In this episode of Retail Perch, Dave Finnegan, Chief Connection Officer at Black Finn and Ambassador to the CMO and Digital Councils at the National Retail Federation, joins Shekar Raman and Gary Hawkins to discuss how AI and anthropology come together to shape the future of retail through empathy, innovation, and human connection.

In this episode of The Retail Perch, Shekar Raman and Gary Hawkins are joined by Galen Karlan-Mason, Founder & CEO of GreenChoice.

Galen reflects on his journey from grad school, where he struggled with grocery shopping, nutrition labels, and shopping in line with his environmental values, to creating GreenChoice. Born from those challenges, GreenChoice is a platform designed to make healthier and more sustainable shopping easier. The discussion explores his path as a founder, the inspiration behind GreenChoice, and how AI and data play a role in transforming the way consumers make food choices.

In this episode of The Retail Perch, Gary Hawkins and guest co-host Courtney Adams welcome Lee Gaul, AI Expert at Long Horizon AI, for a candid conversation about artificial intelligence.

Lee brings a cautionary perspective, looking beyond the hype to explore both the opportunities and the risks of AI. He discusses its manipulative and subconscious effects, addresses common concerns about an “AI takeover,” and shares how businesses can engage with AI responsibly to drive innovation while mitigating the risk of failure. This thoughtful discussion sheds light on what the rapid evolution of AI means for the future of retail and customer engagement.