Leading the Global Retail Revolution Through Innovation and Collaboration

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.

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.

2026 RLC
Global 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.

Retail Insights

New Leadership Order: Navigating Growth, Resilience & Change

In a world defined by disruption, business leaders must balance resilience with long-term growth. In [...]
Renuka Jagtiani, Chairwoman of Landmark Group, and Abdellah Iftahy, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, in conversation on growth, innovation, and leadership in a rapidly changing global landscape.
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Pyramid of wooden blocks with shopping cart icons, topped by a growth chart icon representing margin integrity and strategic retail profitability.

Fire the Discounts: Why Margin Integrity Is the New Market Share

Retail’s long-standing addiction to promotions is becoming a strategic liability. As the first wave of [...]
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Illustration of a woman using virtual reality for online shopping and a delivery person emerging from a smartphone screen, representing immersive commerce in 2025.

How Immersive Commerce is Changing Retail

Retail is no longer a place. It’s a feeling. In 2025, immersive commerce is the [...]
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Diverse women applying skincare and representing minimal beauty routines and mindful consumption trends.

The “Less is More” Trend in Beauty Consumption

From skinimalism to sustainability, beauty is shedding its layers. In today’s beauty consumption trends, less [...]
|

New Leadership Order: Navigating Growth, Resilience & Change

In a world defined by disruption, business leaders must balance resilience with long-term growth. In [...]
|

Fire the Discounts: Why Margin Integrity Is the New Market Share

Retail’s long-standing addiction to promotions is becoming a strategic liability. As the first wave of [...]
|

How Immersive Commerce is Changing Retail

Retail is no longer a place. It’s a feeling. In 2025, immersive commerce is the [...]
|

The “Less is More” Trend in Beauty Consumption

From skinimalism to sustainability, beauty is shedding its layers. In today’s beauty consumption trends, less [...]
|

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

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

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

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
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

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

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