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Celebrating International Women’s Month: Women Leading the Way in Retail

As International Women’s Month draws to a close, we are reflecting on and celebrating the remarkable contributions of women around the world—and in our own industry.


I am an unusual retailer in the sense that I knew by the age of 13 that this was the career I wanted to be in. It was not a part-time job that I fell into or pursued while looking for something else; it was the end goal. Part of that determination stemmed from the fact that I had good role models. Both my father and brother were retail senior executives, and their experiences showed me that if you started on the sales floor, you could make your way all the way up to the C-suite. Hard work, flexibility, and a passion for customers could lead to a promising career.


After graduating from college with a degree in retail management, I accepted the lowest paying job (my mother was aghast) as an assistant manager for a junior apparel retailer called Brooks Fashions. My regional manager was Sharon Neeley, and her office was in our Columbia, Maryland store. I was lucky, because Sharon took a liking to me, pushing and challenging me to learn and grow. I was eager to learn as much as I could from her, and it paid off. I was promoted to store leader and, in less than two years, was promoted again to an area manager position reporting directly to Sharon. She mentored me, gave me stretch assignments, and spent time and attention in helping me build my career.


Within a year, I was recruited by a local men’s and women’s traditional retail chain called g.Briggs. At just 26 years old, I was being offered the job of Director of Store Operations. It was an exciting opportunity, but I was afraid to tell Sharon. I felt like I would be abandoning her, letting her down. Instead, she was thrilled for me. She encouraged me to take the position and to soar. She added that, as much as she hated losing me, she had a plan in place for one of my store leaders who could step up to take my place. And so the succession cycle would begin again, because that is what Sharon truly loved—growing talent.


At MOHR Retail, we’ve had the privilege of partnering with and developing thousands of women leaders across the retail sector. From frontline store managers to C-suite executives, we’ve seen firsthand how women are influencing and creating the future of retail in powerful ways.


This month, we’re shining a light on just a few of the ways women are stepping up and making a big impact in retail, and how we can all take a page from Sharon’s leadership playbook by fortifying the pipeline and investing in women leaders.


Mary Beth Garcia, CEO

P.S. What women leaders have inspired you? Whether it’s a colleague, mentor, or role model, let’s shine the light on them! Drop me a line and share your story, and we’ll highlight the leader in a future newsletter.


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Fast-paced and constantly changing, the retail environment doesn’t always make it easy to find time for critical retail management training. 


MOHR Retail is excited to launch our newest leadership solution, RSL–Retail Store Leadership Microlearning Online Training videos! 


We are celebrating by showcasing the new videos in our new RSL Hybrid course, which includes self-directed learning through the new microlearning training videos along with virtual classroom sessions for practice with peers, feedback, and coaching from one of our MOHR Retail facilitators. 


Your store leaders will learn how to:


  • Flex between leadership roles to meet a wide range of associate and store needs
  • Understand and adapt their personal communication style to be more effective in their role
  • Apply a consistent set of core communication skills to every conversation
  • Maximize productivity by applying a series of specific strategies to critical discussions

RSL Online/Hybrid:

> Download full details

Learn more about RSL

NEW!

21 Microlearning Modules


Role of the Leader

Includes foundational leadership concepts and skills for application to the 3 Core Performance Situational Modules.


Setting Performance Expectations

Learn, practice, and apply a strategy for discussing performance standards, goals, other expectations with associates.



Improving Below Standard Performance

Recognize the need to handle performance issues quickly and directly; apply a discussion strategy for addressing a wide range of performance problems.


Effective Floor Supervision—Coaching in Real Time

Follow Floor Supervision Guideposts to maintain awareness of entire store and direct actions; recognize and respond to critical cues that help is needed; use a skills inventory to assess coaching opportunities for each associate; use a discussion strategy for coaching on the floor.

2025 Public Sessions


Set your teams up for success!


Equip your leaders with consistent, proven skills and strategies to thrive amid today’s retail demands.

View the Full Schedule

REGISTER NOW!


Retail Store Leadership (RSL)

Apr. 8 - June 3, 2025

NEW! Hybrid microlearning plus a one-hour virtual kickoff session and 4 virtual practice sessions (2:00-4:00 PM ET)

📥 Download RSL details


Store Support Leadership (SSL) 

May 7 - June 25, 2025

8 virtual sessions held weekly

2:00-4:00 PM ET

📥 Download SSL details


Retail Multiunit Leadership (RML) 

Sept. 16 - Oct. 14, 2025

5 virtual sessions held weekly

1:00-4:30 PM ET

📥 Download RML details

Fresh Ideas in Retail

Be sure to follow us on social media to stay current on the latest retail trends, learning events, and other retail news.


You’ll also find valuable tips, best practices, and strategies you and your team can apply to strengthen the culture, improve productivity and engagement, and increase your impact on the business.

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