The time has long passed for retailers to truly embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion from the top down — and those that do will reap the rewards. Putting diverse voices at the forefront allows for differing viewpoints and ideas that will benefit retailers and shoppers alike. This panel discussion, led by International President of the Retail Design Institute, Cynthia Hirsch Ortiz, will go beyond surface-level discussion of diversity and examine how DEI translates to the in-store experience, and why retailers should see it as a top priority.

Harness the power of influencers to take your shopper marketing efforts to the next level. Jessica DuQuesne, Sr. Manager Omnichannel Marketing-Walmart/Club Team Lead at The Hershey Company, and Missy Tiller, VP of Retail & Shopper Marketing at SheSpeaks will present several SheSpeaks & Hershey's case studies on how influencers can create engaging content that reaches your target audience and drives sales with great success. Through real examples, learn more about how innovative influencer campaigns can meet various objectives, further your shopper marketing goals, and make a real impact on your bottom line.

Joe Lanzisero talks about the importance of creating human connection through story. The audience will learn how to find and tap into a brand’s true essence and turn it into retail experiences and campaigns that connect with customers. Lanzisero uses case studies not only from projects he designed during his 37 years at Disney but also from his consulting for retail brands such as Macy’s, Whirlpool, and Wolf to show the process of how to derive brand essence, break down the foundational narrative in order to best approach and integrate an underlying storyline and how to design consistent, powerful messages that unite brands and connect their message with large audiences.