Recorded live from CES, Cristina and Jacqui hit the show floor for a fast-paced “SheCommerce Champagne Bites” episode—short, sharp interviews with female leaders on what’s real vs. what’s hype in tech, AI, and the future of commerce.

First up, Dara Joy Clay (Microsoft AI / Microsoft Advertising) shares a future-casting view of what happens when wearables + biometric data + generative AI collide. The big idea: commerce could shift from “shopping” to anticipation—where your data helps an AI assistant proactively recommend (and even reorder) the wellness products you need, before you even think to add them to cart.

Next, Amishi Takalkar (CEO, Nailbiter) brings the grounded take: AI is the real deal, but the ROI is still catching up to the investment. Her advice is simple and actionable: don’t fear AI—use it as your assistant, not your replacement. The value comes from partnership: let AI handle the basics so humans can focus on higher-order thinking, judgment, and creativity.

Then, Joanne O'Connell (Omnicom) delivers one of the strongest takeaways from the week: human creativity is still the superpower. AI can expand imagination—but it can also create a “sea of sameness” if teams use it like a crutch. The differentiator won’t be access to tools. It’ll be the discipline, talent, and originality behind how we use them.

Cristina and Jacqui close with their own reflections: AI is everywhere at CES, and the bigger conversation is workforce readiness. This isn’t just about jobs disappearing—it’s about parts of jobs changing, fast. The challenge (and opportunity) is how we equip today’s professionals and future graduates to level up with AI, not get left behind.

Because at SheCommerce, it’s never just about trends—it’s about who gets to shape them.

Bold Brands. Fierce Women. One Sisterhood.

...

SHeCOMMERCE:

Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from SHeCOMMERCE Podcast or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SHeCOMMERCE Podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

SHeCOMMERCE Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

We’re closing out 2025 with a no-fluff, all-receipts conversation where power women and real talk collide. Cristina and Jackie are joined by industry heavyweights Peter and Sri from The CPG Guys to audit the year that was—and forecast what’s next.
From the AI hype that fizzled to the retail media reality check, we call BS on overused buzzwords and dig into what really moved the needle (and what didn’t). Expect hot takes on:

AI-powered everything—why it was the most overused phrase and what it actually delivered.
Innovation drought—65% of launches were renovations, not true innovation.
Retail media wins & fails—where it worked (in-store, search) and where it flopped (off-site display).
Metrics that need to die—ROAS, influencer engagement, and “new-to-brand” obsession.
Promo addiction & price-pack architecture—why frequency vs depth matters more than ever.
Women in leadership—progress made, but why representation still lags behind consumer reality.
Unspoken rules to retire—FaceTime ≠ commitment, and culture fit ≠ sameness.

Plus, we tackle the big question: What does “Beyond the Basket” really mean? Spoiler: It’s about relationships, not transactions.
This episode is bold, provocative, and packed with insights for anyone navigating the evolving world of CPG, retail media, and commerce.

SHeCOMMERCE:

Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from SHeCOMMERCE Podcast or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SHeCOMMERCE Podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

SHeCOMMERCE Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

This week on SHeCOMMERCE, Cristina and Jacqui sit down with Christine Foster, SVP of Strategy & Operations at 8451 and Kroger Precision Marketing (KPM), to talk about what happens when retail media stops acting like a “channel”… and starts behaving like a true commercial engine.

Christine opens up about stepping into leadership after Cara Pratt built an extraordinary foundation at KPM—and what it really means to “carry the torch” with progress over perfection (yes, it’s an honor… and yes, the pressure is real).

From there, we get into the future of retail media: breaking down silos across retail media + insights + loyalty, speaking the language of outcomes, and why the real unlock isn’t just better reporting—it’s faster decisions at the pace of commerce. And if you’ve ever spent your Monday drowning in dashboards… Christine’s newest “AI baby,” Agent Monday, is here to change that.

In this episode, we cover:

• Leadership transition done right: honoring the legacy, carrying the torch, and building what’s next
• Why fragmentation slows everyone down—and why unifying retail media + insights + loyalty creates “magic”
• The unlearning required to go cross-functional: “Speak the language of outcomes.”
• Agent Monday: moving brands from reactive insights to proactive action (and what’s coming next: insight → activation)
• “Retail media isn’t just data”—the creativity + emotion that actually drives conversion ( “If you know the cart, you know the heart.”)
• The shift brands aren’t ready for (but it’s coming): dynamic experiences, real-time optimization, and perpetual learning
• Women as the architects (not just operators) of what’s next in commerce
• A leadership myth Christine is happily breaking: leaders don’t need all the answers

Bold Brands. Fierce Women. One Sisterhood.

SHeCOMMERCE:

Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from SHeCOMMERCE Podcast or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SHeCOMMERCE Podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

SHeCOMMERCE Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.