The platform for global retail

Connecting people, policy and ideas to address retail’s most pressing challenges and emerging opportunities.

The RLC Global Forum tracks and unpacks the key drivers of change for global leaders with the power and influence to change the world, empowering decision- makers to create lasting impact through a global retail strategy that promotes sustainable growth and innovation.

The logo for the 2026 RLC Global Forum Annual Meeting.

February 3 & 4
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

2026 Annual Forum
February 3 & 4 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Held in Riyadh on February 3 & 4, the 2026 RLC Global Forum brings together the leaders shaping global retail—across business, policy, investment, and academia—for high-impact dialogue, actionable insights, and sector-shifting collaboration.

2026 Annual Forum

Held in Riyadh on February 3 & 4, the 2026 RLC Global Forum brings together the leaders shaping global retail—across business, policy, investment, and academia—for high-impact dialogue, actionable insights, and sector-shifting collaboration.

RLC Global Forum Logo
The logo for the Baker Retailing Center at the Wharton School.

October 16
New York

2025 CEO Summit
October 16, New York

Co-hosted by Wharton’s Baker Retailing Center and the RLC Global Forum, the 2025 CEO Summit is an exclusive, invitation-only gathering of the most influential minds in retail and brand leadership, held on October 16 in New York.

2025 CEO Summit

Co-hosted by Wharton’s Baker Retailing Center and the RLC Global Forum, the 2025 CEO Summit is an exclusive, invitation-only gathering of the most influential minds in retail and brand leadership, held on October 16 in New York.

RLC Fashion Summit Logo
The logo for Fondazione Altagamma, an organization dedicated to promoting Italian high-end cultural and creative industries.

September 25
MUDEC, Milan

RLC Fashion Summit
September 25 MUDEC, Milan

Held in Milan on September 25, 2025, during Fashion Week, the inaugural RLC Fashion Summit brings together global CEOs, institutional leaders, policy-makers, and Italian industry stakeholders for a high-level dialogue on the future of fashion, luxury and the forces reshaping global growth.

2025 RLC Fashion Summit

Held in Milan in September 2025, during Fashion Week, the first RLC Fashion Summit brought together global CEOs, institutional leaders, policy-makers, and Italian industry stakeholders for a high-level dialogue on the future of fashion, luxury, and the forces reshaping growth.

Retail Insights

What the Kering – L’Oréal Deal Signals for Global Beauty

The €4.7 billion sale of Kering Beauty to L’Oréal marks a decisive turn in the [...]
Black and white image of an open white cosmetic jar floating among a desert-like setting of large stone rocks.
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Two women walking through a shopping mall, carrying shopping bags and chatting in front of a luxury boutique with watches displayed in the window.

Luxury Growth Strategies: Experience, Access, and Speed

Luxury retail is evolving, as brands face pressure to rethink growth strategies. Today’s consumers expect [...]
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Models dressed in black walking across the catwalk during a fashion week stage show.

Where Are All the Female Creative Directors?

Despite a wave of recent high-profile appointments—from Maria Grazia Chiuri at Fendi to Grace Wales [...]
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A colorful digital illustration of a “Generate” button on a black background, with dynamic lines and dots radiating outward, symbolizing data flow or AI-generated outputs.

Behind ChatGPT’s New Instant Checkout and What It Means for Businesses

The internet has taught us many things: how to scroll, how to compare, how to [...]
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What the Kering – L’Oréal Deal Signals for Global Beauty

The €4.7 billion sale of Kering Beauty to L’Oréal marks a decisive turn in the [...]
|

Luxury Growth Strategies: Experience, Access, and Speed

Luxury retail is evolving, as brands face pressure to rethink growth strategies. Today’s consumers expect [...]
|

Where Are All the Female Creative Directors?

Despite a wave of recent high-profile appointments—from Maria Grazia Chiuri at Fendi to Grace Wales [...]
|

Behind ChatGPT’s New Instant Checkout and What It Means for Businesses

The internet has taught us many things: how to scroll, how to compare, how to [...]
|

What is
the RLC Global Forum?

What is the RLC
Global Forum?

We are dedicated to facilitating discussions that lead to impactful, actionable outcomes, propelling the retail sector towards sustainable growth.

Trusted
Community

We cultivate a network where trust, respect, and shared ambition drive progress, embodying RLC’s vision of meaningful connections and partnership-building among diverse stakeholders.

Innovative
Framework

We provide a platform for the emergence of bold ideas, addressing urgent challenges and uncovering emerging opportunities, in line with RLC’s approach to fostering innovation through cooperation.

Cross-Industry
Collaboration

Reflecting the RLC’s commitment to multi-stakeholder engagement, we encourage collaboration across the entire retail value chain, bridging retail with diverse sectors and creating partnerships that drive collective industry impact.

Global Reach,
Local Impact

We combine international expertise with local knowledge, providing a platform that fosters globally informed, locally relevant action-oriented strategies. By addressing key retail trends, we help businesses navigate an evolving landscape with confidence—supported by global market insights that inform strategic decisions.

Trusted
Community

We cultivate a network where trust, respect, and shared ambition drive progress, embodying RLC’s vision of meaningful connections and partnership-building among diverse stakeholders.

Innovative
Framework

We provide a platform for the emergence of bold ideas, addressing urgent challenges and uncovering emerging opportunities, much like RLC’s approach to fostering innovation through cooperation.

Cross-Industry
Collaboration

Reflecting the RLC’s commitment to multi-stakeholder engagement, we encourage collaboration across the entire retail value chain, bridging retail with diverse sectors and creating partnerships that drive collective industry impact.

Global Reach,
Local Impact

We combine international expertise with local knowledge, providing a platform that fosters globally informed, locally relevant action-oriented strategies. By addressing key retail trends, we help businesses navigate an evolving landscape with confidence—supported by global market insights that inform strategic decisions.

10+ Years of Leadership

For more than a decade, we have been a leading voice in shaping the retail sector, creating platforms that foster meaningful connections and collaboration among industry leaders.

Our commitment to facilitating global dialogues, addressing critical industry priorities, and shaping a comprehensive global retail strategy, has positioned Retail Leaders Circle (RLC) as a premier hub for industry partnership and insight. The RLC Global Forum marks the new chapter in our evolution.

Key Facts 2024 - 2025

Global Retail Leadership and Innovation | RLC Global Forum RLC Global Forum

3

Iconic Locations

2

0

+

Flagship Events

5

0

+

Countries

1

,

3

5

0

+

Industry Leading Speakers

The Global Gathering
for Retail Leadership

The global
gathering for
retail leadership

Held annually, the RLC Global Forum convenes senior voices from retail, investment, policy, and academia to exchange ideas, share strategic foresight, and drive collaboration that redefines the future of global commerce.

RLC Global Forum Post Event Report and Speaker Spotlight
Global Retail Leadership and Innovation | RLC Global Forum RLC Global Forum

Ready to
Unlock Retail?

Download the 2025 post-event report and gain a comprehensive view of the high-caliber audience, discussions, and networking opportunities that the RLC Global Forum consistently delivers. Discover valuable retail trends, key takeaways, and future-forward strategies that will inspire your business’s growth and success.

Steve Sadove CEO Summit Testimonial
Global Retail Leadership and Innovation | RLC Global Forum RLC Global Forum

The topics and the format of the CEO Summit are terrific. Some really interesting speakers. I believe there’s a good amount of dialogues and the mix of content and participants is really quite good.

Steve Sadove
Principal at Stephen Sadove and Associates
Global Retail Leadership and Innovation | RLC Global Forum RLC Global Forum
A testimonial from Laurent Claquin, Chief Brand Officer at Kering.
Global Retail Leadership and Innovation | RLC Global Forum RLC Global Forum
This CEO Summit is all about quality: quality of the speakers and moderators and quality of the audience. The dialogue with them is very constructive and very inspiring. I am actually going to stay here the whole day because the line up is incredible!
Laurent Claquin

Chief Brand Officer, Kering

Global Retail Leadership and Innovation | RLC Global Forum RLC Global Forum
A testimonial from Patrick Chalhoub, Executive Chairman of Chalhoub Group.
Global Retail Leadership and Innovation | RLC Global Forum RLC Global Forum

What the RLC Global Forum has built over the years is extraordinary — bringing us together, pushing us forward, and shaping the future of our industry.

Patrick Chalhoub

Executive Chairman, Chalhoub Group

Global Retail Leadership and Innovation | RLC Global Forum RLC Global Forum
A testimonial from Geoffroy van Raemdonck, Former CEO of Neiman Marcus Group and Luxury Retail Expert.
Global Retail Leadership and Innovation | RLC Global Forum RLC Global Forum
The 2025 RLC Global Forum was outstanding. The fact that it’s held here in Riyadh also reminds us that the Middle East is an area of investment, an area of growth, an area of optimism.
Geoffroy van Raemdonck
Former CEO, Neiman Marcus Group and Luxury Retail Expert
Global Retail Leadership and Innovation | RLC Global Forum RLC Global Forum