
  • Possibilities and pitfalls of loyalty programs and content marketing

Contact information: Courtney Hawkins LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyabhawkins/

Listen to Previous Episodes Right Here!

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

StudentSafe
Understanding Raptor StudentSafe
April 28, 2026

In this episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Chris Noell, Chief Product Officer at Raptor Technologies, and Will Durgin, Director of Student Well-Being, about the vision behind StudentSafe and how it helps schools move from reactive responses to proactive student support. Together, they emphasize that safer schools depend on giving staff…

Read More
school safety
Going Slow to Go Fast in School Safety Leadership
April 28, 2026

In this episode of the Principles of Change podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso talks with Tim Dykes, Assistant Principal for Culture and Climate at York Community High School in Elmhurst, Illinois. The conversation highlights how strong relationships, student voice, and steady long-term leadership can help schools build environments where people feel…

Read More
career
Closing the Education-to-Employment Gap: The Rise of the Career Center as Campus Infrastructure
April 28, 2026

Higher education is under mounting pressure to prove its value. As student debt, shifting demographics, and employer expectations reshape the landscape, institutions are being forced to rethink how they prepare students for life after graduation. At the same time, new data shows a sharp rise in internship-to-full-time hiring, with recent cohorts converting at their…

Read More
leadership
Called to Lead: Joel Allison on Faith, Risk, and the Future of Healthcare Leadership
April 27, 2026

Healthcare leadership is being redefined in real time. With the rise of AI, mounting financial pressures, and workforce burnout, executives today are operating in an environment of continuous disruption and uncertainty. In fact, industry leaders now rank workforce shortages and digital transformation among their top concerns—forcing a new kind of leadership that blends decisiveness…

Read More