Agenda

Wednesday, July 17

6:30am7:30am

Sunrise yoga

6:30am7:30am
Catalina Point
Begin the day overlooking the ocean, engaging in mindful breathing, gentle stretching, and yoga crafted to harmonize your mind, body, and spirit. Yoga mats provided.
7:45am8:30am

Networking breakfast

7:45am8:30am
Palos Verdes Terrace
Fuel up with coffee and a bite to eat before going out and changing the face of retail.
7:45am3:30pm

Coffee bar

7:45am3:30pm
Palos Verdes Prefunction
Whether you’re an early riser or need a midday pick-me-up, our coffee station has you covered.
8:30am9:00am

Looking toward a post-app future: How empathic AI agents will take real-world action on consumers’ behalf

8:30am9:00am
American Express Theatre
Business futurist Kate Ancketill will explore the impact of AI agents on tomorrow's consumers and how their changing behavior will impact all retail channels. She'll describe scenarios to help retailers envisage pathways to adaptation in a fast-chang ...
9:00am9:30am

AI revolution at Walmart: Navigating the present and future of conversational tech in retail transformation

9:00am9:30am
American Express Theatre
For years—long before it came to dominate the headlines—Walmart has been on a journey to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence. Today, AI is embedded across Walmart’s business—from how it flows its inventory across its network so it’s closer t ...
Desi Gosby

Desi Gosby

Vice President, Emerging Technology
Walmart Global Tech
9:30am10:00am

Networking break

9:30am10:00am
Palos Verdes Prefunction
Every break brings a surprise. At this event, guests look forward to breaks as much as they do the thought leadership.
10:00am11:00am

Expert-Led Think Tanks

10:00am11:00am
Palos Verdes Terrace
Join our handpicked group of subject matter experts to discuss future-forward ideas. With four separate opportunities to engage, NRF’s Expert-Led Think Tanks allow attendees to dive deep into a single topic or explore three different topics for a bro ...
Mark Mathews

Mark Mathews

Executive Director, Research
National Retail Federation
Christian Beckner

Christian Beckner

Vice President, Retail Technology & Cybersecurity
National Retail Federation
Poonam Goyal

Poonam Goyal

Sr Ecommerce & Retail Analyst
Bloomberg Intelligence
Brenda Higuchi

Brenda Higuchi

Senior Vice President, Analytics and Optimization
Exchange Solutions
11:00am11:30am

Too Many Chiefs? How overlapping C-suite roles & functions are undermining productivity, transformation, & profitability

11:00am11:30am
American Express Theatre
A new study reveals the detrimental impacts on organizations and employees from overlapping C-Suite roles, departments, and functions. Lack of clarity in responsibilities and decision-making authority are causing alarming levels of frustration and ha ...
11:30am12:00pm

Social commerce trends and predictions

11:30am12:00pm
American Express Theatre
In the near-term future, social commerce envisions the seamless integration of shopping within social media platforms, employing advanced AI for personalized recommendations and interactive experiences. Social commerce is evolving into a dynamic spac ...
Poonam Goyal

Poonam Goyal

Sr Ecommerce & Retail Analyst
Bloomberg Intelligence
12:00pm1:00pm

Lunch with a view

12:00pm1:00pm
Palos Verdes Terrace
Join your fellow retailers for lunch & casual conversation as you re-energize for this afternoon's events.
1:00pm1:30pm

Balancing innovation and ethics: Navigating responsible AI in retail

1:00pm1:30pm
American Express Theatre
Retail is undergoing a transformative shift driven by AI and Data. In this session we will review how ethical AI lays the foundation for successfully navigating this shift.
Kathy Baxter

Kathy Baxter

Principal Architect, Ethical AI Practice
Salesforce
1:30pm2:00pm

Retail revolution: Enhancing customer experiences through digital channel optimization

1:30pm2:00pm
American Express Theatre
In today's competitive retail environment, optimizing digital channels is crucial for growth and customer retention. This panel will bring together retailers and retail experts to discuss the latest trends and effective strategies in digital channel ...
2:00pm3:00pm

Expert-Led Think Tanks

2:00pm3:00pm
Palos Verdes Terrace
Join our handpicked group of subject matter experts to discuss future-forward ideas. With four separate opportunities to engage, NRF’s Expert-Led Think Tanks allow attendees to dive deep into a single topic or explore three different topics for a bro ...
Poonam Goyal

Poonam Goyal

Sr Ecommerce & Retail Analyst
Bloomberg Intelligence
3:30pm5:30pm

Choose your vibe

3:30pm5:30pm
Various locations
Unwind and recharge! After a day of game-changing presentations and thought-provoking conversations, select your afternoon activity based on your mood. Choose between:Sip & Stretch Join Eli Walker, founder of the Uplift Experience, for a lively ...
6:00pm8:00pm

Bon voyage dinner

6:00pm8:00pm
Sunset Bluff
Before we say our final good-bye, we will celebrate new and old friends, new partnerships and continued innovation in retail.