The Retail Razor: Blade to Greatness!
The Retail Razor: Blade to Greatness explores the essential skills & qualities that every retail executive needs in the AI era to lead their teams and their business to success. In each episode our hosts, RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert & NRF 2025 Retail Voice, Ricardo Belmar, and RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert, Casey Golden, hear from a seasoned retail industry leader who shares their greatest insights and wisdom on retail career growth and operational excellence. Whether we’re talking about the corporate office or store teams, together we’ll uncover valuable tips and advice that you can apply to your own retail care...
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Positive Accountability - The Leadership Skill That Multiplies Growth
<p>S2E5- April Sabral Explains Why Positive Accountability Is the Growth Multiplier Every Retail Leader Needs</p><p></p><p>Positive accountability is more than a leadership tactic; it’s the growth multiplier that separates average teams from high‑performing ones. In this episode of Blade to Greatness, Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden sit down with bestselling author and leadership coach April Sabral to break down why positive accountability is the foundation of effective retail leadership, and how clarity, ownership, and fearless feedback transform execution.</p><p></p><p>April shares why strategy without positive accountability is just hope...
Leading Through Uncertainty: How Retail Leaders Build Confidence & Clarity
<p>S2E4 - The Retail Leader Paradox: Leading Through Uncertainty with Steve Worthy</p><p></p><p>In this episode of Blade to Greatness, we sit down with Steve Worthy, founder and CEO of Worthy Retail Global and host of the Retail Leadership with Steve Worthy podcast, to unpack what he calls the Retail Leader Paradox, the hidden struggle retail leaders face when everyone assumes they’re fine, even when they’re leading through uncertainty every single day.</p><p></p><p>Steve shares insights from Worthy Retail Global’s 2025 Retail Leadership Development Study, revealing why so many experienced leader...
Retail Innovation Unlocked - Andy Laudato’s Winning Blueprint
<p>S2E3- Building the Foundation for Retail Innovation - The Hierarchy of IT Needs</p><p></p><p>In Season Two, Episode Three of Blade to Greatness, Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden welcome Andy Laudato, COO of The Vitamin Shoppe and author of Fostering Innovation. Andy introduces his hierarchy of IT needs, modeled after Maslow’s pyramid, showing how retail leaders must first build a strong foundation before pursuing retail innovation. From keeping the lights on to creating value, Andy explains how CIOs can earn credibility, manage risk, and ultimately drive retail transformation.</p><p></p><p>What Yo...
Retail Chaos vs Clarity - Why Leaders Must Communicate with Purpose
<p>S2E2 - From Chaos to Confidence: Ron Thurston on Retail Clarity</p><p>Retail thought leader Ron Thurston joins hosts Ricardo Belmar & Casey Golden to tackle one of the most overlooked yet essential retail leadership skills: clarity.</p><p> </p><p>Confusion breeds chaos. But clarity? Clarity builds confidence.</p><p> </p><p>Ron explains why retail leaders must communicate with purpose, how clarity drives accountability and execution, & why frontline retail employees are the most important drivers of customer experience, loyalty, & conversion.</p><p> </p><p>What You’ll Learn in This Episode</p>Why clarity in retail le...
Why Great Leaders Embrace AI - April Sabral on Curiosity, Adaptability & Trust
<p>S2E1- How to Empower Your Leadership Skills with AI</p><p>In this Season 2 premiere of Blade to Greatness, hosts Ricardo Belmar & Casey Golden sit down with renowned leadership coach and author April Sabral to explore how AI is transforming leadership in retail. Far from replacing leaders, AI is exposing poor leadership behaviors while empowering those who lead with curiosity, adaptability, and transparency. April shares insights from her new book Positive Accountability for Teams and explains why the future isn’t AI vs. people — it’s AI plus people.</p><p></p><p>What You’ll Learn in This...
Sharpen Your Leadership Blade | Insights for the AI Era
<p>S2 Trailer - Retail Executive Leadership & Coaching Insights for the AI Era</p><p>Welcome to Season 2 of Blade to Greatness—the podcast where retail leaders sharpen their edge. Hosted by Ricardo Belmar & Casey Golden, this series explores the essential skills & qualities every retail executive needs to lead boldly, stay sharp, & stay human in the AI era.</p><p></p><p>In Season 1, we uncovered the fundamentals of great leadership:</p>how intrinsic motivation and autonomy unlock innovationwhy positivity is fuel, not fluffrethinking hiring, career development, & investing in people<p></p><p>Season 2 takes it further with new retail ex...
From Frontline to C-Suite - Effective Communication Strategies with Ron Thurston
<p>S1:E9 Bridging the Gap: Communication from Floor to Corporate with. Ron Thurston</p><p></p><p>In this episode, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden speak with Ron Thurston, co-founder of Ossy and author of 'Retail Pride'. Thurston shares his wisdom on essential skills for retail executives and discusses empathetic communication between corporate and store teams. He emphasizes the three pillars of success: empathy, curiosity, and focus. By understanding and addressing the concerns of frontline workers, retail leaders can build trust and foster a collaborative environment. Thurston also highlights the impact of the hiring process on employee satisfaction...
The Negativity Detox - Retail Leadership with April Sabral
<p>S1:E8 Cutting Out Negativity - Insights from April Sabral</p><p></p><p>In this episode, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden welcome April Sabral, founder of retailu.ca and author of 'The Positive Effect' and 'Incurable Positivity.' April shares her insights on the importance of maintaining a positive outlook in retail leadership. She discusses how to deal with negative news and conversations, emphasizing the importance of not getting enrolled in negativity and instead fostering productive and positive discussions. April provides practical advice for retail leaders on how to inspire their teams and achieve success even in...
Retail Leadership - Crafting a Positive and Productive Culture with April Sabral
<p>S1:E7 Cultivating Excellence: Positive Culture in Retail Leadership with April Sabral</p><p>Hosts Ricardo & Casey speak with April Sabral, founder of retailu.ca & author of 'The Positive Effect' & 'Incurable Positivity.' With three decades of experience leading retail brands, April shares valuable insights on the significance of fostering a positive workplace culture & its impact on productivity & employee retention. She discusses the essential skills leaders need to inspire their teams & stresses the importance of leadership in developing a thriving organizational environment. Learn practical tips on creating a positive culture that motivates employees & improves business outcomes!</p><p></p><...
Cultivating Career Growth in Retail with Ron Thurston
<p>S1:E6 Career Advancement Strategies in Retail: Insights from Ron Thurston</p><p>Ricardo & Casey welcome Ron Thurston, co-founder of Ossy & author of 'Retail Pride,' to discuss fostering a career development culture within retail. Ron shares his experiences & insights on mentorship & career development - key to retaining retail employees. He discusses recent statistics on turnover & the significance of addressing scheduling, benefits, & staff shortages. By engaging field teams & creating a culture of feedback & recognition, Ron emphasizes the critical steps leaders can take to improve retention & drive success.</p><p></p><p>Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com<...
