Honoring Black History Month: Resilience, Leadership, and the Future of Retail

February is Black History Month in the United States, a time to reflect on the invaluable contributions of Black leaders, innovators, and frontline workers who have shaped the retail industry and beyond.

As we honor this history, we must also acknowledge the evolving landscape of today’s retail environment—one that presents both opportunities and challenges for retail leaders and employees alike. The political and economic climates are prompting changes that require adaptability, thoughtful leadership, and a continued commitment to fostering an inclusive and engaged workforce.

As Shirley Chisholm famously said, “You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.” This sentiment is more relevant than ever for retail leaders navigating the complexities of today’s industry.

Earlier this month, my husband and I attended a Black History Month event at the HistoryMiami Museum called “Stories of Resistance from Black Miami.” During the event, we also had the privilege of meeting with some of the speakers, including Miami-Dade County Commissioner Marleine Bastien; historian Lonnie Lawrence, a former FBI and Miami-Dade Police Department officer; and Dr. Adora Obi Nweze, a former educator and current president of the Florida State Conference NAACP.



In a panel discussion, these leaders explored the contributions of Black Miamians to social justice movements while highlighting the ongoing struggle, resistance, and resilience of Black communities in Miami. It was deeply moving to hear their stories of Miami in the ’60s and ’70s—and to consider the fact that there is still so much more work ahead of us.

I also couldn’t help but reflect on the retail industry and the challenges our clients are facing today as they deal with ongoing uncertainty and swift changes in the external environment along with shifting workforce dynamics and operational priorities. The retail leaders I’ve spoken with are assessing the best ways to balance business needs and evolving customer expectations while ensuring their employees remain engaged, inspired, and able to contribute their talents to the fullest.

In light of the complexities and nuances of today’s environment, this month we’re focusing on four key issues that are shaping the future of retail leadership in 2025:



• The shifting landscape of DEI initiatives
• The reduction of staff and its impact on leadership
• Customer behavior and the well-being of store teams
• Leading through change

Read on for an in-depth exploration of each of these topics. As we move ahead, sharing best practices and fostering dialogue will be essential in shaping the future of retail. Let’s take a page from Shirley Chisholm and consider what ideas we can implement together to make great strides going forward.

Mary Beth Garcia, CEO

P.S. I’d love to hear your thoughts: What challenges are you experiencing in your stores and organization? How are you addressing these issues?

Drop me a line or give me a call at 833-866-MOHR (6647), and let’s keep the conversation going!

What we’re reading and sharing

• DEI could get better than ever (Retail Dive)
• How Retailers Are Investing in Their Sales Associates (Business of Fashion)
• Retail Unions Are Gaining Ground As Employee Dissatisfaction Grows (Forbes)
• 3 Retail Recruiting Trends for 2025 (Progressive Grocer)
• How to avoid information overload with your frontline staff (Axonify)
• Fashion supply chains: 2025’s risks and trends (Supply Chain Dive)

Stay Connected

What’s on your mind this month? How can we help? We’d love to hear from you!