Earley AI Podcast Ep 77: Leading Through Digital Transformation: Data, Change, and AI in Retail

This episode of the Earley AI Podcast features Betsy Mello, a seasoned retail executive whose career includes leadership roles at Dorel Home, Levi’s, Old Navy, Sears, and several retail startups. With deep expertise in merchandising, inventory management, and eCommerce strategy, Betsy brings a pragmatic perspective shaped by years of leading digital transformation and managing major marketplace relationships with Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, and others.

Host Seth Earley talks with Betsy about how retail leaders can navigate the ongoing shift from traditional operations to AI-driven business models. Their discussion explores how structured data, process discipline, and organizational alignment form the foundation of successful digital and AI initiatives—and why the fundamentals still matter, even in the age of automation.

Key Takeaways:

• How the move from brick-and-mortar to digital commerce has transformed consumer expectations and the pace of retail innovation.
• Why marketplaces are data supply chains—and how brands must adapt content, taxonomy, and product positioning across diverse channels.
• The importance of clean data, standardized terminology, and clear use cases before adopting AI solutions.
• Strategies for breaking down silos, aligning KPIs, and ensuring cross-functional collaboration around data and insights.
• Leading through change: the value of transparency, experimentation, and learning from failure during AI-driven transformation.
• What leaders often overlook when preparing for AI—and how to make foundational data work visible and measurable.
• The building blocks for sustainable AI success: information architecture, governance, and accountable data ownership.

Show Quotes:

"You need to have everything standard. You need to have clean data and very clear workflows and accountabilities... The key is having the team set in place and very clear defined processes and roles and responsibilities. It’s incredibly critical to make sure your foundation is correct. You need to be always starting at the basics." – Betsy Mello

"Supply chain is an information supply chain. And every time you have a new way of distributing your product, you have to think about, how do I distribute the data with that product?" - Seth Earley

Tune in to hear how retail and eCommerce leaders can turn complexity into clarity—and build the cultural and data foundations that make AI work.

Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsymello/

Website: https://www.dorelhome.com

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