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PODCAST

The Voice of Retail

Michael LeBlanc

The Voice of Retail is a weekly podcast hosted by retail pioneer, advisor and keynote speaker Michael LeBlanc and is produced in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada. Each and every week I interview the most interesting people in and around the retail industry, examining the key issues and strategies on the minds of thought leaders in Canada, the U.S. and around the world. © 2018-2025 M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. All Rights Reserved.

business management

All Episodes

00:33:12

Aamir Lakhani, Global Director of Threat Intelligence...

The Voice of Retail ·

2025/12/19

In this timely episode of The Voice of Retail, host Michael LeBlanc is joined by Aamir Lakhani, Global Director of Threat Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence at Fortinet, for a deep and sobering conversation on the evolving cyber threat landscape facing retailers as they close out 2025 and prepare for 2026.Lakhani leads adversarial AI research within FortiGuard Labs, Fortinet’s global R&D arm, where his team studies how cybercriminals—ranging from lone actors to state-sponsored groups—exploit

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00:30:53

Mat Povse, President of Best Buy Canada, on...

The Voice of Retail ·

2025/12/12

In this episode of The Voice of Retail, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Mat Povse, President of Best Buy Canada, live on the stage in Vancouver at Retail Council of Canada's Retail West stage for a wide-ranging and candid conversation on leadership, innovation, omnichannel retail, and the future of consumer technology in Canada.Povse begins by unpacking what is currently working at Best Buy Canada, pointing to strong financial momentum driven by a clear sense of purpose: understanding why the

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00:22:53

Black Friday 2025 by the Numbers with Sean McCormick,...

The Voice of Retail ·

2025/12/05

The Voice of Retail welcomes back Sean McCormick, Vice President, Business Development, Moneris Data Services, for a fast-moving, data-rich breakdown of the most closely watched retail moment of the year: Black Friday 2025. As the executive helping steer Moneris’s industry-leading data capabilities, McCormick offers a uniquely authoritative look at what Canadians actually did when the doors opened and the deals dropped.McCormick begins by explaining how Moneris has evolved into one of Canada’s most

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00:30:34

Inside A Merchandising Revolution with Liza Amlani,...

The Voice of Retail ·

2025/11/28

In the latest episode of The Voice of Retail, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Liza Amlani, Chief Merchant and Principal of Retail Strategy Group, who returns to the podcast to share timely insights from her new book, "The Material Life: Process Innovation for Retailers and Brands" Recognized globally as a retail thought leader, Amlani brings her two decades of merchandising expertise to a provocative argument: the retail industry has been obsessed with what products it sells, while neglecting

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00:33:20

Selwyn Crittendon, CEO & CSO, IKEA Canada: Retail...

The Voice of Retail ·

2025/11/21

In this engaging and wide-ranging episode of The Voice of Retail, Michael reconnects with Selwyn Crittendon, CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer for IKEA Canada, nearly two years after his arrival in the Canadian market. Selwyn reflects on his remarkable journey through IKEA over the past 23 years—from his early days in the Washington, D.C. store to leading Canadian operations—and offers an inside look at how the iconic retailer is transforming itself for the future.Selwyn begins by recounting his

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00:36:05

Inside Canada’s First AI-Powered Holiday Season with...

The Voice of Retail ·

2025/11/14

In this highly anticipated annual episode of The Voice of Retail, host Michael LeBlanc welcomes back Eric Morris, Managing Director of Retail at Google Canada, to unpack Google’s 2025 Holiday Retail Insights Report—a tradition that has become a favourite among Canadian retailers. Eric brings more than two decades of experience helping brands leverage Google Search, YouTube, and AI-driven technologies to drive omnichannel performance, and this year’s conversation reveals the most transformative shift

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00:27:25

Retail in Transition: PwC Canada’s Elisa Swern on...

The Voice of Retail ·

2025/11/07

In this episode of The Voice of Retail, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Elisa Swern, National Consumer Markets Leader at PwC Canada, to unpack the insights behind PwC’s newly released 2025 Canadian Holiday Outlook—a comprehensive view into how consumers plan to shop, save, and celebrate amid an uncertain economy.Elisa shares her journey from family retail roots to leading PwC’s national consumer practice, explaining why she thrives on the constant change and curiosity that define the consulting

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00:35:23

Martha McKimm of Hopson Grace & Shelley Simpson of...

The Voice of Retail ·

2025/10/31

Recorded live in person at Hopson Grace in Toronto, this inspiring episode of The Voice of Retail features host Michael LeBlanc sitting down with two leaders who are shaping the intersection of craftsmanship, culture, and commerce: Martha McKimm, Co-Founder of Hopson Grace, and Shelley Simpson, Founder of Mud Australia. Together, they unpack the art and business of building brands that thrive through authenticity, storytelling, and a deep commitment to quality.Martha shares the journey behind Hopson

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00:32:01

Inside EY’s Latest Future Consumer Index Report:...

The Voice of Retail ·

2025/10/24

In this insightful episode of The Voice of Retail podcast, host Michael LeBlanc welcomes Malin Andrée, EY Global, EMEIA and Nordics Retail Leader, and Jon Copestake, EY Global Consumer Senior Analyst, to unpack the latest findings from EY’s Future Consumer Index—a global study tracking the shifting habits and expectations of 20,000 consumers across 27 countries.Now in its fifteenth edition, the Future Consumer Index offers a rare longitudinal lens on how consumer priorities have evolved—from

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00:29:16

Global Design Visionary Jean-Pierre Lacroix,...

The Voice of Retail ·

2025/10/17

In this compelling new episode of The Voice of Retail, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Jean-Pierre Lacroix, President of SLD (Shikatani Lacroix Design)—a global design visionary whose work has shaped retail and brand experiences for more than three decades. Lacroix joins the podcast to share insights from his groundbreaking new book, Think Blink: Creating Deep, Lasting, Emotional Brand Connections in the Blink of an Eye.Lacroix opens the conversation by tracing SLD’s remarkable 35-year journey,

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00:34:17

Marketing at the Speed of Disruption: Rob Garf VP...

The Voice of Retail ·

2025/10/10

In this must-listen episode of The Voice of Retail, host Michael LeBlanc welcomes back Rob Garf, now VP and Head of Industry Strategy at Cordial, to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping marketing, consumer engagement, and the future of retail personalization.A longtime retail strategist and thought leader, Garf brings decades of experience “at the intersection of retail, consumer, and technology.” Now leading strategy at the high-growth marketing tech firm Cordial, he shares insights

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00:33:01

Chris Parsons, VP Partner Growth & Marketing at Hale...

The Voice of Retail ·

2025/10/03

In this episode of The Voice of Retail, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Chris Parsons, VP Partner Growth & Marketing at Hale Performance Marketing and author of the new book Retail Rewired: How Modern Retail Leaders Drive Growth and Reinvention, for a compelling conversation about the future of retail leadership, customer experience, and loyalty. With more than 25 years of retail experience across organizations like Walmart, Ren’s Pets, and Home Hardware, Chris brings unique insight from both

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00:32:02

Retail’s Sustainability Roadmap with Michael Zabaneh,...

The Voice of Retail ·

2025/09/26

In this episode of The Voice of Retail Podcast, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Michael Zabaneh, Vice President, Sustainability at the Retail Council of Canada, for an in-depth discussion on the future of sustainability in Canadian retail. With over 15 years of experience spanning global recycling ventures, luxury brands, and corporate advocacy, Michael shares a front-row perspective on how environmental priorities are reshaping the retail industry.Michael begins by unpacking the complexities of

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00:35:02

Leadership Lessons and Luxury Retail Insights with...

The Voice of Retail ·

2025/09/19

In this episode of The Voice of Retail podcast, host Michael LeBlanc sits down in person with Sebastian Picardo, President & CEO of Holt Renfrew, to explore the evolution of luxury retail in Canada and the global forces shaping the industry.Sebastian begins by sharing his personal journey from Buenos Aires to London, where he launched his luxury career at Alexander McQueen, followed by senior roles with Net-a-Porter, Burberry, and leading a Hong Kong department store group. In 2020, he joined Holt

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00:27:26

The Gift of Store Traffic with Mark Ryski, Founder &...

The Voice of Retail ·

2025/09/12

In this episode of The Voice of Retail, Michael LeBlanc sits down with Mark Ryski, Founder & CEO of HeadCount and three-time retail author, to explore why store traffic remains one of the most underutilized and misunderstood metrics in modern retail. With over two decades of experience pioneering traffic and conversion analytics, Mark shares insights from his new book, Store Traffic is a Gift, and explains why retailers must treat every store visit as a precious opportunity.Mark begins by recounting

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00:29:00

Preparing for AI Agents and Consumer Shifts with...

The Voice of Retail ·

2025/09/05

In this dynamic episode of The Voice of Retail, host Michael LeBlanc welcomes Fawad Baig, Retail Industry Lead, Accenture Canada, to unpack Accenture’s latest global consumer report: Me, My Brand, and AI. With insights drawn from over 18,000 respondents worldwide, including Canadians, this research sheds light on how uncertainty and generative AI are reshaping consumer trust, loyalty, and shopping behavior.Fawad explains that more than 57% of Canadian consumers report unusually high levels of

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00:33:23

David Ian Gray, Retail Strategist Breaks Down Angus...

The Voice of Retail ·

2025/08/29

In this episode of The Voice of Retail podcast, host Michael LeBlanc welcomes back retail strategist, educator, and thought leader David Ian Gray, Principal of DIG360 Consulting Ltd. and retail faculty at Capilano University’s School of Business. Together, they explore the latest Angus Reid survey on Canadian shopping habits and the rapidly evolving pre-owned and circular retail economy.David begins by setting the stage with his dual role: guiding Canadian retailers through strategic challenges

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00:27:17

Carson’s Garden & Market: How Carson Arthur Turned a...

The Voice of Retail ·

2025/08/22

On this encore episode Michael LeBlanc welcomes Carson Arthur, media personality and independent retailer, and the founder of Carson’s Garden & Market in Prince Edward County. Carson’s career journey is anything but traditional—moving from launching brands at Procter & Gamble, to building a television career as a design and gardening expert, and now into the world of retail entrepreneurship.Carson shares the inspiration behind launching his own store, Carson’s Garden & Market, a destination nestled

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00:29:21

Cameron Conn, CEO of Champlain Apparel, on Winning...

The Voice of Retail ·

2025/08/15

In this captivating episode of The Voice of Retail, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Cameron Conn, CEO of Champlain Apparel, to explore an extraordinary career journey that spans Las Vegas casinos, tech startups, and Canada’s emerging entry-level luxury menswear scene.Raised in a third-generation casino family, Cameron’s early career in hospitality taught him the art of customer service, loyalty, and operational excellence. From developing multi-million-dollar casino projects in Edmonton and

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00:35:08

Retail Ready: Liza Amlani’s Essential Guide to...

The Voice of Retail ·

2025/08/08

Retail success isn't just about having a fantastic product—it's about understanding the business of selling. On this special encore episode of The Voice of Retail, I welcome Liza Amlani, renowned retail strategist and co-author of The Whole Sale: Profitable Wholesale Strategies for Brands. Liza shares insider insights from her 20+ years in buying, merchandising, and retail consulting, helping brands navigate the complexities of wholesale expansion.In a rapidly changing marketplace, many

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98 results

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