2025 taught us something important:
Retail leaders are carrying more than their titles suggest.

Last year, 621 leaders told us the truth about what it really feels like to lead teams, people, performance, and expectations through constant change. Their honesty shaped the 2025 Retail Leadership Report and proved something many companies needed to hear:

Leaders are doing the work — but they’re not always getting the support.

And the environment hasn’t settled.
If anything, it’s more unpredictable.

Policies shift.
Customer behavior turns fast.
Technology, labor, and expectations collide.

And retail leaders are still expected to show up with clarity.

That’s why the 2026 theme is simple:
Leading in Uncertain Times.

We’re continuing this study to make sure what leaders experience every day is seen, valued, and understood — and to help organizations recognize what their teams need to lead well right now.

Your perspective will shape the 2026 Report and the conversations that follow.

Thank you for taking a moment to share it.
It matters.