An exclusive
meeting for the
retail leaders
who matter.

The 2024 CEO Summit, co-hosted byThe Wharton School’s Baker Retailing Center and RLC Global Forum scheduled for October 15, in New York, is a distinctive convergence of leadership and innovation. This is an exclusive, invitation-only event designed to unite the most prominent retail and brand executives. 

In the face of ongoing economic turmoil and significant shifts in consumer behavior, the importance of innovation in retail cannot be overstated. Our theme, ‘Innovate for Impact,’ reflects a critical approach to addressing these challenges head-on, and is a call to action, urging us to think differently and act boldly in these uncertain times.

Join us to uncover exceptional leadership insights and strategic foresight for the future.

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C-level Executives

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Retailers and Brands

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Speakers

Roster

The 2024 CEO Summit is a leading industry event of the year, gathering the most prominent figures in retail. On October 15, we bring together leaders from every corner of the retail industry to explore the forces shaping the future.

These are prominent CEOs, innovators, investors and industry insiders that take part in frank discussions and make news in real time. Attendees will engage in deep-dive sessions, strategic discussions – insightful both on and off stage – and networking opportunities designed to inspire innovation and foster collaboration in an increasingly polarized world.

Speakers

John Furner

John Furner President and CEO, Walmart U.S.

John Furner serves as president and chief executive officer of Walmart U.S., where he leads more than 1.5 million associates and is responsible for the strategic direction and performance of Walmart’s 4,700 stores, as well as its website, app and supply chain.

From 2017-2019, John served as president and chief executive officer of Sam’s Club. During his time as CEO, Sam’s Club had 11 consecutive quarters of positive sales comps, while increasing memberships.

John started with Walmart as an hourly associate in 1993, at Store 100 in Bentonville, Arkansas. He has held important roles throughout the company, including assistant store manager, store manager, district manager, buyer, regional general manager, divisional merchandising manager, VP of global sourcing, general merchandise manager, head of marketing and merchandising for Walmart China based in Shenzhen, and chief merchant for Sam’s Club.

He serves as chairman of the board of directors for the National Retail Federation.

John has a bachelor of science in marketing management from the University of Arkansas.

Ethan Mollick

Ethan Mollick Ralph J. Roberts Distinguished Faculty Scholar, Associate Professor of Management, Co-director, GenerativeAI Lab at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Ethan Mollick is the Ralph J. Roberts Distinguished Faculty Scholar and Associate Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he studies the effects of artificial intelligence on work, entrepreneurship, and education. His academic research has been published in leading journals, and his work on AI is widely applied, leading him to be named one of TIME Magazine’s Most Influential People in Artificial Intelligence. Ethan also writes to a wider audience about AI, including in his book, Co-Intelligence, a New York Times bestseller.

In addition to his research and teaching, Ethan is the Co-Director of the Generative AI Labs at Wharton, which build prototypes and conduct research to discover how AI can help humans thrive while mitigating risks. Prior to his time in academia, Ethan co-founded a startup company, and he advises numerous organizations.

Mollick received his PhD and MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management and his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University.

Matthew R. Shay

Matthew R. Shay President and CEO, National Retail Federation

Matthew Shay is president and CEO of the National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association. He serves as chief advocate and spokesman for the nation’s largest private-sector industry employer, responsible for supporting more than one in four U.S. jobs — 55 million working Americans — and generating $5.3 trillion in annual GDP. He is a frequent guest on CNBC, Fox Business Network and Bloomberg Television.

Since his arrival in 2010, Shay has transformed NRF into Washington’s most powerful voice supporting the retail industry. Under his tenure, membership and revenue have more than doubled and the organization’s influence has grown significantly in Washington, across the United States and globally. He has led the organization to new levels of effectiveness on policy issues, increasing awareness of the industry’s economic impact and expanding political engagement. Shay has also been at the forefront of shifting and framing the narrative about the current state of retail, particularly its digital evolution and vibrant, multichannel future.

Shay previously served as president and CEO of the International Franchise Association. During his time as CEO, IFA adopted an aggressive public policy agenda that led to a series of initiatives to restore much-needed credit to cash-strapped retail and other franchise businesses during the last recession.

He has been recognized by CEO Update as the 2020 Trade Association CEO of the year and by Association TRENDS as the 2019 Association Executive of the year. Shay serves as chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Association Committee of 100, and is a member of the board at the U.S. Chamber and So Others Might Eat. He also served as chairman of the ASAE Board of Directors from 2017-2018.

Shay is a graduate of Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, and The Ohio State University College of Law, and holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. He also holds an honorary doctor of humane letters from Wittenberg University and an honorary degree of professional designation in merchandise marketing from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.

Shay and his wife Allison live in Arlington, Va., with their three children.

Retail Excellence Award

On October 14, we honor Mary Dillon, the President and CEO of Foot Locker Inc., with the Retail Excellence Award in recognition of her industry leadership and philanthropic contributions.

Past Attendees