Retail Leadership with Steve Worthy
You’ve earned your position. Now let’s make sure you lead like it.
Retail leadership isn’t what it used to be.
And if you’ve been doing this long enough, neither are you.
The job gets bigger. The expectations get louder.
But the guidance? That usually disappears right when you need it most.
And most leaders are left figuring things out quietly while still being expected to have all the answers.
This podcast is for experienced retail leaders who’ve already proven themselves
and know there has to be a better way to lead than just carrying more.
I’m Steve Worthy. I’ve spent over 30 years working across retail — from boardrooms to regional and district markets, through restructures, reinventions, and the parts of leadership no one really prepares you for.
I’ve coached thousands of retail leaders and advised teams that support the retail industry, and this podcast exists for one reason:
To give you the perspective and clarity most leaders are expected to figure out on their own.
Now let’s make sure how you lead actually matches it.
Retail Leadership with Steve Worthy
Inside the Retail Executive Mind: A Conversation Founders Need with Ang Nayyar, CEO of StrutFit
If you’re a founder trying to sell into retail, this episode may save you months of missteps. If you’re a retail leader evaluating new technology, it’ll reflect what you often wish vendors understood.
In this conversation with Ang Nayyar from StrutFit, we get into the realities of how retailers think, decide, and evaluate solutions — far beyond what’s visible from the outside.
This episode is especially for:
- Founders and product teams trying to land their first or fifth retail partner
- Retail innovation leaders who want tech partners that understand operations
- VCs and advisors evaluating retail-tech readiness
- Operators trying to understand why tech adoption stalls
Ang explains why retailers say no even when the idea is strong and why pilots die even when the results are good. His breakdown of the internal politics, operational constraints, and hidden decision drivers is one of the clearest you’ll hear.
You’ll learn:
- What retail executives look for before they trust a founder
- Why solving a real problem isn’t enough if the rollout creates friction
- How to avoid becoming “extra work” for stores
- The signals that show you’re ready for a scaled retail partnership
- Why timing and operational fit matter more than innovation
This episode will tighten your pitch, raise your bar for product readiness, and help you understand the mindset of the people you’re trying to win over.
If you want a more honest, grounded look inside retail decision-making, this conversation gives you exactly that.
Listen now. This episode will reshape how you approach retail.
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