In this episode of Retail Perch, Gary and Shekar reunite to discuss Gary’s new paper, Retail 5.0: The Age of Bionic Orchestration. They explore how AI and retail innovation mirror human anatomy, the shift from making decisions to designing decision systems, and the difference between human-speed and machine-speed retail. The conversation looks at how orchestrating both human and machine intelligence can create smarter, faster, and more adaptive retail experiences.

In this episode of The Retail Perch, Courtney Adams, VP of Marketing, and Kate McCormick, Director of Solution Engineering at Birdzi, discuss why retail operations need to move beyond “that’s how we’ve always done it.” As shopper behavior shifts quickly, processes that take weeks can lose relevance just as fast, making it even more important for retailers to reduce operational time, lower stress, and work more efficiently. They also discuss Birdzi’s newest capabilities and how they help tackle operational inefficiencies at scale.

Gary and Shekar return to The Retail Perch to dive into all things AI and introduce a new format for the series. Future episodes will feature more voices and perspectives, exploring a wider range of topics around Birdzi, innovation, and emerging technology. In this conversation, they break down the three main types of AI, discuss how the AI landscape is changing, and share how people can better understand and embrace AI as a tool for growth rather than fear.

In this episode of The Retail Perch, Shekar Raman sits down with Steve Worthy, Managing Director and North America Head of Growth at Competitor IQ, and CEO of Worthy Retail Global. With more than 27 years in retail, Steve brings a deep leadership perspective shaped by decades of industry experience.

They discuss the importance of clear communication, defining reality for your team, and how retail leaders can navigate the ongoing AI shift. Steve shares practical guidance on leading through change and supporting teams during periods of uncertainty.

The conversation also explores competitor analysis, how to use it effectively to create meaningful differentiation, and why psychological safety plays a critical role in building strong, high performing teams, along with much more.

In this episode of The Retail Perch, Shekar Raman is joined by Zoher Karu to discuss data, analytics, and what it takes to make information truly actionable. Zoher shares his journey from earning a PhD in Electrical Engineering at MIT to building a career focused on customer data and enterprise wide analytics, including his role as VP and Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Blue Shield of California. They explore how companies with growing data sets can approach leveraging them effectively, and Zoher also highlights his current work with Taelor.Style, an AI powered menswear rental platform.

In this episode of The Retail Perch, hosts Shekar Raman and Gary Hawkins take a closer look at some of the shifts shaping today’s retail environment. They talk about SNAP funding changes and what they could mean for retailers, how marketing can move beyond coupons and traditional loyalty programs, how merchandising and marketing can work more closely together, and the future of retail media networks. Together they offer a grounded look at where retail is now and where it may be headed next.

In this episode of The Retail Perch, Shekar Raman and Gary Hawkins are joined by Peter Bond, Co-Host of The CPG Guys and Head of Industry and Client Engagement at Flywheel.

Peter discusses the role of the podcast community in building meaningful connections across retail and CPG, how shopper expectations have evolved and what that means for brands and retailers today, and his work with co-host Sri Rajagopalan contributing to Cornell Tech’s Retail Media Strategy program. The conversation blends industry insight with a bit of baseball for good measure.

In this episode of Retail Perch, Dave Finnegan, Chief Connection Officer at Black Finn and Ambassador to the CMO and Digital Councils at the National Retail Federation, joins Shekar Raman and Gary Hawkins to discuss how AI and anthropology come together to shape the future of retail through empathy, innovation, and human connection.