The Emerging Leaders Summit will take place at the Eaton DC hotel in Washington, D.C.
A room block for attendees with discounted rates are available for the dates of Wednesday, Sept. 10 – Friday, Sept. 12.
Reservations for our room block closes August 20, 2025.
Speakers and sessions are subject to change. Keep checking back here for updates to this year's summit.
9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Networking
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Keynote
Professional Courage
Mecca Mitchell, SVP of Leadership & Organizational Development, DEI, and Community Impact at Burlington Stores, Inc., will delve into the essential leadership competencies that drive success in today's dynamic business world. With a focus on professional courage, Mecca will share insights and strategies to empower emerging leaders to navigate challenges and seize opportunities with confidence.
Mecca Mitchell
Senior Vice President & Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer
Burlington Stores
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Session
12:45 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Session
How the NRF Foundation Can Work for You
Adam Lukoskie, Executive Director of the NRF Foundation, delivers the latest on what the NRF has to offer and how you can utilize the tools available in your everyday life and careers.
Adam Lukoskie
SVP & Executive Director
NRF & NRF Foundation
1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Session
Professional Coaching
Engage with your peers and gain professional coaching with Halleemah Nash, a highly rated session from previous attendees.
Halleemah Nash
Founder
Rosecrans Ventures
8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
Nourish, Networking
Breakfast
Light breakfast, coffee, and tea provided by the NRF Foundation
Provided by:
9:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Workshop
Retail at Work: An Immersive Workshop
Join Kimberly Minor, Founder of the Women of Color Retail Alliance (WOCRA), for an attendee-favorite presentation and workshop that will take you through a practical and immersive retail-industry scenario with your fellow early careerists.
Kimberly Minor
Founder & CEO
WOC Retail Alliance
Lisa R. Bannister
Owner
The-Missouri-Rowe-Collective
Lydia Smith
Founder and Chief Growth Catalyst
A New Thing Coaching & Consulting LLC
Presented by:
11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Session
NRF Curated Content: Industry and Consumer Insights
Katherine Cullen, Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights at the National Retail Federation, will give us a look into the latest trends and factors affecting the retail industry. From consumer spending habits to changes in the economy, this session will equip you with the knowledge you need to make decisions in an industry that is always in flux.
Katherine Cullen
Vice President, Industry and Consumer Insights
NRF
12:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Session
Career Navigation in Retail
Learn how to navigate your career: first by listening to a panel of experts who have been in your shoes, and then by having roundtable discussions with your peers led by our speakers and mentors from throughout the Summit!
Monica Davila
SVP of Human Resources
Old Navy
Michelle Weber
Global Head of Talent Acquisition
GAP Inc.
