The Store As Brand Hub with Target SVP Nancy King

Our guest this week is Nancy King, SVP, Product Engineering at Target who shares the remarkable story of her company's journey to omni-channel--or is it harmonized?--leadership.

This episode provides a deep-dive, insider's perspective on how Target has embraced the blur of modern retail and put their stores at the center of the guest experience. We get a fascinating behind the scenes look at how the application of agile methodology, combined with digital technology and a willingness to experiment aggressively, has driven break-through results. We also explore how Target knew to invest in these areas ahead of the COVID crisis and what their plans are to stay in sync with ever escalating customer needs and wants.

But first we unpack the hot retail news of the week, including Amazon CEO Andy Jassey's first letter to shareholders and the company's plans to get serious (at long last) about product returns. Then we do a few quick hits--Kohl's take-over talks, K-mart's last gasps and the retail industry's resale curiosity --before lamenting over the train wreck that was Bed, Bath & Beyond's recent quarterly earnings. Steve also riffs a bit on the pointless pursuit of promiscuous shoppers.

About Nancy

Authentic, progressive engineering leader with 20+ year’s hands on experience in Fortune 100 IT organizations solving the hardest problems. Able to quickly assess challenging situations and build relationships across the enterprise to align engineering, product and operations to business strategy. Strong focus on team building and culture to create empowered, energized, high performing teams. Proven ability to set strategy, drive change and foster more innovative and technically responsive organizations. And while all that is happening, my teams and I build amazing software.

Key Skills:
Software Engineering Leadership
Enterprise Agile Transformation
Product Model Leadership
IT Strategic Planning
Enterprise and Solution Architecture
Sense of humor when it's most needed
Change Management
Global Delivery Models
Process Design & Optimization
Vendor & Contract Management

About Us

Steve Dennis is an advisor, keynote speaker and author on strategic growth and business innovation. You can learn more about Steve on his website. The expanded and revised edition of his bestselling book Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption is now available at Amazon or just about anywhere else books are sold. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior contributor and on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can also check out his speaker "sizzle" reel here.

Michael LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus Global E-Commerce Tech Talks , The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn.

Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue, his YouTube BBQ cooking channel!

About Us

Steve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling author of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.

Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail, The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the NRF as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2026 and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.