Latest / Omni Talk Retail / Ulta’s Kristin Wolf on Building the Next Era of Beauty Retail | WRC 2026

Transcript

Ulta’s Kristin Wolf on Building the Next Era of Beauty Retail | WRC 2026 · Omni Talk Retail

• 0:00
  Hello,
• 0:00
  everyone.
• 0:00
  This
• 0:01
  is
• 0:01
  Omnitalk
• 0:01
  Retail.
• 0:02
  I'm
• 0:02
  Chris
• 0:02
  Walton
• 0:03
  and
• 0:03
  I'm
• 0:03
  coming
• 0:03
  to
• 0:03
  you
• 0:03
  once
• 0:04
  again
• 0:04
  from
• 0:04
  the
• 0:05
  World
• 0:05
  Retail
• 0:06
  Congress
• 0:06
  in
• 0:06
  fabulous
• 0:07
  Berlin,
• 0:07
  where,
• 0:08
  Kristin,
• 0:08
  the
• 0:08
  weather
• 0:09
  here
• 0:09
  is
• 0:09
  wonderful,
• 0:09
  is
• 0:09
  it
• 0:10
  not?
• 0:10
  It
• 0:10
  is
• 0:10
  a
• 0:11
  gorgeous
• 0:11
  sunny
• 0:11
  day
• 0:11
  today.
• 0:12
  Oh,
• 0:12
  my
• 0:12
  God.
• 0:12
  Yeah.
• 0:13
  This
• 0:13
  is
• 0:13
  like
• 0:13
  picture
• 0:14
  perfect
• 0:14
  weather.
• 0:14
  I
• 0:14
  don't
• 0:14
  think
• 0:14
  I've
• 0:15
  ever
• 0:15
  seen
• 0:15
  better
• 0:15
  weather
• 0:16
  in
• 0:16
  my
• 0:16
  life.
• 0:16
  But
• 0:17
  anyway,
• 0:17
  weather
• 0:17
  aside,
• 0:18
  weather
• 0:18
  aside,
• 0:19
  we're
• 0:19
  coming
• 0:19
  to
• 0:19
  you
• 0:20
  from
• 0:20
  the
• 0:20
  Vuzion
• 0:20
  podcast
• 0:21
  studio.
• 0:21
  Thanks
• 0:21
  to
• 0:21
  them
• 0:22
  for
• 0:22
  making
• 0:22
  our
• 0:22
  coverage
• 0:22
  possible.
• 0:23
  And
• 0:24
  I
• 0:24
  mentioned
• 0:24
  her
• 0:24
  already,
• 0:24
  but
• 0:25
  Kristen
• 0:25
  Wolfe,
• 0:26
  the
• 0:26
  chief
• 0:26
  strategy
• 0:27
  and
• 0:27
  Growth
• 0:27
  Officer
• 0:28
  at
• 0:28
  Ulta
• 0:28
  Beauty,
• 0:29
  is
• 0:29
  here
• 0:29
  to
• 0:29
  join
• 0:29
  me.
• 0:30
  Kristen,
• 0:30
  how
• 0:30
  are
• 0:30
  you
• 0:30
  doing
• 0:30
  today?
• 0:31
  I'm
• 0:31
  doing
• 0:31
  fantastic,
• 0:32
  thank
• 0:32
  you.
• 0:32
  You
• 0:33
  just
• 0:33
  flew
• 0:33
  in
• 0:33
  yesterday.
• 0:34
  I
• 0:34
  did,
• 0:34
  yeah.
• 0:34
  How's
• 0:35
  the
• 0:35
  jet
• 0:35
  lag?
• 0:36
  You
• 0:36
  know,
• 0:36
  I
• 0:37
  went
• 0:37
  to
• 0:37
  bed
• 0:37
  early,
• 0:38
  got
• 0:38
  up
• 0:38
  early,
• 0:38
  and
• 0:38
  I'm
• 0:39
  over
• 0:39
  it.
• 0:39
  Yeah.
• 0:39
  Ready
• 0:40
  to
• 0:40
  go.
• 0:40
  Yeah.
• 0:40
  So
• 0:41
  it
• 0:41
  sounded
• 0:41
  like
• 0:41
  you're
• 0:41
  a
• 0:41
  coffee
• 0:42
  drinker.
• 0:42
  So
• 0:42
  you
• 0:42
  had
• 0:43
  a
• 0:43
  couple
• 0:43
  cappuccinos.
• 0:44
  Yes.
• 0:44
  That
• 0:44
  helped
• 0:45
  as
• 0:45
  well.
• 0:45
  Yeah,
• 0:45
  A
• 0:45
  couple
• 0:45
  of
• 0:45
  cappuccinos
• 0:46
  to
• 0:46
  get
• 0:46
  the
• 0:46
  day
• 0:46
  started.
• 0:47
  All
• 0:47
  right,
• 0:47
  well,
• 0:47
  let's
• 0:47
  get.
• 0:48
  Let's.
• 0:48
  First
• 0:49
  time
• 0:49
  interviewing
• 0:49
  you,
• 0:49
  so
• 0:49
  I'd
• 0:50
  love
• 0:50
  to
• 0:50
  get.
• 0:50
  Let
• 0:50
  the
• 0:50
  audience
• 0:51
  in
• 0:51
  on
• 0:51
  who
• 0:51
  you
• 0:51
  are.
• 0:51
  So
• 0:52
  tell
• 0:52
  us
• 0:52
  about
• 0:52
  your
• 0:52
  background
• 0:52
  and
• 0:53
  also
• 0:53
  about
• 0:53
  your
• 0:53
  role
• 0:54
  at
• 0:54
  Ulta.
• 0:55
  Yes,
• 0:55
  well,
• 0:56
  so
• 0:56
  my
• 0:56
  role,
• 0:57
  Chief
• 0:57
  Strategy
• 0:58
  and
• 0:58
  Growth
• 0:58
  Officer
• 0:59
  at
• 0:59
  Ulta,
• 0:59
  it's
• 1:00
  really
• 1:00
  a
• 1:01
  role
• 1:01
  that
• 1:01
  intersects
• 1:02
  strategy,
• 1:02
  innovation
• 1:03
  and
• 1:03
  future
• 1:03
  growth.
• 1:04
  Okay.
• 1:05
  And
• 1:05
  you
• 1:05
  know,
• 1:05
  in
• 1:05
  my
• 1:06
  role,
• 1:06
  I'm
• 1:06
  focused
• 1:06
  on
• 1:07
  both
• 1:07
  driving
• 1:07
  growth
• 1:07
  within
• 1:08
  the
• 1:08
  core
• 1:08
  business,
• 1:09
  but
• 1:09
  also
• 1:09
  identifying
• 1:10
  the
• 1:10
  next
• 1:11
  platforms
• 1:11
  of
• 1:11
  future
• 1:12
  growth
• 1:12
  for
• 1:12
  the
• 1:12
  business
• 1:13
  as
• 1:13
  well.
• 1:13
  Okay.
• 1:14
  It's
• 1:14
  a
• 1:14
  new
• 1:14
  role
• 1:14
  for
• 1:15
  Ulta
• 1:15
  Beauty,
• 1:15
  at
• 1:16
  least
• 1:16
  at
• 1:16
  the
• 1:16
  executive
• 1:16
  team
• 1:17
  level.
• 1:17
  I've
• 1:17
  been
• 1:17
  there
• 1:18
  for
• 1:18
  seven
• 1:18
  years.
• 1:18
  Okay.
• 1:19
  But
• 1:19
  this
• 1:19
  is
• 1:19
  a
• 1:19
  new
• 1:20
  role,
• 1:20
  and
• 1:20
  it
• 1:20
  really
• 1:20
  just
• 1:21
  underscores
• 1:21
  the
• 1:21
  importance
• 1:22
  that
• 1:22
  Ulta
• 1:23
  places
• 1:24
  on
• 1:24
  long
• 1:24
  term
• 1:24
  growth
• 1:25
  and
• 1:26
  long
• 1:26
  term
• 1:26
  sustainable
• 1:27
  leadership.
• 1:28
  My
• 1:29
  background,
• 1:29
  I've
• 1:30
  grown
• 1:30
  up
• 1:30
  in
• 1:31
  consumer
• 1:32
  and
• 1:32
  worked
• 1:33
  at
• 1:33
  a
• 1:33
  number
• 1:33
  of
• 1:34
  consumer
• 1:34
  companies
• 1:35
  and
• 1:35
  in
• 1:35
  retail
• 1:36
  as
• 1:36
  well.
• 1:37
  And
• 1:37
  really
• 1:37
  my
• 1:38
  remit
• 1:39
  in
• 1:39
  this
• 1:39
  role
• 1:39
  is
• 1:40
  corporate
• 1:40
  strategy,
• 1:41
  corporate
• 1:41
  development,
• 1:42
  AI
• 1:42
  strategy,
• 1:44
  and
• 1:44
  incubating
• 1:45
  future
• 1:45
  platforms
• 1:46
  for
• 1:46
  growth.
• 1:46
  So
• 1:47
  for
• 1:47
  us,
• 1:48
  a
• 1:48
  big
• 1:48
  focus
• 1:49
  has
• 1:49
  been
• 1:49
  international
• 1:50
  expansion.
• 1:50
  Just.
• 1:51
  Just
• 1:51
  that.
• 1:52
  Just
• 1:52
  international
• 1:53
  expansion
• 1:53
  and
• 1:53
  AI,
• 1:54
  you
• 1:54
  know,
• 1:54
  like.
• 1:55
  Just
• 1:55
  that.
• 1:56
  Right?
• 1:56
  Yeah.
• 1:56
  Just,
• 1:57
  you
• 1:57
  know,
• 1:57
  walk
• 1:57
  in
• 1:57
  the
• 1:57
  park.
• 1:58
  Yeah.
• 1:58
  Oh,
• 1:59
  go
• 1:59
  ahead.
• 1:59
  It's
• 1:59
  a.
• 1:59
  It's
• 2:00
  a
• 2:00
  dream
• 2:01
  role
• 2:01
  for
• 2:01
  me.
• 2:01
  Honestly,
• 2:02
  I.
• 2:02
  I
• 2:02
  feel
• 2:02
  privileged
• 2:03
  that
• 2:03
  I
• 2:03
  get
• 2:03
  to
• 2:03
  do
• 2:03
  this
• 2:04
  every
• 2:04
  day
• 2:04
  and
• 2:04
  I.
• 2:05
  I'm
• 2:05
  really
• 2:05
  passionate
• 2:06
  about
• 2:06
  helping
• 2:07
  companies
• 2:08
  through
• 2:09
  transformational
• 2:10
  times,
• 2:11
  and
• 2:11
  now
• 2:11
  I
• 2:11
  get
• 2:12
  to
• 2:12
  help
• 2:12
  define
• 2:12
  the
• 2:12
  next
• 2:13
  chapter
• 2:13
  at
• 2:13
  Ulta.
• 2:13
  Yeah.
• 2:14
  And
• 2:14
  it
• 2:14
  seems
• 2:14
  like
• 2:14
  Ulta's
• 2:14
  really
• 2:15
  hitting
• 2:15
  on
• 2:15
  all
• 2:15
  cylinders.
• 2:15
  Like,
• 2:16
  I
• 2:16
  always
• 2:16
  joke,
• 2:16
  like,
• 2:16
  it's.
• 2:16
  I'd
• 2:17
  rather
• 2:17
  work
• 2:17
  for
• 2:17
  a
• 2:17
  company
• 2:17
  where
• 2:18
  the
• 2:18
  water's
• 2:18
  going
• 2:18
  downhill
• 2:19
  than
• 2:19
  trying
• 2:19
  to
• 2:19
  continue
• 2:20
  to
• 2:20
  push
• 2:20
  it
• 2:20
  uphill
• 2:20
  from
• 2:21
  a
• 2:21
  strategy
• 2:21
  perspective.
• 2:22
  So
• 2:22
  I'm
• 2:22
  guessing
• 2:23
  you
• 2:23
  would
• 2:23
  agree,
• 2:23
  right?
• 2:23
  I
• 2:23
  would
• 2:24
  agree
• 2:24
  with
• 2:24
  that,
• 2:24
  yes.
• 2:24
  Yeah.
• 2:24
  The
• 2:25
  other
• 2:25
  part
• 2:25
  I
• 2:25
  took
• 2:25
  away
• 2:25
  from
• 2:25
  what
• 2:26
  you
• 2:26
  just
• 2:26
  said
• 2:26
  is
• 2:26
  like,
• 2:26
  so,
• 2:27
  you
• 2:27
  know,
• 2:28
  international
• 2:28
  expansion,
• 2:29
  regional
• 2:29
  expansion
• 2:29
  is
• 2:29
  a
• 2:30
  part
• 2:30
  of
• 2:30
  your
• 2:30
  job,
• 2:30
  but
• 2:30
  it
• 2:30
  sounds
• 2:30
  like
• 2:30
  also
• 2:31
  like
• 2:31
  the
• 2:31
  digitization
• 2:32
  and
• 2:32
  how
• 2:32
  do
• 2:33
  you
• 2:33
  grow
• 2:33
  from
• 2:33
  digital
• 2:34
  and
• 2:34
  technology
• 2:35
  and
• 2:35
  thinking
• 2:35
  about
• 2:35
  the
• 2:35
  right
• 2:36
  platform
• 2:36
  investments
• 2:36
  there
• 2:37
  is
• 2:37
  also
• 2:37
  part
• 2:37
  of
• 2:37
  the
• 2:37
  role.
• 2:38
  Oh,
• 2:38
  absolutely.
• 2:39
  I
• 2:39
  mean,
• 2:39
  I
• 2:39
  think
• 2:39
  technology
• 2:40
  AI
• 2:41
  really
• 2:41
  underpins
• 2:42
  everything
• 2:42
  that
• 2:42
  we
• 2:42
  do.
• 2:43
  It
• 2:44
  is
• 2:44
  really
• 2:44
  just
• 2:44
  a
• 2:45
  way
• 2:45
  of
• 2:45
  approaching
• 2:46
  the
• 2:46
  business,
• 2:46
  and
• 2:46
  I
• 2:47
  think
• 2:47
  it'll
• 2:47
  become
• 2:47
  even
• 2:47
  more
• 2:48
  prominent
• 2:48
  in.
• 2:49
  But
• 2:49
  it
• 2:49
  is
• 2:49
  definitely
• 2:50
  a
• 2:50
  hallmark
• 2:51
  of
• 2:51
  how
• 2:51
  we're
• 2:51
  thinking
• 2:51
  about
• 2:52
  our
• 2:52
  omnichannel
• 2:52
  strategy
• 2:53
  across
• 2:53
  all
• 2:53
  dimensions.
• 2:54
  Yeah.
• 2:54
  And
• 2:54
  you
• 2:54
  guys
• 2:54
  have
• 2:54
  done
• 2:55
  some
• 2:55
  great
• 2:55
  things
• 2:55
  there
• 2:55
  in
• 2:55
  recent
• 2:56
  memory
• 2:56
  too.
• 2:56
  I
• 2:56
  think
• 2:56
  in
• 2:57
  TikTok,
• 2:57
  the
• 2:57
  partnership
• 2:57
  you
• 2:58
  have
• 2:58
  there,
• 2:58
  it
• 2:58
  was
• 2:58
  just
• 2:58
  great
• 2:58
  stuff.
• 2:59
  Yeah.
• 3:00
  Well,
• 3:00
  what
• 3:00
  brought
• 3:00
  you
• 3:00
  to
• 3:00
  wrc?
• 3:01
  What
• 3:01
  brought
• 3:01
  you
• 3:02
  to
• 3:02
  the
• 3:02
  World
• 3:02
  Retail
• 3:02
  Congress?
• 3:03
  Well,
• 3:03
  this
• 3:04
  is
• 3:04
  my
• 3:04
  first
• 3:04
  year.
• 3:05
  Okay.
• 3:06
  And
• 3:06
  you
• 3:06
  know,
• 3:06
  I
• 3:06
  felt
• 3:07
  like
• 3:07
  it
• 3:07
  was
• 3:07
  just
• 3:07
  really
• 3:07
  important
• 3:08
  for
• 3:08
  us
• 3:08
  to
• 3:08
  participate
• 3:09
  in
• 3:09
  the
• 3:09
  global
• 3:09
  conversation.
• 3:11
  You
• 3:11
  know,
• 3:11
  there.
• 3:12
  This
• 3:12
  is
• 3:12
  the
• 3:13
  place
• 3:13
  right.
• 3:13
  Where
• 3:13
  these
• 3:14
  leaders
• 3:14
  are
• 3:14
  getting
• 3:14
  together
• 3:15
  and
• 3:15
  talking
• 3:16
  about
• 3:16
  all
• 3:16
  of
• 3:16
  the
• 3:17
  forces
• 3:17
  of
• 3:17
  that
• 3:17
  are
• 3:17
  shaping
• 3:18
  the
• 3:18
  retail
• 3:18
  industry.
• 3:19
  And,
• 3:19
  you
• 3:20
  know,
• 3:20
  at
• 3:20
  Ulta
• 3:21
  Beauty,
• 3:21
  a
• 3:21
  lot
• 3:21
  of
• 3:22
  in
• 3:22
  the
• 3:22
  beauty
• 3:22
  industry
• 3:23
  in
• 3:23
  general,
• 3:23
  you
• 3:24
  know,
• 3:24
  we're
• 3:24
  at
• 3:24
  the
• 3:25
  forefront
• 3:25
  of
• 3:25
  a
• 3:25
  lot
• 3:25
  of
• 3:26
  these
• 3:26
  consumer
• 3:26
  trends.
• 3:27
  So
• 3:27
  I'm
• 3:27
  really
• 3:27
  excited
• 3:27
  to
• 3:28
  share
• 3:29
  our
• 3:29
  experiences
• 3:29
  and
• 3:30
  exchange
• 3:30
  war
• 3:30
  stories
• 3:31
  and
• 3:31
  equally
• 3:32
  hearing
• 3:32
  from
• 3:33
  my
• 3:33
  peers
• 3:34
  on
• 3:34
  how
• 3:34
  they're
• 3:34
  addressing
• 3:35
  those
• 3:35
  challenges
• 3:35
  and
• 3:36
  those
• 3:36
  forces
• 3:36
  as
• 3:36
  well.
• 3:37
  Nice.
• 3:37
  And
• 3:37
  you're
• 3:37
  speaking
• 3:38
  tomorrow?
• 3:38
  I
• 3:38
  am.
• 3:39
  Right.
• 3:39
  So
• 3:39
  give
• 3:39
  our
• 3:40
  audience
• 3:40
  a
• 3:40
  little
• 3:40
  appetizer,
• 3:40
  a
• 3:40
  little
• 3:41
  moosh
• 3:41
  boost
• 3:41
  of
• 3:43
  what
• 3:43
  you
• 3:44
  plan
• 3:44
  to
• 3:44
  share
• 3:44
  on
• 3:45
  stage
• 3:45
  in
• 3:45
  regards
• 3:45
  to,
• 3:46
  you
• 3:46
  know,
• 3:46
  transformation
• 3:47
  or
• 3:47
  innovation.
• 3:48
  Yeah,
• 3:48
  well,
• 3:48
  I
• 3:49
  mean,
• 3:49
  we'll
• 3:49
  be
• 3:49
  talking
• 3:49
  about
• 3:50
  the
• 3:51
  changing
• 3:51
  consumer
• 3:51
  and
• 3:52
  trends
• 3:52
  that
• 3:52
  are
• 3:52
  shaping
• 3:53
  growth
• 3:53
  and
• 3:53
  transformation
• 3:54
  in
• 3:54
  the
• 3:54
  industry.
• 3:55
  And
• 3:55
  really,
• 3:56
  you
• 3:56
  know,
• 3:56
  for
• 3:56
  us,
• 3:56
  growth,
• 3:57
  it's
• 3:57
  really
• 3:57
  about
• 3:58
  durable
• 3:59
  value
• 3:59
  creation
• 4:00
  and
• 4:00
  not
• 4:00
  just
• 4:00
  chasing
• 4:01
  shiny
• 4:01
  objects.
• 4:03
  Love
• 4:03
  that.
• 4:04
  Taking
• 4:04
  a
• 4:04
  disciplined
• 4:05
  approach
• 4:05
  and
• 4:05
  really
• 4:05
  balancing
• 4:06
  a
• 4:06
  focus
• 4:06
  on
• 4:07
  the
• 4:07
  near
• 4:07
  term
• 4:08
  and
• 4:08
  driving
• 4:09
  the
• 4:09
  core
• 4:09
  business
• 4:09
  while
• 4:10
  also
• 4:10
  thinking
• 4:10
  about
• 4:11
  the
• 4:11
  new
• 4:12
  platforms,
• 4:12
  what's
• 4:13
  next,
• 4:13
  and
• 4:13
  how
• 4:13
  can
• 4:13
  we
• 4:14
  extend
• 4:14
  our
• 4:14
  advantage
• 4:15
  more
• 4:15
  broadly.
• 4:16
  And
• 4:16
  also,
• 4:17
  you
• 4:17
  know,
• 4:17
  with
• 4:17
  regard
• 4:18
  to
• 4:18
  transformation,
• 4:19
  especially
• 4:19
  at
• 4:20
  a
• 4:20
  time
• 4:20
  when
• 4:20
  so
• 4:21
  much
• 4:21
  is
• 4:21
  changing,
• 4:22
  I
• 4:22
  think
• 4:22
  the
• 4:22
  pace
• 4:22
  of
• 4:23
  change
• 4:23
  and
• 4:23
  disruption
• 4:24
  is
• 4:24
  faster
• 4:24
  than,
• 4:25
  you
• 4:25
  know,
• 4:25
  it's
• 4:26
  faster
• 4:26
  than
• 4:26
  it's
• 4:26
  ever
• 4:27
  been
• 4:27
  before.
• 4:27
  It's
• 4:27
  really
• 4:28
  about
• 4:28
  approaching
• 4:28
  taking
• 4:29
  an
• 4:29
  agile
• 4:29
  Approach,
• 4:31
  taking
• 4:31
  a
• 4:31
  test
• 4:31
  and
• 4:32
  learn
• 4:32
  approach
• 4:32
  with
• 4:32
  discipline
• 4:33
  to
• 4:33
  really,
• 4:34
  you
• 4:35
  know,
• 4:35
  drive
• 4:35
  transformation
• 4:36
  and
• 4:37
  lead
• 4:37
  through
• 4:38
  this
• 4:38
  era.
• 4:39
  Yeah,
• 4:39
  I
• 4:39
  literally
• 4:40
  just
• 4:40
  got
• 4:40
  off
• 4:40
  a
• 4:40
  panel
• 4:41
  10
• 4:41
  minutes
• 4:41
  ago
• 4:42
  before
• 4:42
  I
• 4:42
  met
• 4:42
  Christian.
• 4:43
  And
• 4:43
  that
• 4:43
  was
• 4:43
  the
• 4:44
  key
• 4:44
  hallmark
• 4:44
  of
• 4:44
  what
• 4:44
  we
• 4:45
  were
• 4:45
  discussing
• 4:45
  too,
• 4:45
  is
• 4:45
  that
• 4:46
  actually
• 4:46
  how
• 4:46
  we
• 4:46
  run
• 4:47
  our
• 4:47
  organizations
• 4:47
  is
• 4:48
  needing
• 4:48
  to
• 4:48
  change
• 4:48
  and
• 4:49
  it's
• 4:49
  getting
• 4:49
  faster.
• 4:49
  The
• 4:49
  planning
• 4:50
  cycles
• 4:50
  need
• 4:50
  to
• 4:51
  change.
• 4:51
  The
• 4:51
  five
• 4:51
  year
• 4:52
  horizons
• 4:52
  on
• 4:53
  your
• 4:53
  plans
• 4:53
  are
• 4:53
  just
• 4:53
  kind
• 4:53
  of
• 4:54
  out
• 4:54
  the
• 4:54
  window
• 4:54
  now
• 4:54
  and
• 4:54
  you've
• 4:55
  got
• 4:55
  to
• 4:55
  get
• 4:55
  to
• 4:55
  a
• 4:55
  faster
• 4:56
  cycle.
• 4:57
  All
• 4:57
  right,
• 4:57
  so
• 4:57
  let
• 4:57
  me
• 4:58
  put
• 4:58
  you
• 4:58
  on
• 4:58
  the
• 4:58
  spot.
• 4:58
  Yeah.
• 4:59
  Where
• 4:59
  do
• 5:00
  you
• 5:00
  actually
• 5:00
  see
• 5:00
  growth
• 5:01
  coming
• 5:01
  from
• 5:01
  since
• 5:02
  that's
• 5:02
  in
• 5:02
  your
• 5:02
  title?
• 5:03
  Yes.
• 5:03
  Oh,
• 5:03
  you
• 5:04
  know,
• 5:04
  I
• 5:04
  think
• 5:04
  there's
• 5:05
  so
• 5:05
  much
• 5:05
  exciting
• 5:06
  growth
• 5:06
  ahead.
• 5:07
  I
• 5:07
  think
• 5:07
  both
• 5:08
  in
• 5:08
  the
• 5:08
  core
• 5:08
  business,
• 5:09
  where
• 5:09
  we're
• 5:09
  really,
• 5:09
  you
• 5:10
  know,
• 5:10
  we're
• 5:10
  leaning
• 5:10
  into
• 5:11
  adjacent
• 5:11
  spaces
• 5:12
  within
• 5:12
  beauty
• 5:13
  and
• 5:13
  really
• 5:14
  unlocking
• 5:14
  AI
• 5:16
  to
• 5:16
  accelerate
• 5:17
  and
• 5:17
  enable
• 5:17
  all
• 5:17
  of
• 5:17
  that.
• 5:18
  But
• 5:18
  also
• 5:19
  thinking
• 5:19
  about
• 5:20
  next,
• 5:20
  what's
• 5:21
  next
• 5:21
  and
• 5:21
  platforms
• 5:22
  for
• 5:22
  future
• 5:22
  growth.
• 5:22
  And
• 5:23
  there
• 5:23
  are
• 5:23
  many
• 5:23
  that
• 5:23
  we're
• 5:24
  focused
• 5:24
  on.
• 5:24
  That
• 5:24
  I'm
• 5:25
  focused
• 5:25
  on
• 5:26
  international
• 5:26
  expansion,
• 5:27
  as
• 5:27
  I
• 5:27
  mentioned,
• 5:27
  is
• 5:28
  one.
• 5:28
  In
• 5:29
  the
• 5:29
  last
• 5:29
  six
• 5:29
  months,
• 5:29
  we've
• 5:30
  gone
• 5:30
  from
• 5:30
  being
• 5:30
  a
• 5:30
  US
• 5:31
  only
• 5:31
  retailer
• 5:32
  to
• 5:32
  being
• 5:32
  in
• 5:33
  three
• 5:33
  regions
• 5:33
  of
• 5:33
  the
• 5:33
  world
• 5:34
  in
• 5:34
  six
• 5:34
  countries.
• 5:35
  Yeah,
• 5:35
  we
• 5:36
  acquired
• 5:36
  Space
• 5:36
  NK
• 5:37
  in
• 5:37
  the
• 5:37
  UK
• 5:38
  last
• 5:38
  year
• 5:40
  and
• 5:40
  then
• 5:40
  in
• 5:41
  the
• 5:41
  fall
• 5:41
  we
• 5:41
  extended
• 5:42
  into,
• 5:42
  through
• 5:42
  partnerships
• 5:43
  into
• 5:43
  Mexico
• 5:44
  and
• 5:44
  the
• 5:44
  Middle
• 5:44
  East.
• 5:45
  So
• 5:45
  that
• 5:45
  is
• 5:46
  an
• 5:46
  exciting
• 5:46
  platform
• 5:47
  that
• 5:47
  we're
• 5:48
  continuing
• 5:48
  to
• 5:48
  grow
• 5:49
  and
• 5:49
  scale
• 5:49
  and
• 5:49
  looking
• 5:50
  to
• 5:50
  continue
• 5:50
  to
• 5:50
  expand.
• 5:51
  So
• 5:51
  what
• 5:52
  percentage
• 5:52
  of
• 5:52
  your
• 5:52
  job
• 5:52
  is
• 5:53
  the
• 5:53
  latter
• 5:53
  versus
• 5:53
  the
• 5:54
  former?
• 5:54
  If
• 5:54
  you
• 5:54
  had
• 5:54
  to
• 5:55
  tell
• 5:55
  me,
• 5:55
  you.
• 5:55
  Know,
• 5:56
  it's
• 5:56
  really
• 5:56
  50.
• 5:56
  50.
• 5:57
  I
• 5:57
  mean,
• 5:57
  I
• 5:58
  have
• 5:58
  an
• 5:58
  enterprise
• 5:58
  focus.
• 5:59
  I'm
• 5:59
  focused
• 5:59
  across
• 6:00
  the
• 6:00
  business
• 6:00
  and,
• 6:01
  you
• 6:01
  know,
• 6:01
  it
• 6:02
  is,
• 6:02
  you
• 6:02
  know,
• 6:03
  equal
• 6:03
  parts
• 6:04
  really
• 6:04
  continuing
• 6:05
  to
• 6:05
  build
• 6:06
  on
• 6:06
  the
• 6:06
  momentum
• 6:06
  that
• 6:07
  we
• 6:07
  have
• 6:07
  in
• 6:07
  our
• 6:07
  core
• 6:07
  business
• 6:08
  while
• 6:08
  also
• 6:08
  thinking
• 6:09
  about
• 6:09
  those
• 6:09
  platforms
• 6:10
  and
• 6:10
  what's
• 6:10
  next.
• 6:11
  Awesome.
• 6:11
  Well,
• 6:11
  you
• 6:12
  know,
• 6:12
  Christian,
• 6:12
  I
• 6:12
  really
• 6:12
  try
• 6:12
  to
• 6:12
  gear
• 6:13
  this
• 6:13
  podcast
• 6:13
  to,
• 6:14
  you
• 6:14
  know,
• 6:14
  people
• 6:14
  that
• 6:15
  have
• 6:15
  been
• 6:15
  in
• 6:15
  the
• 6:15
  executive
• 6:16
  chair
• 6:16
  at
• 6:16
  a
• 6:16
  retailer
• 6:17
  or
• 6:17
  aspiring
• 6:18
  to
• 6:18
  be
• 6:18
  in
• 6:18
  the
• 6:18
  executive
• 6:18
  chair
• 6:19
  so
• 6:19
  they
• 6:19
  can
• 6:19
  understand
• 6:19
  the
• 6:19
  types
• 6:20
  of
• 6:20
  decisions
• 6:20
  that
• 6:20
  come
• 6:21
  their
• 6:21
  way.
• 6:21
  And
• 6:21
  so,
• 6:22
  you
• 6:22
  know,
• 6:22
  the
• 6:23
  question
• 6:23
  I
• 6:23
  want
• 6:23
  to
• 6:23
  close
• 6:23
  with
• 6:24
  is,
• 6:24
  you
• 6:24
  know,
• 6:25
  growth
• 6:25
  transformation
• 6:26
  is
• 6:26
  one
• 6:26
  thing,
• 6:26
  technology
• 6:27
  is
• 6:27
  one
• 6:27
  thing,
• 6:28
  but
• 6:28
  you
• 6:28
  also
• 6:28
  have
• 6:28
  to
• 6:29
  have
• 6:29
  the
• 6:29
  people
• 6:29
  and
• 6:29
  the
• 6:30
  processes
• 6:30
  in
• 6:30
  place
• 6:31
  to
• 6:31
  support
• 6:32
  any
• 6:32
  growth
• 6:32
  initiative
• 6:33
  that
• 6:33
  you
• 6:33
  want
• 6:33
  to
• 6:33
  undertake.
• 6:34
  How
• 6:34
  do
• 6:35
  you
• 6:35
  think
• 6:35
  about
• 6:35
  that
• 6:35
  and
• 6:36
  how
• 6:36
  are
• 6:36
  you
• 6:36
  adapting
• 6:37
  in
• 6:37
  your
• 6:37
  role
• 6:37
  given
• 6:38
  everything
• 6:38
  that's
• 6:38
  going
• 6:38
  on?
• 6:39
  Yeah,
• 6:39
  well,
• 6:40
  you
• 6:40
  know,
• 6:40
  as
• 6:40
  I
• 6:41
  always
• 6:41
  say,
• 6:42
  I
• 6:42
  mean,
• 6:42
  strategy
• 6:43
  without
• 6:44
  the
• 6:44
  organization
• 6:45
  behind
• 6:45
  it
• 6:45
  to
• 6:45
  execute
• 6:46
  it
• 6:46
  is
• 6:46
  really
• 6:46
  just
• 6:46
  words
• 6:47
  on
• 6:47
  a
• 6:47
  page.
• 6:47
  It
• 6:47
  really
• 6:48
  doesn't
• 6:48
  mean
• 6:48
  anything.
• 6:49
  It
• 6:49
  is
• 6:49
  all
• 6:50
  about
• 6:50
  people.
• 6:51
  It
• 6:51
  is
• 6:51
  all
• 6:51
  about
• 6:51
  the
• 6:52
  right
• 6:52
  processes
• 6:53
  to
• 6:53
  enable
• 6:53
  that,
• 6:54
  you
• 6:54
  know,
• 6:54
  we're
• 6:54
  investing
• 6:55
  in
• 6:55
  our
• 6:55
  people,
• 6:56
  especially,
• 6:56
  you
• 6:56
  know,
• 6:57
  with.
• 6:57
  With
• 6:57
  AI
• 6:58
  being
• 6:58
  such
• 6:59
  a
• 6:59
  growth
• 6:59
  accelerant,
• 7:00
  it's
• 7:00
  like
• 7:00
  throwing
• 7:01
  kerosene
• 7:02
  on
• 7:02
  a
• 7:02
  fire.
• 7:02
  But
• 7:02
  really,
• 7:03
  when
• 7:03
  we
• 7:03
  think
• 7:03
  about
• 7:03
  AI,
• 7:04
  it's
• 7:04
  not
• 7:04
  about
• 7:05
  replacing
• 7:05
  people.
• 7:05
  It's
• 7:06
  really
• 7:06
  about
• 7:06
  leaning
• 7:07
  into
• 7:07
  people,
• 7:08
  developing
• 7:08
  people
• 7:09
  to
• 7:09
  be
• 7:09
  able
• 7:09
  to
• 7:09
  lead
• 7:10
  in
• 7:10
  that
• 7:10
  future
• 7:10
  enabled
• 7:11
  by
• 7:11
  AI.
• 7:12
  And
• 7:12
  it's
• 7:12
  really
• 7:12
  one
• 7:12
  of
• 7:13
  the
• 7:13
  things
• 7:13
  that
• 7:13
  makes
• 7:13
  us
• 7:14
  distinctive,
• 7:15
  you
• 7:15
  know,
• 7:16
  our
• 7:16
  culture
• 7:16
  and
• 7:17
  the
• 7:17
  power
• 7:17
  of
• 7:17
  our
• 7:18
  people.
• 7:18
  And
• 7:18
  then
• 7:18
  from
• 7:19
  a
• 7:19
  process
• 7:19
  perspective,
• 7:19
  perspectives
• 7:20
  I
• 7:20
  mentioned,
• 7:20
  it's
• 7:21
  about
• 7:21
  agility.
• 7:21
  It's
• 7:22
  about
• 7:22
  being
• 7:22
  adaptive,
• 7:23
  moving
• 7:24
  quickly,
• 7:25
  learning
• 7:25
  quickly,
• 7:26
  but
• 7:26
  also
• 7:26
  maintaining
• 7:27
  discipline
• 7:28
  and
• 7:28
  then
• 7:29
  placing
• 7:29
  your
• 7:29
  investment
• 7:30
  bets
• 7:30
  and
• 7:31
  being
• 7:31
  clear
• 7:31
  about
• 7:31
  priorities
• 7:32
  and
• 7:32
  placing
• 7:33
  the
• 7:33
  bets
• 7:33
  behind
• 7:33
  them
• 7:34
  accordingly.
• 7:35
  I
• 7:36
  would
• 7:36
  imagine
• 7:36
  that
• 7:36
  AI
• 7:37
  particularly,
• 7:38
  and
• 7:38
  I'm
• 7:38
  curious
• 7:38
  what
• 7:38
  your
• 7:38
  take
• 7:39
  is
• 7:39
  here,
• 7:39
  that
• 7:40
  in
• 7:40
  a
• 7:40
  role
• 7:40
  like
• 7:40
  yours,
• 7:41
  it's
• 7:41
  placing
• 7:41
  more
• 7:41
  of
• 7:42
  a
• 7:42
  premium
• 7:42
  on
• 7:42
  understanding
• 7:43
  the
• 7:43
  process
• 7:43
  by
• 7:44
  which
• 7:44
  your
• 7:44
  organization
• 7:45
  does
• 7:45
  work
• 7:46
  so
• 7:46
  that
• 7:46
  you
• 7:46
  can
• 7:46
  then
• 7:46
  figure
• 7:47
  out
• 7:47
  where
• 7:47
  to
• 7:47
  deploy
• 7:48
  AI
• 7:48
  to
• 7:48
  improve
• 7:49
  it.
• 7:49
  Right.
• 7:50
  To
• 7:50
  make
• 7:50
  everyone
• 7:50
  more
• 7:51
  productive
• 7:51
  and
• 7:51
  give
• 7:52
  the
• 7:52
  consumer
• 7:52
  what
• 7:52
  they
• 7:52
  want
• 7:53
  at
• 7:53
  the
• 7:53
  end
• 7:53
  of
• 7:53
  the
• 7:53
  day.
• 7:53
  Is
• 7:53
  that
• 7:53
  right?
• 7:54
  Oh,
• 7:54
  I
• 7:54
  absolutely
• 7:54
  agree
• 7:55
  with
• 7:55
  that.
• 7:55
  I
• 7:55
  think
• 7:55
  AI
• 7:56
  is
• 7:56
  going
• 7:56
  to
• 7:56
  be
• 7:56
  such
• 7:57
  an
• 7:57
  unlock
• 7:57
  for
• 7:57
  both
• 7:57
  efficiency
• 7:58
  and
• 7:58
  in
• 7:59
  terms
• 7:59
  of
• 7:59
  accelerating
• 8:00
  growth
• 8:00
  and
• 8:00
  better
• 8:00
  serving
• 8:01
  our
• 8:01
  guests.
• 8:02
  And
• 8:03
  I
• 8:03
  think
• 8:03
  to
• 8:03
  do
• 8:03
  it
• 8:03
  well,
• 8:04
  we've
• 8:04
  really
• 8:04
  got
• 8:04
  to
• 8:04
  take
• 8:05
  a
• 8:05
  look
• 8:05
  at
• 8:05
  what's
• 8:05
  underpinning
• 8:06
  our
• 8:06
  processes
• 8:07
  and
• 8:07
  ways
• 8:07
  of
• 8:07
  working
• 8:08
  to
• 8:08
  really
• 8:08
  get
• 8:09
  the
• 8:09
  ROI
• 8:09
  from
• 8:10
  AI.
• 8:10
  I'm
• 8:10
  convinced,
• 8:11
  you
• 8:11
  know,
• 8:11
  it's
• 8:11
  not
• 8:12
  just
• 8:12
  about
• 8:12
  putting
• 8:12
  tools
• 8:13
  on
• 8:13
  top
• 8:13
  of
• 8:13
  things
• 8:13
  that
• 8:14
  we
• 8:14
  do
• 8:14
  today,
• 8:14
  but
• 8:14
  really
• 8:15
  re
• 8:15
  examining
• 8:15
  how
• 8:16
  we
• 8:16
  work,
• 8:16
  because
• 8:16
  I
• 8:16
  think
• 8:17
  it's
• 8:17
  going
• 8:17
  to
• 8:17
  fundamentally
• 8:18
  shift,
• 8:19
  and
• 8:19
  we're
• 8:20
  all
• 8:20
  going
• 8:20
  to
• 8:20
  benefit
• 8:20
  from
• 8:20
  it
• 8:21
  in
• 8:21
  the
• 8:21
  end.
• 8:21
  Yeah.
• 8:21
  And
• 8:21
  there's
• 8:22
  probably
• 8:22
  even
• 8:22
  things
• 8:22
  that
• 8:22
  you
• 8:22
  think
• 8:23
  you're
• 8:23
  doing
• 8:23
  now
• 8:23
  that
• 8:23
  you
• 8:24
  maybe
• 8:24
  aren't
• 8:25
  even
• 8:25
  doing.
• 8:25
  It's
• 8:26
  hard
• 8:26
  to
• 8:26
  know
• 8:26
  until
• 8:26
  you
• 8:26
  get
• 8:27
  in
• 8:27
  there
• 8:27
  and
• 8:27
  dig
• 8:27
  around,
• 8:28
  but
• 8:28
  it's
• 8:28
  great
• 8:29
  because
• 8:29
  it's
• 8:29
  putting
• 8:29
  that
• 8:29
  onus
• 8:30
  on
• 8:30
  leadership
• 8:30
  to
• 8:30
  understand
• 8:30
  that
• 8:31
  in
• 8:31
  a
• 8:31
  new
• 8:31
  way.
• 8:31
  Which
• 8:32
  is
• 8:32
  great
• 8:32
  for
• 8:32
  the
• 8:32
  employees,
• 8:33
  too,
• 8:33
  at
• 8:33
  the
• 8:33
  end
• 8:33
  of
• 8:33
  the
• 8:33
  day.
• 8:34
  Absolutely.
• 8:34
  Well,
• 8:35
  Kristen,
• 8:35
  thanks
• 8:35
  so
• 8:36
  much.
• 8:36
  That
• 8:36
  was
• 8:36
  a
• 8:37
  blast.
• 8:37
  It
• 8:37
  was
• 8:37
  fun,
• 8:37
  huh?
• 8:38
  It
• 8:38
  was
• 8:38
  great.
• 8:38
  Yeah,
• 8:38
  it
• 8:38
  was
• 8:38
  fun.
• 8:39
  There's
• 8:39
  a
• 8:39
  live,
• 8:39
  boisterous
• 8:40
  audience
• 8:40
  here.
• 8:40
  It's
• 8:40
  lunch
• 8:41
  at
• 8:41
  WRC
• 8:41
  World
• 8:42
  Retail
• 8:42
  Congress.
• 8:43
  Thanks
• 8:43
  to
• 8:43
  them
• 8:43
  for
• 8:44
  allowing
• 8:44
  us
• 8:44
  to
• 8:44
  come
• 8:45
  and
• 8:45
  present
• 8:46
  all
• 8:46
  these
• 8:47
  wonderful
• 8:47
  interviews
• 8:47
  with
• 8:47
  all
• 8:48
  these
• 8:48
  great
• 8:48
  executives
• 8:48
  like
• 8:48
  Kristen
• 8:49
  Wolfe
• 8:49
  here
• 8:49
  of
• 8:50
  Ulta
• 8:50
  Beauty.
• 8:50
  And
• 8:51
  thanks
• 8:51
  to
• 8:51
  Fusion
• 8:51
  for
• 8:51
  making
• 8:52
  our
• 8:52
  coverage
• 8:52
  possible.
• 8:53
  And
• 8:54
  on
• 8:54
  behalf
• 8:54
  of
• 8:54
  all
• 8:54
  of
• 8:54
  us
• 8:54
  at
• 8:55
  omnitalk,
• 8:55
  as
• 8:56
  always,
• 8:56
  be
• 8:56
  careful
• 8:57
  out
• 8:57
  there.