Doug Stephens

There has been, perhaps no other time in modern history when so much hinged on effective leadership and communication. In times like these, steady-handed leadership is the only thing that sits between strategic cohesiveness and organizational chaos. And yet the pandemic has also show us how few leaders truly rise to the occasion when the moment demands it. And with Black Swan events becoming ever more frequent, the question is how can leaders hone a new level of skill and effectiveness in preparation for the next crisis?

In this fascinating new talk, Doug Stephens lays out the 4 key principles of effective leadership through any crisis, including COVID-19. Filled with examples from both the current and previous global crises, we show you the surprising secrets of the world’s most effective leaders.

The traditional supply chain—vast, murky, globalized—is no longer sustainable for retailers. Going back in time to the cotton trade of the 1800s and making connections to the war in Ukraine, global retail expert Doug Stephens shows that globalized supply chains lie at the heart of many of today’s most dire societal issues, from human rights abuses and overreliance on fossil fuels, to wealth and income inequality. He reveals that the root causes are simple: a myopic focus by retail on low-cost product, and overconsumption by consumers. 

This focus on price very often ends up costing retailers enormous amounts on the back end in dead stock, markdowns, and inflexibility of supply, to name a few. Given the increasing frequency of social, economic, and climate crises, we can no longer afford to put capital at risk like this.

Drawing on his internationally influential work with world-renowned brands, and his bestselling books on retail, Doug proposes three key changes companies can make to build resilience and flexibility, lower the risk to capital and reputation, and become a force for good in the world. He’ll inform, inspire, and move you, showing you how taking charge creates better retailers, consumers, and leaders. 

Since the release of Doug Stephens’ first bestselling book The Retail Revival, change in the global retail sector has accelerated beyond even the boldest forecasts. As predicted, online giants like Amazon and Alibaba.com are growing at a dizzying pace. Hundreds of well-known brick-and-mortar retailers have closed their doors, and brands across categories are struggling to understand the shifting needs and expectations of new costumers. 

An author and internationally renowned consumer futurist, Doug will show you that this is only the beginning. From online to bricks and mortar, the very concept of what stores are, how consumers shop them, and even the core economic model for revenue will be profoundly reinvented. And that’s not all: today we have a growing capacity to gather, analyze and make sense of the virtual universe of data, which we can turn to our advantage by understanding its impact on customers and their relationships with our brands. The most important metric is no longer traditional sales data, but our media value: using our stores to engage and connect with customers. Changes are sure to affect not only retailers large and small but any business with a stake in the global retail industry. 

Drawing on research from his new book, Reengineering Retail: The Future of Selling in a Post-Digital World, Stephens shares actionable strategies that separate the winners and losers in the market, and proves what smart brands and retailers are doing today to secure their place in the hearts and minds of tomorrow’s consumer.

Doug Stephens is an expert on retail business strategy, and he brings his wealth of experience and in-depth knowledge to your company in this highly customizable keynote and workshop. What are the latest retail trends within your industry or category? How are demographic and technological shifts affecting your customer base? What can your company do to stay ahead of the curve? To help your company excel in the ultra-competitive realm of retail, manufacturing or consumer packaged goods, Stephens is constantly collecting data and case studies—in a variety of fields—to give you strategies that are broad in scope, yet focused in purpose.

Millennials are now the largest single generational segment on the planet. Their spending will exceed that of Baby Boomers, representing unprecedented opportunities for brands that adapt and innovate to engage them—and an existential threat to those that don’t.  The new generation of Generation Z shoppers, on the other hand, spend less, and they have other surprising habits: they prefer to shop in-store and are less likely to shop online than millenials or boomers.

In this unique and dynamic take on Millennial and Gen Z shoppers, Doug Stephens delivers cutting edge insight into these two generations, their economic reality, social needs, their specific traits and preferences, as well as the surprising essence of their relationships with brands. Stephens also shares the broad generalizations about Millennial and Gen Z consumers that brands would be wise to avoid. This enlightening and unconventional keynote is a must-see for business leaders looking to connect with two vitally important generations of consumers.