“Leading in a New Era”
Every October, Manhattan has its moments — but on October 16th, it felt like the retail world had slipped on its best suit and gathered for something special. At an elegant venue buzzing with energy, the Baker Retailing Center’s CEO Summit became a meeting ground for the industry’s most influential leaders. They arrived ready to talk about everything reshaping retail — from luxury’s new frontiers to the sudden, electric rise of AI — and they did so with the candor, humor, and thoughtful perspective that comes from bringing senior retail executives together.
But the celebration began the night before, with a dinner honoring a man who has shaped American retail more than most: Terry Lundgren, former chairman and CEO of Macy’s. Colleagues and friends told stories of Terry as the quiet visionary who embraced omnichannel long before it was mainstream and who somehow made time — real, human time — for every person who stopped him in a crowded ballroom. When he finally accepted the Retail Excellence Award, Terry spoke less about personal triumphs and more about the people and mentors who helped him along the way — a fitting prelude to a Summit focused on leadership in its most human form.
The next morning, the conversation turned to the future — and the future arrived fast.
AI quickly stole the spotlight. Speaker after speaker unveiled startling examples of what’s already possible, and what’s barreling toward retail with astonishing speed. Wharton’s Ethan Mollick reminded the audience that AI often learns faster than humans teach. Lynn Wu explained why most AI pilots fail — and why the few that succeed do it spectacularly. One participant summed it up neatly: “My customer is now a computer.” It wasn’t a warning. It was a wake-up call.
From there, the day raced across the globe. Korea’s retail market — where half of all purchases already happen on a smartphone — emerged as a preview of what’s coming everywhere else. Luxury leaders from BCG and Prada peeled back the curtain on how high-end consumers are splintering into new segments, with the top 1% now holding enormous sway. And a panel on luxury + hospitality revealed that the next great luxury experience may not be a handbag — it may be a Four Seasons yacht.
Then came one of the day’s biggest surprises: a glimpse into Daydream, a new fashion search engine that wants to rethink how people shop altogether. Its founder painted a future where you tell your phone you need an outfit for a Miami conference, and it not only knows your taste but can suggest, refine, pivot, and personalize — all with the ease of talking to a friend.
Threaded through the day was a constant theme: leadership. Terry Lundgren returned to the stage to share the lesson that defined his career — that listening, truly listening, is a superpower. Americus Reed reminded CEOs that they themselves are brands, whether they realize it or not, and that authenticity is the engine of influence. And Stefano Puntoni explained how the internet itself is splitting into two worlds: one for people, and one increasingly designed for machines.
By the end of the Summit, attendees weren’t just thinking about what retail looks like today — they were imagining what it might look like tomorrow. The message that lingered in the room was clear: AI may be transforming everything, but the heart of retail still lies in experiences, relationships, and leaders with the courage to adapt.
In a year where change feels faster than ever, the CEO Summit offered something rare — a moment to pause, listen, and rethink what leadership means in a new era. And as the conversations wrapped, one idea seemed to resonate across the room.
Retail isn’t just evolving. It’s reinventing itself.