Developing Innovative Training for Today's Leaders
Executives from across the full spectrum of companies involved in the retailing and brand industry - from product manufacturers, consultants, service providers and the retailers and brands themselves - are constantly challenged by the break neck speed of changes within the industry.
Emerging demands by consumers, profusion of technology in all aspects of the industry's value chain, evolving role of store spaces in consumers' minds and company strategies and many others dominant the boardroom, the buying team's conference room and the store manager's office. The challenges raised by our current environment make understanding the latest trends and perspectives even more critical. This is no time for simple reflection but rather focused attention.
"We're typically focusing on things through the real estate lens but flipping it over and looking at it from a retailer's perspective allows us to be better advisors" said Lisa Stoddard, an executive vice president in CBRE's Washington D.C. office and a participant in one of the Center's flagship executive education programs. "There's never been so much disruption at retail and the course was very thought-provoking."
The Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing has developed several customized training programs for retailers and other industry professionals to help their leaders be positioned to respond to the extreme challenges confronting us today but also the daily needs of responding to opportunities.
A Customized Approach
We work closely with potential clients in crafting a program that meets the specific needs of that company's or organization's leaders. This capability is driven by the ability to draw on talent both from within our associated retailing and consumer sciences faculty but other programs and schools at the University of Arizona but also the vast array of connections with others in the industry. This network differentiates our ability to respond to very specific and potentially unique training and development needs from typical training firms or consultancies.
One such program was developed for CBRE, the world's largest retail estate management firm. We worked with the retail practice's leaders to develop a four-month immersive program that highlighted the challenges faced by retailers in such areas as product assortment, customer engagement, supply chain, merchandising and sourcing.
The program started within the company's America's group but quickly spread to leaders from across the globe including Hong Kong, Japan, France, Spain, Italy, and the Czech Republic. "Doing large classes such as this one from CBRE allows us to make the program more company-specific. It would be very expensive to get this group of executives together in one location to take such a course," said Scott Hessell, director of the Center. Other similar programs have been developed for the Category Management Association, PetSmart and others.
Connect with Us
If you would like to learn how the Center can develop a similar program for your organization, please email Sheila Kressler-Crowley at sheiladkressler@arizona.edu