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YOOBIC Expands AI Leadership in Retail with Acquisition of Humanitics and Launch of Store Manager Copilot. Read the release

New episodes every other Friday

ABOUT THE SHOW

Your store teams feel it: more pressure, more change, less time to get it right. FRONTLINE FRIDAYS helps you turn that pressure into impact.

Built for senior retail + hospitality field leaders, each episode features candid conversations with execs from iconic brands, sharing tactics you can use today.

HOSTED BY RON THURSTON
Ron is a global retail leadership expert and two-time bestselling author of RETAIL PRIDE (2020) and HUMAN PRIDE (2025).

SEASON 2 STARTS SEP 26
New episodes every other Friday. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

NEW EPISODE

How to Improve Retention, One Store Visit at a Time
With Billy Kissel
Head of Stores, East | Office Depot
FRIDAY DEC 5

UPCOMING GUESTS

Dec 19
Steve Worthy | Founder & CEO | Worthy Retail
Jan 2
Fabrice Haiat | Founder & CEO | YOOBIC
Jan 16
Missy Pool | Executive Leader & Retail Consultant

Previous Episodes

How to Improve Retention, One Store Visit at a Time
With Billy Kissel Head of Stores, East | Office Depot
Listen
Why the Last Marketing Mile Depends on Your Store Teams
With Ian Scott Founder | Ian Scott Retail Consulting
Listen
How to Run Safer Stores Without Slowing Teams Down
With Adam Lukoskie Founder | Correia Security Resources
Listen
How to Stay Flexible When Everything is Changing
With Detria Courtalis Vice President, Sales US | Pandora
Listen
What Retail Leaders Miss About Developing Talent
With Adam Lukoskie Executive Director, NRF Foundation | Senior Vice President, NRF
Listen
How to Drive Accountability Without Breaking Your Team
With April Sabral CEO April Sabral Leadership, Founder Ask April AI, best-selling Author, Leadership Expert
Listen
Crafting Purpose-Driven Retail Teams
With Chris Freeman SVP Store Ops, Custom Framing & Artistree Manufacturing, Michaels
Listen
Making Curiosity Your Competitive Edge
With Karrie Helm Senior Director of Stores, EVEREVE
Listen
The Role of Retail in Elevating Luxury Hospitality
With Nailah Nash Director of Retail, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
Listen
The Radical Shift In Restaurant Training
With Ashley Helkenn Senior Director of Training, Bonchon
Listen
Is Mindfulness Retail’s Missing Piece?
With Fil D'Urbano Chief Leadership and Mindfulness Officer, Ardene.
Listen
Balancing Creativity and Operations in Retail Design
With Brandon Lee Creative Director & Owner, Brandon Lee Designs
Listen
Building Ride or Die Customer Relationships
With Lance Orso General Manager, Dallas Harley-Davidson
Listen
Honest Coaching Advice Nobody’s Giving You
With Kate Sargent Founder & Principle, KJS Career Coaching & Consulting
Listen
Small Changes That Make a Big Difference
With Jo Cox & Jennifer Steichen Regional Manager of Retail & VP of Retail, Blu Dot
Listen
Store Visits that Catapult Retail Careers
With Yolanda Vega Director of Stores (Southeast & Central US), Zadig&Voltaire
Listen
Addressing Bias in Retail Decision-Making
With Michelle Emery Former VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Macy's
Listen
Hiring For Potential, Not Credential
With Sherrica Hill Director, Solutions Design & Delivery, Jobs for the Future (JFF)
Listen
Running Your Perfect Pilot Project
With Michael Saldaña Senior Retail Operations Manager, UNTUCKit
Listen
Finding Career Growth When You Feel Stuck
With Brian Librach Author of "The Retail Leader’s Roadmap"
Listen
Becoming the Mentor They Need to Succeed
With Laura Ravo Retail Guru, Executive Coach, Author
Listen
Inspiring the Next Wave of Retail Talent
With Kelly Anderson Retail Director, Akris
Listen
Embracing Vulnerability in Modern Management
With Payton McFaden Director of Global Sales Operations, Peloton
Listen
Asset Protection’s Key Role in Modern Retail Leadership
With Khristopher Hamlin VP of Asset Protection, Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA)
Listen
Developing Your Authentic Leadership Style
With Matthew Goodfriend Sr. Manager of Learning & Development, GameStop
Listen
Visual Merchandisers as the New Keepers of Company Culture
With Adimika Jaia Owens Brand Experience Executive (Floor & Decor, Forever 21, Bloomingdale’s)
Listen
Building True Community Among Your Retail Teams
With Paula Angelucci District Director, Adore Me
Listen
Fostering Proud Frontline Career Paths in Retail & Hospitality
With Samantha Rubino Director Training & Communications, Pollo Tropical
Listen

MEET YOUR HOST

Ron Thurston

Ron Thurston is one of the most respected voices in modern retail leadership.

He’s a two-time #1 bestselling author of RETAIL PRIDE (2020) and HUMAN PRIDE (2025), keynote speaker, and passionate advocate for frontline teams.

Over his 30-year career, Ron has led teams at brands including Apple, Gap, West Elm, Tory Burch, Bonobos, and Saint Laurent.

He created the RETAIL IN AMERICA tour and podcast — a 30-state Airstream journey celebrating frontline excellence — and advises innovative retail tech platforms like YOOBIC and Ometria.

His mission is simple: to help leaders thrive in the future of frontline work, and amplify the voices of those making it happen.

YOOBIC

PROUDLY PRESENTED BY

YOOBIC turns store teams into growth engines. Our AI-powered mobile-first platform helps 350+ of the world’s top retailers drive revenue and improve margins by transforming every location into an operational powerhouse.

By uniting task execution, communication, and frontline training in one seamless app, YOOBIC gives HQ full visibility and control while empowering frontline employees to move faster, execute flawlessly, and deliver on the brand promise. 

Check out what YOOBIC can do to help you boost store performance, protect profit, and outpace the competition. And why not follow us on LinkedIn to join our global community of retail leaders.