Center for Retail Transformation: Our Events

Unlock the secrets of sustainable fashion with Sree Kancherla, Anjali Purohit, Sabrena Snow, and Madison Palen-Michel Cline! Moderated by Yannis Bellos, these sustainability leaders will explore how the apparel industry is advancing in a more ethical, environmentally conscious direction, one stitch at a time.

With Mehmet Altug guiding the conversation, delve into the latest advancements reshaping sourcing, manufacturing, distribution, and sustainability practices with Candan Erenguc, Shefali McDermott, and Sanjay Pal. Discover how the industry approaches delivering stylish and responsible garments to consumers worldwide.

Join Brenda Allen-Toon, Brian Coughlin, Tadd Wilson, and Saraswati Yagnavajhala to explore the landscape of digitalization in retail, dissecting the unique challenges and opportunities faced by businesses of all scales, from small boutiques to corporate giants. Moderated by Nirup Menon, these industry experts will unveil strategies to leverage digital technologies for sustainable growth and competitive advantage in today's dynamic retail market.

Don't miss a great discussion on how to navigate the complexities of customer management! Moderated by Saurabh Mishra, Bulent Dal, Nishat Mehta, and Vivek Puri will help you discover cutting-edge insights and practical strategies for effectively managing today's dynamic customer landscape within a technology and data-centric environment.

Due to the data the retail industry processes, it has attracted the attention of hackers and cybercriminals that wish to profit from the theft and sale of this data. This panel discusses the following questions: What does the current landscape look like when it comes to cybersecurity in retail, that is, what are the main sources of threats and what are the consequences? How can corporations assess their cyber security posture and improve defense against security threats? What are the essentials of cybersecurity?

On Thursday, March 23th, the Center for Retail Transformation hosted a panel discussing the findings of an ongoing "state of the retail consumer" study. Part of our transforming retail series, the session will focus on three broad questions - the health of the customer, the reasons why customers shop in different channels, and the key pain points while shopping across channels.

Changing customer behavior, macroeconomic conditions, industry trends, and rapidly evolving technology are causing marketing to evolve rapidly. In this session, participants will hear from leading thought leaders on how organizations can future-proof their marketing function by leveraging technology and generating meaningful customer insights to build deeper connections. The session will discuss how marketers can better connect with customers in today’s macro environment before pivoting to discuss about the future of marketing.

On Thursday, December 1, 2022 the Center for Retail Transformation at George Mason University hosted a panel discussing how data, technology, and automation can help restaurants transform themselves to be successful in the future. Sponsored by Microsoft and part of the Center's Transforming Retail series, panelists included experts from Microsoft, TTEC Digital, and Texas Roadhouse. 

On Tuesday, October 18, 2022 the Center for Retail Transformation at George Mason University hosted a panel discussing how technology, data, and global trends are reshaping supply chains.Sponsored by Microsoft and part of the Center's Transforming Retail series, panelists included experts from Microsoft, Quince, BlueYonder, and FarEye.

On Thursday, September 15, 2022 the Center for Retail Transformation at George Mason University hosted a panel discussing how consumer trends, data, and technology can help retailers shape strategies in uncertain times. Sponsored by Microsoft and part of the Center's Transforming Retail series, panelists included experts from Microsoft, TruRating, IHL Group, and Albertson Companies.

On Monday, August 29, 2022 the Center for Retail Transformation at George Mason University hosted a panel examining the drivers for eCommerce success in the modern, post-pandemic retail era, sponsored by Microsoft. Part of the Center's Transforming Retail series, this panel discussed the evolving customer expectations of eCommerce, how eCommerce companies can better retain customers, and how data, analytics, and technology can contribute to customer delight and unlock the next level of eCommerce growth.

On Thursday, June 23, 2022, the Center for Retail Transformation at George Mason University's School of Business hosted a panel on Empowering Frontline Employees, sponsored by Microsoft. Part of the Center's Transforming Retail series, this panel discussed the challenges and opportunities facing retailers as they seek to empower store teams to deliver a superior shopper experience.