Celebrating Women in Retail: Leadership Lessons for Women’s History Month

March is a time to celebrate and recognize the incredible contributions of women throughout history and in our present-day lives. In recent years, we’ve made it a tradition at Aptos and Revionics to host a virtual Women’s Panel during Women’s History Month to highlight different female leadership perspectives and how women are accomplishing amazing things in their professional and personal lives.

While in past years our panelists were Aptos and Revionics colleagues, this year we took a slightly different approach and asked several of the inspiring women from the Aptos and Revionics customer base to speak on our panel.

The retail leaders who participated in the Aptos and Revionics 2025 Women’s Panel were:

• Audra Atkinson, Director, Markdown Execution & Strategy at Lowe’s
• Allison Harris, Senior Global Regional Systems Manager at Crocs
• Kristen Scopelleti, Manager, Agile Coach – Global Retail Technology at New Balance
• Lauren Wright, Program Manager – Global Merchandising Capabilities at Circle K

These women were extremely generous with their time and insights. Many of our colleagues, me included, felt this panel provided one of the most authentic, motivating and real discussions they’ve heard about the obstacles women face, the lessons women learn, and ultimately, how women dig deep, lift up themselves and others, and achieve personal and professional fulfillment.

When insights are THIS good and THIS positive, it only makes sense to share them far and wide. Below, I’ve recapped key insights from our panelists on topics that are crucial to how they navigate their lives and careers.

Work-Life Balance and Taking Ownership

As responsibilities grow, maintaining work-life balance becomes a challenge. Audra Atkinson, reflecting on her own experiences as a mother, learned that you don’t get back those years when you spent too much time at work while sacrificing time with your family. Her own experiences have helped shape how she encourages balance for others. “As a leader, I make it a point to know what is going on with my team professionally and personally.” Audra advocates for her team to take time away and unplug when needed.

Also speaking to work/life balance, Allison Harris surfaced a powerful reminder – we all have to take ownership of our own work/life balance. This was something that resonated with me and many others. This reminder is equal parts empowering and challenging.

Advice They Wish They Had Received Earlier

Mentorship and guidance can significantly shape one’s career, and many of the panelists wished they had received specific advice earlier in their journeys.

Lauren Wright reflected on learning that she didn’t have to do everything on her own and that asking for help is a strength. Lauren said: “Early in my career, I took on too much, thinking that solving every problem myself was the best way to make an impact. I’ve since learned that collaboration, setting boundaries and focusing on what truly matters are key to long-term success. Support is something we all deserve, and mistakes are part of growth.” Relative to mistakes, Lauren says FAIL is an acronym for first attempt in learning – reminding us that everything we pursue doesn’t have to end in a win; there’s still value as long as we walked away from the experience having learned something.

Navigating Imposter Syndrome

Despite their achievements, many of the panelists have dealt with imposter syndrome.

When faced with self-doubt, Kristen Scopelleti reminds herself that she wouldn’t be in her position if others didn’t have confidence in her abilities. Kristen says it’s essential for women leaders to trust as much in themselves as other people trust in them. This self-assurance is crucial for overcoming obstacles and continuing to grow in your career.

The Power of Relationships

Lauren Wright views networking as a key part in her success, saying it has opened doors and connected her with people who challenge and inspire her. Lauren believes in the saying, “Choose people who will say your name in a room full of opportunities,” reminding us that it’s not just about your own career growth but about supporting those you believe in. Lauren says that being the “voice in the room” for others is something she takes a lot of pride in, knowing she’s played a small but meaningful part in their career journeys.

When talking about her professional network, Allison Harris mentioned the importance of staying in touch with people you’ve worked with in the past – whether that is via LinkedIn or via other channels. She gave an example of how she recently had a hand in recruiting several people she had worked with previously, which may not have been possible if she hadn’t stayed connected to them.

When it comes to strengthening colleague relationships in her current role, Allison talked about the positive impact of turning the video camera on during virtual meetings – creating a more personal interaction. As video utilization is also something I promote with my team, I echoed Allison’s sentiments – even if this can be a polarizing topic if this is a new practice within your organization.

Why Women’s History Month Matters

“Women are compassionate, we get stuff done, we know how to multitask and we are confident,” Audra Atkinson said, rallying up the audience, when speaking to why Women’s History Month is important and should be celebrated. The tone got more reflective when Audra said, “I remember so many times being the only director-level woman at the table, and the only African American woman at the table.”

All panelists agreed that progress has been made in terms of opportunities for women, but there is still more work to be done. To that end, Kristen Scopelleti reminded us, “Women should never hesitate to advocate for themselves. If there’s something you desire or a goal you want to achieve, take the initiative and pursue it with determination. Remember, your voice and actions are powerful tools in shaping the future.”

Final Thoughts

From all of us at Aptos and Revionics, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to Audra, Allison, Kristen and Lauren. You are powerful examples of the resilience, determination, compassion and brilliance of women in the workplace. As we celebrate the achievements of women past and present, Aptos and Revionics remain committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for our colleagues – including those colleagues who represent the next generation of women leaders.