Rephonic
Artwork for The Retail Pilot

The Retail Pilot

Ken Pilot
Artificial Intelligence
Ralph Lauren
Studs
New York
Coach, Inc.
National Retail Federation
Rhone
La Ligne
Rothy's Inc
Mackage
Luxury Retail
GAP Inc
Lew Frankfort
Benvolio Group
Madison Reed
Gap Inc.
Nordstrom
Saks Global
Mental Health
E-Commerce

The Retail Pilot is a series of interviews conducted by Ken Pilot with “Leaders and Legends” of the Retail industry. Ken will focus the conversation on his guests’ career journeys and their greatest career accomplishments and disappointments; gather insight into their leadership styles; learn who inspired them as they progressed through their careers; identify brands they admire; discover challeng... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes109Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ManagementBusiness

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Retail Pilot

Latest Episodes

Walmart just named Denise Incandela a Sam Walton Entrepreneur of the Year — one of the highest honors inside the company, and one rarely given to merchants. It's a fitting recognition for the EVP of Fashion leading one of the largest fashion transfor... more

When Tanya Golesic took the helm of Mackage in July 2021, she inherited a Canadian brand with extraordinary product and almost no story. "The minute you put the product on, you wouldn't want to take the product off," Golesic tells Ken. "But it was la... more

YouTube

In this episode of The Retail Pilot, Ken sits down with Pete Nordstrom – Co-CEO of the 125-year-old fashion retailer – to unpack the eight-year journey to go private, the strategic partnership with Liverpool that made it possible, and what's actually... more

YouTube

Retail icon Mickey Drexler doesn't do retirement. At 80, the man who built Gap into a $14 billion empire, founded Old Navy, and revitalized J.Crew is running Alex Mill like a scrappy startup, and loving it. "I love what I do more now," Drexler says. ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Fashion People
Fashion PeopleAudacy | Puck
Lipstick on the Rim
Lipstick on the RimSony Music Entertainment
Business of Home Podcast
Business of Home PodcastBusiness of Home, Dennis Scully

Recent Guests

Tanya Golesic
CEO of Mackage
Mackage
Episode: Tanya Golesic, CEO of Mackage: From Canadian down to a Global Luxury Brand
Pete Nordstrom
Co-CEO of Nordstrom, fourth-generation leader
Nordstrom
Episode: Pete Nordstrom: From public to private, Nordstrom’s gains momentum.
Mickey Drexler
Retail icon; former CEO of Gap Inc., Ann Taylor, J.Crew; Chairman of Alex Mill
Alex Mill
Episode: Retail Legend Mickey Drexler: From Building Gap & Old Navy to Running Alex Mill Like a Startup
Nate Checketts
CEO and co-founder of Rhone
Rhone
Episode: Rhone CEO Nate Checketts on Mind & Body Wellness: How Mental Fitness Built a $100M Performance Brand
Simeon Siegel
Senior managing director and award-winning senior analyst specializing in retail and e-commerce, leading consumer equity research at Guggenheim Securities
Guggenheim Securities
Episode: Guggenheim Analyst Simeon Siegel: Why Revenue Matters More Than Hype in Retail + 2026 Stock Picks
Terry Lundgren
Former chairman and CEO of Macy's, Inc.
Macy's, Inc.
Episode: The Department Store Crisis: Terry Lundgren & Jan Rogers Kniffen on Saks Global Bankruptcy and What The Future Holds for Department Stores
Jan Rogers Kniffen
CEO of J. Rogers Kniffen WWE, retail strategist
J. Rogers Kniffen WWE
Episode: The Department Store Crisis: Terry Lundgren & Jan Rogers Kniffen on Saks Global Bankruptcy and What The Future Holds for Department Stores
Lizanne Kindler
Executive chair and CEO of Knitwell Group
Knitwell Group
Episode: Lizanne Kindler Leading A $6 Billion Fashion Empire, The KnitWell Group
Amy Errett
CEO and founder of Madison Reed
Madison Reed
Episode: Breaking the Salon Ceiling: How Madison Reed Redefined Hair Color with Amy Errett

Host

Ken Pilot
Host of The Retail Pilot

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 50 ratings
  • Great Interview

    I found the interview to be real, casual, insightful and engaging.

    Ken ever think about getting a TV show?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Brownaloni
    United States2 years ago
  • Ken and Sheryl

    It was my pleasure to be a guest on The Retail Pilot - Leaders & Legends podcast. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and the opportunity to connect with your audience. The growth of your podcast and the positive feedback from the retail community is truly exciting to witness.

    I hope that my insights and experiences added value to your show and that the information we discussed was informative and engaging for your listeners. It's always a fantastic feeling to know that our conversation migh... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sheryl@bostonproper
    United States3 years ago
  • Amazing guests and Incredibly insightful

    Ken’s industry knowledge and experience coupled with the outstanding guests make for great content.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FishCANYC
    United States3 years ago
  • Great interview style Master of all things retail

    I have enjoyed all of Ken’s interviews on The Retail Pilot both for the interesting retail and career-focused content, personal stories about his guests, and humor and wit throughout the conversations. Each Monday I look forward to the next episode drop.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Perkprincess1
    United States3 years ago
  • Top quality

    What a gem of a podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jbr1111
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Shows consistently deliver practical, actionable leadership insights.
Guest lineup feels like a who's who of retail legends and rising stars.
Audiences appreciate deep dives into AI and technology's role in retail.
Host balances humor with sharp questions, making complex topics accessible.
Presents strong examples of real-world brand building and transformation.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tanya Golesic, CEO of Mackage: From Canadian down to a Global Luxury Brand
Q: What is your leadership style and how do you build your team?
Her approach centers on trust, not micromanagement, hiring from diverse backgrounds, aligning culture with role requirements, and akin to assembling a sports team to win, while maintaining transparency about strengths and limitations.
Tanya Golesic, CEO of Mackage: From Canadian down to a Global Luxury Brand
Q: Your high-level summary of Mackage as a brand when you took over versus where it is today?
She explains beginning with a strong product foundation but limited branding, and then shifting to a broader lifestyle brand with expanded product categories, increased international presence, and a refined, less logo-heavy aesthetic to reach multiple customer segments.
Tanya Golesic, CEO of Mackage: From Canadian down to a Global Luxury Brand
Q: Tanya, take us through your journey to where you are today, both from a personal perspective and professional point of view.
She describes a path from Canada to New York, gaining experience at major brands like Ralph Lauren, Jones, Marc Jacobs, and LVMH, then moving through Canada Goose to Jimmy Choo before taking the CEO role at Mackage, with a focus on expanding beyond outerwear, embracing lifestyle branding, and building a global footprint.
Make It Happen: Jenny Ming on Leadership, Legacy, and the Power of Starting Smart
Q: How did you approach turning around a struggling business in recent years?
Adopt a growth mindset, focus on sales momentum, prune SKUs, diversify channels, and maintain profitability while reasserting the brand story through selective wholesale and international expansion.
Make It Happen: Jenny Ming on Leadership, Legacy, and the Power of Starting Smart
Q: What was the moment you realized Old Navy could become a major brand?
The breakthrough came when the flagship store opened and performed exceptionally, confirming the concept; the team then leaned into rapid expansion and a distinct, value-driven brand story.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Retail Pilot

What is The Retail Pilot about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A steady stream of in-depth conversations with senior retail leaders and brand-building executives, focusing on career journeys, leadership styles, and big industry shifts. Episodes often explore how technology, AI, and omnichannel strategies influence the evolution of department stores, luxury retail, beauty, and DTC brands, with practical lessons on growth, culture, and partnerships. Noteworthy angles include private-company transformations, high-profile leadership lessons, and the strategic use of data and digital tools in shaping customer experiences. The show tends to attract listeners who want actionable insights from seasoned executives, and it often highlights resilient brands navigating market disruption, making it a strong fit for... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Retail Pilot?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Retail Pilot. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Retail Pilot and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Retail Pilot get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Retail Pilot, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Retail Pilot?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Retail Pilot, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Retail Pilot have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Retail Pilot has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Retail Pilot?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Retail Pilot:

1. Fashion People
2. Let's Get Dressed
3. Lipstick on the Rim
4. Business of Home Podcast
5. How I Built This with Guy Raz

How many episodes of The Retail Pilot are there?

The Retail Pilot launched 3 years ago and published 109 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Retail Pilot?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Retail Pilot?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Retail Pilot from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Retail Pilot?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Retail Pilot. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Retail Pilot?

Recent guests on The Retail Pilot include:

1. Tanya Golesic
2. Pete Nordstrom
3. Mickey Drexler
4. Nate Checketts
5. Simeon Siegel
6. Terry Lundgren
7. Jan Rogers Kniffen
8. Lizanne Kindler

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days