We are continuing our Trailblazers series by examining women leaders at two of America’s largest retail chains. These executives have extensive individual accomplishments, yet they’ve also been at the forefront of acquisitions and investments that have extended their company’s reach. Their ideas have not only been a boon for their respective employers, they have also laid a blueprint for other industry executives to follow.

There is no bigger name in retail than Walmart and one of the leading voices of that unstoppable machine is Judith McKenna. McKenna is the President and CEO of Walmart International making her responsible for all of the company’s operations outside the U.S. including over 550,000 associates in 23 countries. Walmart is a global company, though their international aspects have always lagged behind U.S. operations. With Mckenna at the helm, the retailer has changed that perception and it is due in large part to McKenna’s investment into the Indian ecommerce company Flipkart. Flipkart has only increased in value since their deal and it made India their biggest market in terms of advertising revenue. Before she took over the international stage, McKenna was the COO for Walmart U.S. She is responsible for its online grocery shopping that continues to grow and set the pace for other grocery stores. She has also invested back into the workforce by bringing Walmart Academies to the U.S. These academies offer training and the chance for advancement for their employees.

The department store segment has had a rough time even before COVID; however, Macy’s held on in a difficult retail space and outlasted many competitors. That ability to survive and turn things around is due in large part to their Chief Merchandising Officer, Nata Dvir. Dvir was appointed to the position in early 2021 during a critical time for the company. Macy’s, like many, were reeling from the impact of the pandemic and Dvir was instrumental in navigating these challenges. Dvir’s previous experience with their merchandising allowed her to overcome supply chain disruptions that were stalling other companies. To revitalize the customer base Dvir focused on bringing in new brands and creating stories around those brands that could be told both in-store and online. Having customers engaged in both spaces was key to Macy’s success. Physical retail was difficult to maintain during the pandemic, yet Dvir struck a deal to make the in-store experience more interesting. She brought the newly revitalized Toys R Us brand inside of their stores. These store within a store sections were experimental and gave customers another reason to shop physically. The venture has been so successful that Toys R Us is now available in all Macy’s stores and there will be several interactive experiences across Macy’s flagship locations throughout 2023.

Women have played an important role in the survival and evolution of the retail industry. We have only highlighted two of these leaders, though they represent the diverse ideas that are the future of the industry. Without the leadership of Judith McKenna, Walmart could have failed to capitalize on the international market. Also, Macy’s could have lost more of their physical footprint without the experimental ideas of Nata Dvir. Please join us next week when we highlight women leaders in the foodservice industry.