We’re so thrilled to introduce to you our Rising Stars of Retail report.
Sponsored by Impact, this special feature is a celebration of 20 rising stars of retail who are killing it, whether by leading the rollout of innovative projects, driving campaigns to make change in the industry, or giving management a red-hot go for the first time. They might be under-the-radar now, but they won’t be for long.
When a retail business is on a winning streak, usually it’s the CEO, managing director, or other senior executive who gets the glory, when in reality, they’re supported by amazing teams of smart, hardworking go-getters making it all happen.
This report also gives us an opportunity to highlight the different career paths available to people in the retail industry. Too often we think that working in retail means standing behind the checkout at a local supermarket while in high school or studying at university before we pursue “a real career” in another industry. But in fact, retail employs people with many different skills and talents, from e-commerce and fulfilment and logistics to visual merchandising, data analytics and marketing – across a wide range of categories.
Where else can an entry-level job turn into a major leadership role? Paul Zahra, CEO of the Australian Retailers Association, famously started his retail career as a sales assistant when he was 15. Little did he know that he would one day become CEO and MD at David Jones. If only the wider community were aware of the endless career opportunities available, beyond simply going to university and getting a traditional job in an office.
Keep your eye on these rising stars of Australian retail – they’re the next generation of retail leaders of the future.
