Agentic AI Headlines: The NRF Big Show 2026
Technology has always enabled innovation, but this year’s NRF Big Show has demonstrated a new AI native consumer that will reshape the retail industry from the inside out. With over 40,000 attendees, 6,500 brands, 185 sessions and 100 countries, NRF 2026 did not disappoint. Retailers from around the world converged on the Javits Center, NYC […]
The Unbundling is Over: Why the Next Consumer Goods Giant Will be a Consolidation Play
For the last decade, the mantra in Consumer Goods (CG) has been unbundling—specialized D2C brands offering single products, leading to a sprawling landscape of niche subscriptions and scattered solutions. The result? Consumer and executive fatigue. Consumers are overwhelmed by managing five separate wellness apps, three different supplement subscriptions, and four unique data trackers. Executives are […]
Stop Selling. Start Proving: The Unbeatable Power of Proof-First Marketing
In a market saturated with ads and empty promises, the old strategies of driving customer consideration and increased spend are failing. Consumers are exhausted by jargon and skeptical of claims. They don’t just want to be told your product is better; they want you to prove it. The most potent strategy for driving both consideration (getting them in […]
The Power of the Ping: Inside a Vetted Network at the Retail Tech Media Nexus
New York City often feels like the center of the professional universe, but rarely does it feel as genuinely connected as it did last night at The Madison Lounge. As an active participant and board member of the Retail Tech Media Nexus group, founded by Dominick Miserandino, I was privileged to attend a special, intimate event. It […]
The Great Unlearning: How Executives Become Sponges in the Age of Unprecedented Uncertainty
For decades, executive leadership was based on pattern recognition. Leaders excelled by observing predictable cycles—market downturns, product lifecycles, and established geopolitical norms—and applying proven playbooks. Today, that model is obsolete. The modern executive faces a barrage of never-before-seen challenges: simultaneous supply chain fragility, rapid interest rate shifts, and the accelerating, ambiguous impact of generative AI. The […]
The CEO of You: Why Your Personal Brand is Your Only Permanent Safety Net
In the past three years, stability has become a myth. Mass layoffs, industry shutdowns, and the rapid obsolescence of skills due to AI have demonstrated one harsh truth: the corporate safety net has been shredded. The professional landscape is no longer about loyalty to a company; it’s a free agent economy where your career trajectory depends entirely […]
Starbucks Holds More in Gift Cards Than About 3500 U.S. Banks Combined
It’s not every day a coffee company finds itself mentioned in the same breath as America’s banking system — but then again, Starbucks isn’t your average coffee company. At the close of fiscal 2024, Starbucks reported a stored-value card liability of $1.78 billion — money customers have already paid the company for drinks they haven’t […]
Beyond the Algorithm: My Take on Navigating Retail, Tech and Media’s Toughest Challenges
In almost every boardroom, the conversation inevitably turns to AI. But as a leader, I’ve found that the most pressing issues we face in the Retail, Tech and Media industries are far more fundamental. They’re about money, talent, and audience, and they demand a strategic playbook that goes beyond just implementing the latest tech. Here’s […]
The Media Executive Leadership’s New Playbook: Navigating AI, Trust, and Revenue in a Shifting Landscape
By Dan Macuga The corner office of a media company today is less about managing established empires and more about navigating a sea of technological disruption, shifting consumer behaviors, and an eroding trust landscape. For Executive Leadership in this sector, the traditional playbooks are obsolete, and the demand for strategic counsel has never been higher. […]
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