The Voice of Retail
The Voice of Retail is a weekly podcast hosted by retail pioneer, advisor and keynote speaker Michael LeBlanc and is produced in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. Each and every week I interview the most interesting people in and around the retail industry, examining the key issues and strategies on the minds of thought leaders in Canada, the U.S. and around the world. © 2018-2023 M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Hard-Fought Leadership Lessons from U.S. Navy Seal & French Foreign Legionnaire Taylor Cavanaugh
In this leadership-focussed episode, something different, something new. My guest is Taylor Cavanaugh, who takes a big, complicated life and shares insights from his time with the U.S. Navy Seals and the French Foreign Legion (the first American in history to be part of both), emphasizing leadership and resilience. He discusses his public exposure on "Soft White Underbelly," one of my favourite interview shows, and discusses the philosophy of having "no plan B" while stressing adaptability to maximize outcomes - professional and personal. Taylor advises embracing new experiences, leading with integrity, and making tough decisions in this fascinating...
Navigating Transparency in Sustainability Goals with icebreaker's Alicia Chin, Director of Sustainability at VF Corporation
Meet Alicia Chin, Director of Sustainability and Social Impact at VF Corporation, who discusses activewear brand and retailer icebreaker's open admission of falling short in their 100% plastic-free ambition. We delve into the challenges, the progress made, and how their transparency sets a precedent for retail industry-wide sustainability efforts. Hear about icebreaker's innovative approaches and their pledge to ongoing improvement in this episode that is perfect for the times.
About Alicia
Alicia Chin is Director of Sustainability and Social Impact for emerging brands at VF Corporation—Altra, icebreaker and Smartwool. Alicia has spent more than 15...
A Fresh Take on Retail Leadership with Deb Craven, President, Longo's
Meet Deb Craven, President of Longo's, one of Canada's most popular grocery stores with dozens of locations and more on the way across Southern Ontario. I joined Deb in the Longo's Store Support offices, and we talked about leadership and what it takes to innovate and compete in the crowded Southern Ontario grocery marketplace. Deb also previews her upcoming keynote for Retail Council of Canada's Retail HR conference on April 25th. Learn more and get your tickets today: https://rcchrconference.ca/
About Deb
Deb Craven is a seasoned executive with decades of progressive experience. She has...
Leadership Lessons from Rose Patten, Chancellor of the University of Toronto and author of Intentional Leadership
Meet Rose Patten, one of Canada's pre-eminent business and strategic thinkers. We talk about her life, stellar career, role as Chancellor of the University of Toronto, and her book, Intentional Leadership, filled with insights on strategy and leadership that you need to hear again, or for the first time, in my interview from spring 2023.
In this episode, Meet Rose Patten, O.C., one of Canada's pre-eminent business and strategic thinkers, special advisor to the CEO at BMO, inductee to the Hall of Fame of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women, honorary colonel of the Canadian Forces College, and 34th...
Bionic Retail: How to Thrive in an Exponential World with author Gary Hawkins
Gary Hawkins is a visionary and retail industry treasure whose deep industry knowledge combines operational experience and technology savvy to provide a unique perspective. Gary joins Michael to discuss his fourth book, coming this April but available for pre-order now, "Bionic Retail: How to Thrive in an Exponential World."
About Gary
Gary Hawkins has been described as a visionary and retail industry treasure, whose deep knowledge of the industry combines with operational experience and technology savvy to provide a perspective that is completely unique.
His Odyssean journey across retail began three d...
ALL PRIDE, NO EGO: A Queer Executive's Journey to Living and Leading Authentically with author Jim Fielding
Jim Fielding's dynamic career has spanned senior leadership roles at top global brands, including Disney, DreamWorks, and Twentieth Century Fox, anchored in experience and an early career at The Gap, Lands' End, and as CEO of Claire's Stores; He joins me in an exclusive interview to talk about this new book ALL PRIDE, NO EGO: A Queer Executive's Journey to Living and Leading Authentically with leadership, retail and life lessons you need to hear.
About Jim
Jim Fielding is a partner at Archer Gray and president of its Co-Lab Division. A retail and media industry v...
Driving Retail Transformation with consultant and author Oliver Banks
Retail Transformation maven Oliver Banks is back on the podcast live from the U.K., discussing his new book, "Driving Retail Transformation: How to Navigate Disruption and Change." Using a clever set of automotive metaphors, Oliver takes us through his retail transformation steering wheel tool. He takes us to a better place in our journey to becoming a high-performing retailer.
About Oliver
Oliver Banks is an expert consultant working with senior leaders to transform retail businesses and operations. One of the most influential voices in retail, Oliver is author of the new book, 'Dr...
A View To Rapid Store Expansion with Bill Moir, Managing Director and EVP Canada, Specsavers
Bill Moir, Managing Director and EVP Canada for Specsavers is back on the podcast as this Vancouver-based international retailer celebrates the opening of its 100th store in Canada, including a successful launch in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, with plans for expansion into Manitoba. Together, we unpack the successful business model and marketing strategies that have powered Specsavers rapid growth in Canada, lessons learned, and their winning formula for better eyecare for Canadians.
About Bill
Bill Moir is the Managing Director of Specsavers Canada. He began his career at Specsavers in 2017 as Trading Director for t...
The Past, Present and Future of Retail RFID with Marshall Kay, Global Director, Retail Transformation Services for Avery Dennison Smartrac
Meet Marshal Kay, Global Director, Retail Transformation Services for Avery Dennison Smartrac, who takes us through the retail business case for RFID, from supper accurate inventory to Loss Prevention, seamless self-checkout and more, and what it takes to break through with this robust process and technology solution.
Avery Dennison's RFID homepage
The video recording of Walmart's presentation at the RFID Journal LIVE conference in May 2023 (including a link to get the slides themselves)
Some good Forbes articles:
The video recording of the Panel Discussion with Macy's at the 2024 NRF Bi...
Simplifying The Complex World of Carbon Accounting for Retailers & Brands with Alyssa Rade, Chief Sustainability Officer at Sustain.Life
Meet Alyssa Rade, chief sustainability officer at Sustain.life, a leading carbon accounting platform, where she leads the company’s strategy for product content, guiding retailers across North America on their decarbonization and ESG journeys. Alyssa unpacks the complexities of carbon accounting for all of us, providing a uniform model for retailers, brands and vendors in tracking, reporting and understanding their decarbonization work.
Links: https://www.sustain.life https://www.sustain.life/blog https://www.sustain.life/resources/esg-regulations-frameworks
About Alyssa
Alyssa Rade is the chief sustainability officer at Sustain.Life where she lead...
