Everyone is talking about how AI is transforming retail. Far fewer people are talking about the future-proof skills that technology will never replace, and according to Ron Thurston, almost all of these human-centric skills start on the sales floor.

In this episode, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden sit down with Ron Thurston, best-selling author of Retail Pride and Human Pride, former senior retail executive, and host of Frontline Fridays and Retail in America podcasts. Ron makes a compelling case that while AI may be reshaping the tools of retail, the most resilient leaders are the ones who master human-centric skills like communication, empathy, adaptability, and influence.

Ron argues there has never been a more important time to learn technology and learn how to optimize the human potential of your team at the same time. One no longer exists without the other.

What you’ll learn

· Why the single most future-proof skill in retail is learning to sell

· How the sales floor builds confidence, credibility, and communication skills

· The Connect, Reveal, Transform framework for optimizing the human potential of your team

· Why frontline retail is the ultimate leadership training ground

· How Ron's "tell me your story" interview question instantly reveals a candidate's depth

· What the NRF Foundation retail accelerator program is teaching

Whether you lead a store team, a corporate function, or you're a student about to pitch for your first internship, this episode is a roadmap for building human-centric skills technology can't replace.

Brought to You By RetailClub.

Join 2,000 retail leaders at RetailClub AI Festival, September 22–24 in Huntington Beach. Dive deep into how AI is reshaping retail while soaking up the sun at a fully outdoor, beachside venue. Decision-makers from retailers & brands can attend with free tickets & up to $1,250 in travel reimbursement. Learn more at https://retailclub.com/retail-razor-podcast

Retail Razor Podcast Network: https://retailrazor.com/

Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

YouTube channel:https://go.retailrazor.com/utube

Guest Spotlight:

Ron Thurston, https://www.linkedin.com/in/rthurston/

“Human Pride” available on Amazon: https://geni.us/humanpride

Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

What does a diode have to do with great leadership? Everything, says Andy Laudato, COO of The Vitamin Shoppe and author of Fostering Innovation. In this episode, Andy joins hosts Ricardo & Casey to unpack the "be a diode" leadership philosophy — a simple but powerful idea that's at the heart of building high performing teams in retail and beyond.

A diode lets electricity flow one way & blocks it the other. Applied to leadership, that means praise, recognition, & credit flow straight through you to your team, while complaints, problems, & pressure stop with you. It's a small mental model with big implications for fostering innovation, growing trust, & helping high performing teams do their best work.

What You’ll Learn

· Why "be a diode" is the most underrated leadership tool

· How to hire for integrity, ambition, temperament, & intelligence — not just hard skills

· Why career development planning is the unlock for retaining A-players

· How to spot & celebrate the "quiet heroes" who keep high performing teams running behind the scenes

· The role of empathy, work-life balance, & listening to the team

· Why IT and operations leaders need to be their own marketing department

· A memorable Wizard of Oz analogy for setting direction and getting out of your team's way

If you're leading retail teams, this episode gives you a practical leadership philosophy you can apply now to start building stronger, high performing teams.

Brought to You By RetailClub.

Join 2,000 retail leaders at RetailClub AI Festival, September 22–24 in Huntington Beach. Dive deep into how AI is reshaping retail while soaking up the sun at a fully outdoor, beachside venue. Decision-makers from retailers & brands can attend with free tickets & up to $1,250 in travel reimbursement. Learn more at https://retailclub.com/retail-razor-podcast

Subscribe to the Retail Razor Podcast Network: https://retailrazor.com/

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://go.retailrazor.com/utube

Guest Spotlight:

Andy Laudato, https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewlaudato/

COO, The Vitamin Shoppe

“Fostering Innovation,” available at Amazon: https://a.co/d/d7JxrfJ

Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

This episode of Blade to Greatness dives deep into pride-based leadership with bestselling author and retail culture expert Ron Thurston, whose books, Retail Pride and Human Pride, have reshaped how leaders think about people, performance, and purpose. Ron explains why pride-based leadership is more effective, more sustainable, and more human than the fear-driven tactics still common in retail today.

Ron breaks down how human pride leadership helps teams navigate uncertainty, especially in a world where AI and digital tools are rapidly reshaping retail roles. Instead of leaning on pressure or fear, Ron shows how leaders can identify each team member’s unique strengths, optimize their human potential, and build emotional commitment that lasts.

What You’ll Learn

· Why pride-based leadership creates stronger, more resilient teams than fear-based tactics.

· How to identify and optimize your team’s human strengths in a digital-first retail environment.

· Why turnover, time-and-attendance issues, and disengagement are often symptoms of low pride—not poor performance.

· How human pride leadership builds trust, connection, and long-term cultural health.

· Practical ways leaders can pivot away from fear and toward pride, clarity, and self-reflection.

If you’re ready to escape the leadership traps that keep even the strongest leaders stuck, this conversation will reshape how you think about retail leadership forever.

Brought to You By RetailClub.

Join 2,000 retail leaders at RetailClub AI Festival, September 22–24 in Huntington Beach. Dive deep into how AI is reshaping retail while soaking up the sun at a fully outdoor, beachside venue. Decision-makers from retailers & brands can attend with free tickets & up to $1,250 in travel reimbursement. Learn more at https://retailclub.com/retail-razor-podcast

Subscribe to the Retail Razor Podcast Network: https://retailrazor.com/

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel:https://go.retailrazor.com/utube

Guest Spotlight:

Ron Thurston, https://www.linkedin.com/in/rthurston/

“Human Pride” available on Amazon: https://geni.us/humanpride

Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

In this episode of Blade to Greatness, we sit down with Steve Worthy, founder and CEO of Worthy Retail Global and host of the Retail Leadership with Steve Worthy podcast, to explore why so many retail leaders unintentionally fall into leadership traps that sabotage clarity, confidence, and performance. Drawing from his upcoming book Simplify to Lead, Steve breaks down the TRAPPED framework and reveals how overthinking, perfectionism, rigid ideologies, and task‑over‑people habits quietly erode effective retail leadership.

Steve explains why simplifying your approach doesn’t mean lowering standards. It means elevating your ability to think strategically, communicate clearly, and lead with conviction. Through stories, practical examples, and his SMILE framework for approachability, Steve shows how leaders can shift from “doing everything” to leading with intention.

What You’ll Learn

• Why retail leaders fall into common leadership traps
• How “task over people” thinking derails retail leadership
• Why perfectionism is a silent performance killer
• How rigid ideologies limit team growth and innovation
• The SMILE framework for becoming a more approachable leader
• How to give a situation “what it costs — no more, no less”
• The mindset shift from doer to strategist

Key Takeaways

• Simplicity is a leadership advantage, not a compromise
• Self‑awareness is the foundation of effective retail leadership
• Leaders must evolve before circumstances force them to
• Emotional detachment leads to clearer, faster decisions
• Breaking leadership traps requires intentional practice

If you’re ready to escape the leadership traps that keep even the strongest leaders stuck, this conversation will reshape how you think about retail leadership forever.

Subscribe to the Retail Razor Podcast Network: https://retailrazor.com/

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://go.retailrazor.com/utube

Guest Spotlight:

Steve Worthy. https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveworthy/

Founder, Worthy Global Retail. https://worthyretail.com

Host of the Retail Leadership with Steve Worthy podcast. https://worthyretail.com/podcast/

Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

Positive accountability is more than a leadership tactic; it’s the growth multiplier that separates average teams from high‑performing ones. In this episode, we sit down with bestselling author and leadership coach, April Sabral. She breaks down why positive accountability is the foundation of effective retail leadership, and how clarity, ownership, and fearless feedback transform execution.

April shares why strategy without positive accountability is just hope, how leaders unintentionally create confusion, and the rituals that turn expectations into consistent results. This conversation gives retail leaders a practical playbook for embedding positive accountability into everyday operations.

What You’ll Learn

• Why positive accountability is freedom, not punishment
• How to operationalize accountability without micromanaging
• April's nine‑step accountability framework for retail leaders
• How clarity and ownership reduce burnout and increase engagement
• How fearless feedback and peer‑to‑peer coaching strengthen team performance
• Why retail leadership must shift from “holding people accountable” to “you own this outcome”
• How leaders create scalable systems that eliminate excuses and accelerate problem‑solving

Key Takeaways

• Positive accountability creates clarity, ownership, and faster execution
• Leaders must validate understanding, not assume it
• Accountability rituals prevent micromanagement and build trust
• Clear outcomes reduce burnout and help teams stay in their lane
• Retail leadership succeeds when teams coach each other

Subscribe

Episode Page: https://go.retailrazor.com/BtGs2e5

Retail Razor Podcast Network: https://retailrazor.com/

Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

YouTube channel: https://go.retailrazor.com/utube

Guest Spotlight:

April Sabral — Author of Positive Accountability for Teams, founder - April Sabral Leadership, Executive Director, Miami Business Council. https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilsabral/

https://a.co/d/0eX42X19

https://www.aprilsabral.com

https://www.askaprilai.com

Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

In this episode of Blade to Greatness, we sit down with Steve Worthy, founder and CEO of Worthy Retail Global and host of the Retail Leadership with Steve Worthy podcast, to unpack what he calls the Retail Leader Paradox, the hidden struggle retail leaders face when everyone assumes they’re fine, even when they’re leading through uncertainty every single day.

Steve shares insights from Worthy Retail Global’s 2025 Retail Leadership Development Study, revealing why so many experienced leaders quietly wrestle with doubt, pressure, and the belief that they must always have the answers. We explore why retail leadership often demands certainty even when the environment offers none, and how leaders can build confidence, clarity, and resilience.

From the power of vulnerability to the importance of functional mentorship, Steve breaks down the skills every leader needs to navigate disruption. He also explains why leading through uncertainty is not a weakness but a defining capability of modern retail leadership.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why the Retail Leader Paradox affects leaders at every level
• How to project certainty while leading through uncertainty
• Why vulnerability is a leadership strength
• How to build a network of functional mentors
• Why self‑investment matters more than organizational training
• How clarity before action transforms leadership impact

If you’re a retail leader navigating constant change, this episode gives you the tools to lead boldly, stay human, and grow with intention.

Subscribe to the Retail Razor Podcast Network: https://retailrazor.com/

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://go.retailrazor.com/utube

Guest Spotlight:

Steve Worthy, https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveworthy/

Founder, Worthy Retail Global, https://worthyretail.com

Host of the Retail Leadership with Steve Worthy podcast. https://worthyretail.com/podcast/

Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

In Season Two, Episode Three of Blade to Greatness, Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden welcome Andy Laudato, COO of The Vitamin Shoppe and author of Fostering Innovation. Andy introduces his hierarchy of IT needs, modeled after Maslow’s pyramid, showing how retail leaders must first build a strong foundation before pursuing retail innovation. From keeping the lights on to creating value, Andy explains how CIOs can earn credibility, manage risk, and ultimately drive retail transformation.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why IT stability is the foundation for retail innovation
• How CIOs can balance operational excellence with retail transformation goals
• The importance of prioritization and clarity in project management
• Practical strategies for creating value before innovating
• Why data accuracy is critical for AI and analytics success

This discussion is perfect for retail executives, CIOs, IT leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators seeking practical strategies to build credibility and drive sustainable retail transformation and retail innovation!

👉 Stay Sharp. Lead Boldly. Stay Human.

Subscribe to the Retail Razor Podcast Network: https://retailrazor.com/

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://go.retailrazor.com/utube

Guest Spotlight:

Andy Laudato, COO, The Vitamin Shoppe

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewlaudato/

Author, “Fostering Innovation,” available at Amazon: https://a.co/d/d7JxrfJ

Chapters:

00:00 Preview

00:49 Show Intro

02:40 Welcome Andy Laudato - Building the Foundation for Innovation

04:05 Hierarchy of IT Needs

06:29 Creating Value and Innovation

12:27 Balancing Operational Stability and Innovation

16:12 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

16:38 Show Close

Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

Retail thought leader Ron Thurston joins hosts Ricardo Belmar & Casey Golden to tackle one of the most overlooked yet essential retail leadership skills: clarity.

Confusion breeds chaos. But clarity? Clarity builds confidence.

Ron explains why retail leaders must communicate with purpose, how clarity drives accountability and execution, & why frontline retail employees are the most important drivers of customer experience, loyalty, & conversion.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why clarity in retail leadership is more powerful than sharing more information
• How clear communication empowers retail teams to deliver consistent customer experiences
• The difference between information vs clarity
• Practical strategies like daily clarity check-ins to align store teams
• Why frontline employees hold the key to retail KPIs like conversion, retention, & loyalty
• How leaders can course correct when clarity is missing and avoid drowning teams in chaos

Clarity isn’t just a leadership skill — it’s the foundation of retail confidence, accountability, and execution. Tune in to learn how to move your team from chaos to confidence with Ron Thurston’s proven insights.

👉 Stay Sharp. Lead Boldly. Stay Human.

Subscribe to the Retail Razor Podcast Network: https://retailrazor.com/

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://go.retailrazor.com/utube

Guest Spotlight:

Ron Thurston, https://www.linkedin.com/in/rthurston/

“Human Pride” available on Amazon: https://geni.us/humanpride

Ron Thurston is a two-time #1 bestselling author of Human Pride and Retail Pride, keynote speaker, and passionate advocate for human potential in the age of AI. Recognized as a Retail Voice by NRF, a Top 100 Retail Technology Influencer for four consecutive years, and a Top Retail Expert for five, Ron also hosts the podcasts Frontline Fridays and Retail Intelligence in Action.

Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

In this Season 2 premiere of Blade to Greatness, hosts Ricardo Belmar & Casey Golden sit down with renowned leadership coach and author April Sabral to explore how AI is transforming leadership in retail. Far from replacing leaders, AI is exposing poor leadership behaviors while empowering those who lead with curiosity, adaptability, and transparency. April shares insights from her new book Positive Accountability for Teams and explains why the future isn’t AI vs. people — it’s AI plus people.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why AI is exposing leadership failures, not just process gaps
• Why curiosity will replace control as the defining leadership trait
• The three essential leadership skills for the AI era: curiosity, ideation, and agency
• How to train humans and machines together for better outcomes
• Why adaptability and transparency are non-negotiable for future leaders
• How small retail businesses can use AI to compete with enterprise brands
• The role of positive accountability in driving change management

Subscribe to the Retail Razor Podcast Network: https://retailrazor.com/

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://go.retailrazor.com/utube

Guest Spotlight:

April Sabral — Leadership coach, author of Positive Accountability for Teams, and founder of RetailU and Ask April AI. https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilsabral/

Learn more at www.AskApril.ai. & www.aprilsabral.com

Chapters:

00:00 Previews

00:53 Show Intro

02:57 Welcome April Sabral - AI Gives Leaders the Edge

03:39 The Role of AI in Leadership

04:41 Identifying Leadership vs. Process Gaps with AI

05:46 Training Humans and Machines Together

08:08 Essential Skills for Future Leaders

09:16 Positive Accountability and Change Management

10:42 AI's Impact on Small vs. Large Retail Businesses

12:20 Show Close

Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

Welcome to Season 2 of Blade to Greatness—the podcast where retail leaders sharpen their edge. Hosted by Ricardo Belmar & Casey Golden, this series explores the essential skills & qualities every retail executive needs to lead boldly, stay sharp, & stay human in the AI era.

In Season 1, we uncovered the fundamentals of great leadership:

• how intrinsic motivation and autonomy unlock innovation
• why positivity is fuel, not fluff
• rethinking hiring, career development, & investing in people

Season 2 takes it further with new retail executives & coaching experts—to share actionable insights on:

• Building resilient & adaptable leadership cultures
• Leading through disruption & transformation in the AI era
• Practical coaching strategies for executives & C-suite leaders

If you’re a retail leader, this season will help you sharpen your leadership blade & lead with clarity.

👉 Stay Sharp. Lead Boldly. Stay Human.

Subscribe to the Retail Razor Podcast Network: https://retailrazor.com/

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://go.retailrazor.com/utube

About your hosts::

Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 & a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2025. Thinkers 360 has named him a Top 10 Retail & AGI, a Top 50 Management, Transformation, & Careers, and a Top 100 Digital Transformation & Agentic AI Thought Leader. Plus a Top Digital Voice for 2024 and 2025. He was most recently the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods in the Americas at Microsoft.

Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2023 - 2025, and a Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Currently, Casey is the North America Leader for Retail & Consumer Goods at CI&T.

Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

In this episode, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden speak with Ron Thurston, co-founder of Ossy and author of 'Retail Pride'. Thurston shares his wisdom on essential skills for retail executives and discusses empathetic communication between corporate and store teams. He emphasizes the three pillars of success: empathy, curiosity, and focus. By understanding and addressing the concerns of frontline workers, retail leaders can build trust and foster a collaborative environment. Thurston also highlights the impact of the hiring process on employee satisfaction and the importance of recognizing the distinct roles within a retail organization. Join the conversation as Thurston shares strategies to enhance the retail experience from recruitment to customer interaction.

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube

Meet your hosts:

Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2024. Thinkers 360 named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, and a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.

Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 and 2023, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!

Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

In this episode, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden welcome April Sabral, founder of retailu.ca and author of 'The Positive Effect' and 'Incurable Positivity.' April shares her insights on the importance of maintaining a positive outlook in retail leadership. She discusses how to deal with negative news and conversations, emphasizing the importance of not getting enrolled in negativity and instead fostering productive and positive discussions. April provides practical advice for retail leaders on how to inspire their teams and achieve success even in challenging environments.

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube

Meet your hosts::

Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2024. Thinkers 360 named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, & Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, plus a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.

Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 & 2023, & Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand & the consumer. After a career on the fashion & supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks & building retail tech!

Music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

Hosts Ricardo & Casey speak with April Sabral, founder of retailu.ca & author of 'The Positive Effect' & 'Incurable Positivity.' With three decades of experience leading retail brands, April shares valuable insights on the significance of fostering a positive workplace culture & its impact on productivity & employee retention. She discusses the essential skills leaders need to inspire their teams & stresses the importance of leadership in developing a thriving organizational environment. Learn practical tips on creating a positive culture that motivates employees & improves business outcomes!

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube

Meet your hosts::

Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2024. Thinkers 360 named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, and a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.

Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 & 2023, & Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand & the consumer. After a career on the fashion & supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks & building retail tech!

Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

Ricardo & Casey welcome Ron Thurston, co-founder of Ossy & author of 'Retail Pride,' to discuss fostering a career development culture within retail. Ron shares his experiences & insights on mentorship & career development - key to retaining retail employees. He discusses recent statistics on turnover & the significance of addressing scheduling, benefits, & staff shortages. By engaging field teams & creating a culture of feedback & recognition, Ron emphasizes the critical steps leaders can take to improve retention & drive success.

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube

Meet your hosts::

Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2024. Thinkers 360 named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, & Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, plus a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.

Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 & 2023, & Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand & the consumer. After a career on the fashion & supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks & building retail tech!

Music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

In this fifth episode of the Retail Razor show 'Blade to Greatness,' hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden speak with Jeffrey P. McNulty, founder and CEO of New Retail Ethos.. Jeffrey shares insights from his 30 years of hands-on industry experience, discussing the essential skills every retail executive needs and emphasizing the significance of fostering an environment ofintrapreneurship. He introduces his GAP strategy (Growth, Autonomy, Purpose) as a blueprint for enhancing intrapreneurial culture within organizations. Key points include the importance of succession planning, daily check-ins, competitive wages, flexible scheduling, employee empowerment, and community involvement. Jeffrey also offers practical advice on turning mistakes into lessons and ensuring employees feel trusted and included. He highlights that intrapreneurship benefits both the organization and employees, creating a win-win scenario. As an added bonus, Jeffrey provides listeners with a discount code for his Ultimate Retail Course.

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube

Meet your hosts::

Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2024. Thinkers 360 named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, & Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, plus a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.

Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 & 2023, & Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand & the consumer. After a career on the fashion & supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks & building retail tech!

Music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

Join hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden on the fourth episode of the Retail Razor: Blade to Greatness. This episode features a discussion with retail industry expert Ron Thurston, co-founder of Ossy and author of 'Retail Pride.' Ron shares his insights on transforming retail hiring processes to better connect highly qualified and engaged candidates with retail brands. He discusses the need for a human-centric approach in hiring frontline retail workers, emphasizing the importance of emotional empathy, curiosity, and culture fit. Tune in to learn how to reframe your job search strategies and improve recruitment outcomes in the retail industry!

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube

Meet your hosts::

Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2024. Thinkers 360 named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, & Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, plus a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.

Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 & 2023, & Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand & the consumer. After a career on the fashion & supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks & building retail tech!

Music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

In this episode of Retail Razor's 'Blade to Greatness,' hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden speak with April Sabral, founder of retailu.ca and author of 'The Positive Effect' and 'Incurable Positivity.' April shares her insights on the importance of maintaining a positive mindset in the retail industry. Highlighting her extensive experience with top brands and her transition to leadership coaching, she discusses how positivity can transform customer and employee experiences and drive business success. April emphasizes actionable strategies on shifting perspectives, recognizing wins, and fostering a positive team environment.

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube

Meet your hosts::

Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2024. Thinkers 360 named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, & Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, plus a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.

Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 & 2023, & Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand & the consumer. After a career on the fashion & supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks & building retail tech!

Music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

In this episode of 'Blade to Greatness,' hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden sit down with Jeffrey P. McNulty, founder and CEO of New Retail Ethos. Drawing from his 30 years of experience in the retail industry and as a retail research analyst, McNulty shares the critical importance of providing employee autonomy. Key insights include the benefits of employee autonomy in fostering innovative ideas and impacting organizational success, illustrated through examples from top companies like Google and Lockheed Martin. McNulty also offers an exclusive discount for his Ultimate Retail Course to listeners, underscoring his commitment to spreading retail excellence. Join us to discover actionable tips for creating future leaders and improving retail management practices.

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube

Meet your hosts::

Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2024. Thinkers 360 named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, & Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, plus a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.

Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 & 2023, & Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand & the consumer. After a career on the fashion & supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks & building retail tech!

Music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

Welcome to our new Retail Razor podcast series - Blade to Greatness! Each episode we hear from a retail industry leader who shares their sharp insights and cuts of wisdom on how to excel and grow as a retail leader by mastering essential “must have” skills and qualities. In this episode, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden explore the critical skill of tapping into employee intrinsic motivation with Jeffrey P. McNulty, founder of New Retail Ethos and a seasoned retail executive with extensive experience across major retailers and a deep understanding of retail leadership and motivation. Jeffrey shares insightful advice on driving employee engagement, productivity, and satisfaction by focusing on intrinsic rather than extrinsic motivation. Additionally, Jeffrey offers a special discount for his Ultimate Retail Course to listeners, underscoring his commitment to spreading retail excellence.

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube

Meet your hosts::

Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2024. Thinkers 360 named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, & Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, plus a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.

Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 & 2023, & Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand & the consumer. After a career on the fashion & supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks & building retail tech!

Music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Swag, Tag and Brag from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.