2024 Emerging Leaders Summit

In just two days, attendees at the Emerging Leaders Summit 2024 heard from over 20 engaging speakers from a variety of brands and positions, who are committed to making a positive difference in diversity, equity and inclusion.   

Our attendees took away valuable lessons, such as be your authentic self, build your brand, and build your network. Ceara Flake, NRF VP & Deputy General Counsel and leader of the DE&I Council tells us “I hope attendees take back commitment to this industry because it's one of opportunity”.  

Invest in yourself  

“Having a compelling narrative that speaks to the value they provide to the consumer market, but also for the individual as they grow and enhance their own brand, says Mecca Mitchell, Senior Vice President & Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Burlington Stores Inc. "It really speaks to their contribution as emerging talent.”

The way you present yourself to the world matters. Your personal brand will define the way you are seen by the world, your ability to stand out in a room of opportunities, and your networking potential. Make your personal brand intentional. 

Prioritize appropriately to avoid burnout. Focus on excelling in your role within your own boundaries, putting excellence over perfection.  

Connect with your peers - they will be your colleagues for years to come. While having a mentor is important, networking and building bonds with those who will continue to be your peers throughout your career is equally important.  

Invest in the future 

As the industry’s future leaders, the time you take now to invest in yourself will shape your leadership.

"In this hybrid world where so much of the work is remote, so much of this work is on-screen, in Zooms, we're here in rooms together, solving problems, getting specific in breakout sessions, meeting people in different retail brands," says Halleemah Nash, Founder of Rosecran Ventures. "I think that's a powerful opportunity to invest in the human part of the workforce." 

Invest in your industry 

"I hope that some of the emerging leaders who were in attendance during this year's event head back with some insights and resources they may not have known about from the NRF and other key leaders from across the industry," says NRF VP Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen.  "They can lift up their team members with connections that they can reach out to as they further their own careers as well." 

Retail plays a major role in our economy, so take the time to learn the ways in which your consumers' choices are being driven by a variety of factors, to include economic pressures, holiday timelines, election cycles, and generational trends. Learn more about the trends in retail here.  

Invest in learning new trends and technology  

“AI is one of those disruptions that comes once in a lifetime," says Google AI Specialist Brij Dhanda. " When you think about the websites and just dotcom and then the cloud in 2010, we're seeing a disruption at that scale where young people can actually get an edge and advance their careers at a faster rate than we previously could.”  

Retailers are focused on innovations across 4 key areas: digital growth & experience, marketing & consumer outreach, sustainable & efficient operations, and store & associate productivity.  Staying up to date on trends that impact your role is important. - and AI can help more than ever before. 

Invest in sustainability

Consumers want to see sustainability not just hear it.

"Intersectional sustainability is important in every organization.," says KFC Chief Sustainability Officer Nira Johri. "We work with every department there is in a corporation. So reach out, find the sustainability practitioners in your business and see how you can be better partners to them."  

Thanks to all of our speakers and everyone who attended. See photos from the event and more details here.