Celebrating International Women’s Day 2024: ten female retail technology leaders and innovators
To mark IWD 2024, RTIH brings you ten women making positive impacts on the retail technology sector via their work at innovative suppliers and retailers, including John Lewis, Ikea, TikTok, Obsess, Google, Archive, Reckon.AI, and PRIMIS.
Let’s kick things off with Elizabeth Azide, Director Marketing, EMEA at BigCommerce, who says: “Women play a crucial role in shaping the landscape of the retail tech industry. Their perspectives contribute significantly to the growth and innovation within e-commerce and retail.”
“As a woman actively involved in this field, I’ve always felt encouraged to voice my opinions and ideas, and would urge others in leadership roles to actively foster an environment where women are supported to meaningfully contribute.”
“With women driving nearly 70% of consumer spending, their presence in decision-making positions is not just advantageous but imperative.”
“By empowering women in the retail tech sector, and as more companies across the industry have women at the helm, we can continue to create more inclusive and successful outcomes for businesses and consumers alike.”
Ten female retail technology leaders and innovators
Harmony Murphy, Retail Head of Advertising at Google UK&I
“Retailers need to use AI more,” said Harmony Murphy, Retail Head of Advertising at Google UK&I, in an exclusive chat with RTIH after her opening Smart Retail Tech Expo keynote speech at London ExCel this month, which discussed the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in the retail industry.
“Generative AI has democratised access and made the technology more popular than ever,” said Murphy, while encouraging retailers to deploy it in all its forms on marketing, CRM, and many other applications.
Machine learning (ML) and robotic process automation (RPA) end uses of the technology are not new.
But Murphy found it shocking in her speech that still only 28% of retailers were using AI in some form or other regularly last year, according to Google’s research carried out with Bain.
This compares to 4% in 2016 when it truly was a nascent field. ”I would expect that figure to be higher by now,” said Murphy in her presentation.
Naomi Simcock, Operations Director, John Lewis
“I’ve got a huge supply chain and other fixed costs, so interactions have to count. Pre- and post-sales customer experience (CX) data analytics tools can help the business improve,” added Simcock.
Fun virtual experience tools can also help retailers, such as how make up or glasses would look on your face.
“But be sure to focus on the outcome you want before you deploy any retail technology,” cautioned Simcock, before adding: “Stock is our biggest cost for instance, so inventory management and real-time availability are crucial project metrics.”
Investments in that area must positively impact the bottom line.
Simcock highlighted at Smart Retail Tech Expo 2024 how even simple installations like the roll-out of headsets can help. They have helped the UK-based retailer:
Increase customer interactions and metrics.
Decrease shrinkage, which is a real problem in the UK where theft has risen as the cost-of- living crisis has hit.
Staff safety. This is related to the rise in organised criminal gangs targeting high value goods.
“Our partners must feel safe,” insisted Simcock, referencing the mutual co-owned status of her more than 150 year-old organisation where employees are partners in the business.
Holly Tucker, Founder of Holly & Co and Not On The High Street
Retail Technology Show recently announced that Holly Tucker, Founder of Holly & Co and Not On The High Street, will deliver a keynote session as part of its 2024 conference programme.
RTS 2024 will take place at London Olympia on 24th and 25th, with Tucker delivering a keynote session on the Headline Stage during the afternoon of day one, which will explore how online retailers can use innovation to scale their e-commerce brands.
She will discuss best practice strategies for leveraging data from multiple sources across a business and how to use that insight to power informed decision-making and create the greatest business impact.
Drawing on her experiences from growing Not On The High Street from a startup to a leading UK online platform for independent retail, as well as founding Holly & Co, an organisation that supports small businesses and entrepreneurs,
Tucker will also explore which technologies present the best ROI when it comes to delivering successful and impactful data initiatives.
Emily Gittins, CEO and Co-founder, Archive
Gittins is the Co-founder and CEO of Archive, a technology platform for branded resale.
She began her career in strategy consulting working with consumer and technology clients at BCG London. More recently, she worked at Google X on a stealth fashion concept. Her time at Google made her keenly aware of the environmental impact of the fashion industry, and she focused her graduate studies at Stanford University on how the circular economy could reduce fashion’s environmental impact.
Archive, founded in 2020 with Ryan Rowe, now works with nearly 50 brands including The North Face, Oscar de la Renta, and New Balance to build custom resale experiences that keep products out of landfill, while simultaneously bringing new revenue, building customer loyalty, and driving customer acquisition.
Neha Singh, Founder and CEO, Obsess
Obsess is an e-commerce platform enabling brands and retailers to create visual, immersive, 3D virtual stores on their websites and on metaverse platforms.
Singh was previously the Head of Product at Vogue, where she was responsible for the product strategy and technology execution of Vogue’s digital business including content products, ad products and distribution platforms.
Prior to that, she was VP of Product and Engineering at AHAlife, an e-commerce startup for luxury lifestyle products. She began her career at Google, where she was a Software Engineer and Tech Lead for five years and worked on Google AdWords and Google News.
Obsess emerged victorious at the 2023 RTIH Innovation Awards, picking up the Virtual Store of the Year gong for its work with American Girl.
Our 2023 winners were revealed at a fantastic awards ceremony, which took place at the Barbican Centre in central London.
The event was held on Wednesday, 29th November, maintaining its popular evening format, with a drinks reception in the stunning Conservatory, followed by a Christmas themed three course meal, and awards ceremony in the Garden Room.
Check out the full winners list here.
Cristina Rutgers-Astolfi, Global Head of Analytics Ikea Customer Support
Rutgers-Astolfi recently took to social media to praise REWE Group’s recently launched REWE Ready ‘smart shop’ at the EnBW Hypernetz EV Charging Hub in Lichtenau/Chemnitz, Germany.
Customers can buy Rewe and Go sandwiches, wraps, salads, get a beer, buy cigarettes, and enjoy a cappuccino while they are charging their cars.
Mehmet Tözge, Director Smart Store Development at Lekkerland SE, said: “Lekkerland SE customer preferences have changed. End consumers want to shop 24/7, fast and with as few contacts as possible.”
The store includes smart fridges from Reckon.ai.
In a LinkedIn post, meanwhile, Rutgers-Astolfi, said: “Dig two holes with one shovel! Not only do customers have access to EV charging, but they can simultaneously benefit from technology like smart fridges and AI smart cabinets powered by Reckon.ai in the smart shop.”
She added: “Due to computer vision technology and sensor fusion, shoppers simply scan their cards, open the door, take their products, and leave, all within 30 seconds.”
“A compelling example of how technology can enhance the shopping experience and drive operational efficiency.”
Carole Kingsbury, Former Director of IT, Ted Baker
Carole Kingsbury, a member of the RTIH Innovation Awards judging panel, last year departed Ted Baker, where she served as Director of IT.
She joined the company in 2019 as Head of Project Delivery, before taking on the role of Head of Business Solutions in 2020, and then Director of IT in 2022.
Ted Baker had been cutting head office jobs following its acquisition by Authentic Brands Group.
The latter outsourced Ted Baker stores and its e-commerce site to retail management business AARC in April.
In a LinkedIn post, Kingsbury said: “Four years and three months ago I walked in through the Lobster emblazoned doors of UBB into what felt like a secret world. I didn’t know quite what to expect, but I knew it wouldn’t be ordinary or dull. Fast forward to today and I can confirm there has indeed never been a dull moment.”
“As Dorothy would have said – “there’s nowhere quite like Ted.” From shopfloor to head office front door, the 24 carat golden thread running through the DNA of Ted is its people! Whether that be in the form of a colleague or customer it’s about what they have invested in the business in terms of heart, loyalty and skill.”
She added: “It has been a privilege to work alongside and learn from the many people in our business – you are all amazing and have shown great courage and professionalism over the past few months navigating the uncertainty and ambiguity following the acquisition.”
“It has been a true honour to be able to lead the IT team - you are all in the truest sense of the word – exceptional! You have through the good, and not so good times, pulled more rabbits out of hats, herded cats and knitted fog than I’ve seen anywhere else and done so with such professionalism, dignity and pride even when completely exhausted.”
Kingsbury also thanked those who had shared the journey, including Wunderman Thompson Commerce & Technology, BigCommerce, Bloomreach, MuleSoft, Adyen, Boston Consulting Group, and Avalara.
She concluded: “Ted’s DNA is now set to evolve and grow under Authentic Brands Group supported by our new operating partners PDS, OSL Retail Services and AARC Group. Ted Baker truly is no ordinary brand, run by no ordinary people and I feel extremely fortunate to have been able to be a part of it.”
Kingsbury is now taking a break from the retail world.. “Not often we get the opportunity to take a break in our world,” she told RTIH.
Christine Russo, Industry Analyst and Retail Influencer
Russo is a well known industry analyst and a member of the RTIH Top 100 Retail Technology Influencers List.
She is also a RTIH Innovation Awards and RTIH Retail Technology Innovations Report judge.
Check out our 2022 interview with her here.
Ana Pinto, CEO, Reckon.ai
Pinto began her career in 2015 as a Business Intelligence Consultant at WeDo Technologies.
In 2017, she co-founded Reckon.ai. Customers include Carrefour Belgium, which late last year opened its smallest store in Belgium, measuring just 18 sqm.
BuyBye by Carrefour is located at the retailer’s Belgian headquarters in Zaventem (near Brussels).
The autonomous store consists of a series of refrigerated vending machines where customers can purchase lunch, snacks, cold drinks and fruit.
Shoppers need to download the Carrefour BuyBye app, create an account and add a payment method before they can use the app to open the machines, take out products and check-out.
Initially, this will be open Monday to Friday from 7am to 10pm to start with, but from January it will be available seven days a week.
It is the result of a collaboration with startup Reckon AI, which specialises in micro-stores equipped with artificial intelligence.
In a LinkedIn post, Reckon AI said: “Picture this: aisles guided by AI, curated sections tailored to your needs, and an immersive shopping experience like never before. This store isn't just a place to shop; it's a destination where innovation meets your everyday needs.”
Plans are afoot to roll-out the concept to Carrefour Belgium’s existing physical stores.
Rebecca Griffiths, CEO and Founder, PRIMIS
In January, Fuel Ventures led a £2 million funding round for customer experience platform PRIMIS.
The idea of PRIMIS was first considered in 2020 when CEO and founder, Rebecca Griffiths, stepped into the post-purchase customer experience world and saw gaps in the solutions being offered.
In the past 18 months, the startup has launched three products, the main being PRIMIS Track.
It has also signed a partnership agreement with a large UK carrier to support its post-purchase comms journey. The team has grown from a single founder to eight people, including a CPO and COO.
"Fuel Ventures' support is a game-changer, propelling us to new heights and empowering us to redefine the way retailers look at post purchase and final mile communication in greater detail,” said Griffiths.
"We are thrilled to be leading this funding round for PRIMIS, who are pioneering the future of post-purchase customer experience,” said Shiv Patel, Partner at Fuel Ventures.
“We've been extremely impressed with Rebecca's leadership of the business to date, having delivered significant growth in a capital efficient manner. We see huge potential for PRIMIS to positively impact customer experience, by solving a genuine problem through technology and data.”
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