Jan Singer: Retail Wisdom and Insights From One of America's Most Experienced Fashion Retail CEOs

Ken Pilot interviews Jan Singer about her incredible career as a Retail and Fashion leader and Board Member.

Diverse Journey in Retail and Fashion: Jan Singer's career journey spans across various categories of business, not limited to retail. She's worked in luxury goods, beauty, and manufacturing for brands like Chanel, Calvin Klein, Prada, and Nike. Her experiences ranged from innovation to manufacturing and wholesaling.

Initiating Career at Chanel: Jan shared an interesting story about how she found a phone number for Chanel, called in, and ended up speaking with the president, which ultimately led to her landing a job at Chanel.

Challenging and Rewarding Leadership Roles: Jan believes that every job she's had has been challenging, and she's always been open to pushing herself to learn and grow. She mentioned navigating the 08 crisis at Nike as one of the most challenging moments. Additionally, running global footwear and apparel at Nike was a masterclass in leadership.

Qualities as a Leader: Jan emphasized the importance of generous leadership, being an energy giver, and leading with optimism. She also talked about the value of being an enterprise leader, making complicated things simple and repeatable, and considering the broader perspective beyond her own space.

Approach to Shaping Leadership Teams: Jan's approach to building a leadership team involves deep curiosity about why she's being brought in, understanding the problems the team is facing, and finding the critical few things that will make a difference. She values competency, chemistry, and balance in her teams, and is open to both internal and external talent.

Dynamic Nature of Retail: Jan Singer highlights the dynamic nature of the retail industry. She emphasizes that no single company has everything figured out, and various aspects like channel dynamics, wholesale, direct-to-consumer, and digital interactions are constantly evolving.

The Importance of Physical Stores: Jan Singer believes that stores are not dead; instead, they are evolving. She expresses her belief in the value of real estate, mentioning that stores are still crucial, but they might have shifted from malls to Main Street or open-air formats.

Retail as Therapy: Jan Singer sees retail as a form of therapy for consumers. She believes that the engagement with shopkeepers, store staff, or online customer service fulfills a human need for connection and interaction. People shop for various reasons, and it can be a positive and uplifting experience.

The Significance of Knowing the Consumer: Jan Singer emphasizes the importance of brands truly knowing their consumers. She mentions brands like Gucci that excel at understanding their customers' preferences and providing personalized services, whether through in-store interactions or online communications.

Technology and the Future of Leadership: The discussion touches on the evolving role of CEOs in the retail industry. Jan Singer suggests that the skills required today may be so diverse that a single CEO might not be sufficient. She speculates about the possibility of a collaborative leadership structure involving operations, technology, and product leadership

Overall, Jan Singer provides valuable insights into the retail industry, highlighting the need for adaptability, personalized experiences, and a balanced approach to leadership in today's rapidly changing landscape.

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