Ascenda’s Post

When commenting on retail, one of the things I like doing least is being critical of individuals. I just don’t like speaking badly of people. However, I also have a policy of being very honest about retail performance and telling the truth as I see it. Sometimes this necessitates being blunt, albeit in a way that is fair and grounded in evidence. Dame Sharon White’s tenure at the John Lewis Partnership is a good case in point. Dame Sharon is a very bright person; she is also an extremely decent individual. So, I desperately wanted her chairmanship to work out. However, her appointment was ultimately a bad one because of her lack of retail experience. Interestingly, under the previous structure of the Partnership this would not have mattered much. When Waitrose & Partners and John Lewis & Partners were headed by Mark Price and Andy Street, they were separately run businesses with their own boards and management teams. This meant that the role of the Chairman was more ceremonial and focused on looking after the interests of Partners. I actually think Dame Sharon would have been very good at this. Unfortunately, the dissolution of that previous structure thrust the Chairman into a more commercial role - one for which Dame Sharon was unsuited, hence her appointing a Chief Executive officer to oversee more of the day-to-day business. Although many of the skills are softer, retail is still an industry that requires knowledge. This is especially so when times get tough, or businesses are going through reinvention.  Being able to understand operations, nuances, and drawing on past experience is extremely valuable. Of course, there are exceptions. There are some people with great retail experience who are poor leaders or decision makers. There are some who come from outside the industry who perform well. This is why everyone should be given a chance to prove themselves. But ultimately, retail skills are just as important as skills in other industries and retailers need to take this into account when appointing people to the top job. #retail #retailnews #leadership #JohnLewis

In my experience the best ceo/top leadership worked their way up the ranks. Much harder to plan a business if never been a planner, how do you know how stores run if never run one, nearly impossible to transform a retail brand without deep merchant experience. And a leader who has had great succeess and great failures. Leading an organization where one has done their colleagues jobs themselves sets them and the company up for success. A great current example is Michael Schriver

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Hating to lose is a philosophy that fuels many top business leaders. The National Retail Federation studies trends in sales, and found that 48 percent of all salespeople will make one call and quit if the answer is no. That’s almost half who quit after one setback. When the rest of the people called back, another quarter gave up after getting a second no. Fifteen percent more got three no’s and abandoned the potential sale. Just 12 percent continued to call until they got the results they wanted. The NRF’s study didn’t stop there. It analyzed the sales figures, which showed that the 12 percent who didn’t accept losing accounted for 80 percent of total sales. A full 88 percent of sales staff gave in to defeat, but the persistent staff—the ones who made it personal—not only closed the deal, but are the Great ones who are overall responsible for their company’s success.   Who are the Great ones on your team? If you’d like to inspire others to be Great, invite them to become great by learning to live and DEVELOP TODAY

M&S CEO: NEW LEADERSHIP WILL BOOST INTERNATIONAL PERFORMANCE M&S chief executive Stuart Machin is “hopeful” that the retailer’s international performance will improve with the introduction of new leadership. During the retailer’s annual general meeting this week, shareholders questioned the boss over its “poor” international performance this year and asked what could be done to realise the potential of the overseas business. Machin admitted: ” We haven’t achieved the growth we want but I am hopeful we will change that in the medium/longer term as we introduce new leadership and with our experienced international partners.” The chief executive’s comments come amid the appointment of Mark Lemming as M&S new managing director of international in January. M&S’ recent full-year results revealed that, despite the retailer’s soaring profits, its overseas arm was undergoing a reset after it reported its transformation in its international business had “not made as much progress as our UK business”. #MarksandSpencer #international #business #strategy #growth #result #retail

This is fascinating! American Express CEO Stephen Squeri started at the company in 1985 as a manager and worked his way up to CEO after almost 40 years If you're aspiring for corporate success, take notes from Stephen Squeri's remarkable journey at American Express. 1. Offer a path to growth: ↳Starting as a manager in 1985, Squeri's climb to CEO is a testament to the opportunities within. 2. Strive for exponential growth: ↳AmEx stock surged over 5,700% under his leadership, showcasing sustained success. 3. Embrace the legacy: ↳Squeri's story is a beacon of inspiration in today's corporate landscape. 4. Chart your course: ↳Identify your goals and pursue them relentlessly, mirroring Squeri's dedication. The real power lies in integrating these strategies for a journey akin to Squeri's remarkable ascent."

M&S CEO: NEW LEADERSHIP WILL BOOST INTERNATIONAL PERFORMANCE M&S chief executive Stuart Machin is “hopeful” that the retailer’s international performance will improve with the introduction of new leadership. During the retailer’s annual general meeting this week, shareholders questioned the boss over its “poor” international performance this year and asked what could be done to realise the potential of the overseas business. Machin admitted: ” We haven’t achieved the growth we want but I am hopeful we will change that in the medium/longer term as we introduce new leadership and with our experienced international partners.” The chief executive’s comments come amid the appointment of Mark Lemming as M&S new managing director of international in January. M&S’ recent full-year results revealed that, despite the retailer’s soaring profits, its overseas arm was undergoing a reset after it reported its transformation in its international business had “not made as much progress as our UK business”. #MarksandSpencer #international #business #strategy #growth #result #retail

What is our mission? Hear from our principals Dan and Mike below: Our mission is to build upon the 75 years legacy of Gaynor by continuing to provide an outstanding customer experience and delivering value to our partners on a daily basis. Consistently executing on both to position our company well for future organic growth. We will achieve these objectives with a keen understanding of the markets we serve, by representing the best in class manufacturers, forstering relationships, and promoting our core competencies. Sales and service is the essence of all business. While strong leadership and a winning culture yields a path forward, none of this is possible without having an exceptional team on board to realize our vision. Our people truly make the difference. Their investment towards a common goal has been a key contributing factor of our success. #leadership #rep #sales #growth #growthstrategy #utility #retail #electrical

For Sales Managers, building and leading high-performing sales teams is a formidable challenge; It demands effective recruitment strategies, team building, performance management, and leadership prowess. The session Recruiting: How to Build and Lead High-Performing Sales Teams in the Wealth Management Industry was a wellspring of enriching experiences, equipping Sales Managers with practical strategies and actionable insights to lead their teams effectively. This session exemplifies our commitment to empowering Black / African American professionals to excel in more Sales Management and leadership roles. Thank you to our Chair Emeritus, Alex David, for sharing his wisdom and expertly leading the panel session; thank you to our panelists, Sylvester Thomas Jr LUTCF, CSSCS, CLU® Branch Manager at Cetera Financial Group, Jasmine N. Davis,, Senior Vice President and Associate Market Manager at Morgan Stanley, and Sterling Lane, Executive Director and Marketing Director at J.P. Morgan Wealth Management, for shedding light on the critical strategies of recruiting and leading high-performing sales teams in the wealth management industry. Photo courtesy of Jasmine N. Davis, #assetmanagement #blackwealth #togetherblackwealth #financialadvisors #wealthmanagement #blackexcellence #leadershipandmanagement #equityandinclusion #blackwealth #financialliteracy #blackgirlmagic #diversity #Financialadvisors #branding #financialplanners #wealthmangement #personalbranding #assetmanagers #diversityequitybelonginginclusion #wealthmanagement