Sadaf Kazmi

Many thanks to Nichol Bradford and the SHRM AI+HI team for the conversation about AI, humanity and the future of work! It was a great discussion about AI strategy, transforming work at scale and how to lead through this unique moment in time. As HR practitioners, we can play a key role in driving change and accelerating digital strategies, while bringing the focus on humanity front and center. The buzz about AI is real – that’s why it’s important to bring people on the journey. A few tips I’d share: ✅ Democratize access: There’s no single person or team who have all the answers on which GenAI use cases will drive the most impact. When you let people dive in and begin experimenting, you’ll be surprised how quickly they start identifying ways to save time and level up their work. ✅ Share the wins: Carve out time in team gatherings of all sizes to celebrate your AI champions. Let them talk about how they’re using the tools. It gives others tactical ideas they can put to use, while also rewarding those who are leading the way. ✅ Take a consumer-grade approach: When you’re providing AI tools and resources, think about the end user experience. If you were rolling out a new product to customers, you wouldn’t include a 10-page instruction manual. You’d build it to be intuitive, seamless and responsive. That’s the same mindset you need as you develop tools for your internal teams – people are more likely to adopt tools and processes when they’re simple, transparent and free of friction. The intersection of artificial intelligence and human intelligence is such a fascinating topic – thanks again Nicole and the whole SHRM team for the conversation and all the work you’re leading! #TeamWalmart #PeopleLedTechPowered https://lnkd.in/gcjccBcp

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EY State of Consumer Products 2025 Report is Live! What do 25,000+ consumers and 500+ global consumer products executives have in common? They’re all shaping the future of retail—and we’ve captured their voices. The 2025 edition of EY’s flagship report reveals how consumer products companies can reclaim relevance in a world of shifting loyalty, rising expectations, and relentless disruption. Inside the report: 1. What’s driving the new value equation for consumers 2. How leading brands are rethinking innovation, pricing, and personalization 3. Why operational agility and sustainability are now non-negotiable This is more than a trend report—it’s a strategic blueprint for retail and CPG leaders navigating a complex, high-stakes landscape. Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/gU-ANyER #EYConsumerProducts #RetailLeadership #FutureOfCPG #ConsumerTrends2025 #RetailInnovation #SustainabilityInRetail #DigitalTransformation #CPGStrategy #EYInsights #ReclaimRelevance

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Our very own Cyndi Loza, Senior Editor at the Path to Purchase Institute, joined The CPG Guys podcast to break down the latest Retail Media Networks Benchmarking Report — and she crushed it. Cyndi brought the data, the insights, and the perspective that only the Path to Purchase Institute can deliver. This report has the industry buzzing, and for good reason: Which retail media networks are truly best-in-class? Who’s leading in measurement frameworks? Who’s easiest to work with (and who’s… not)? Which networks are actually integrated with merchants? Some of the findings will validate what you already know — but others might surprise you. And yes, some RMNs missed the mark entirely. Huge congrats to Cyndi on an outstanding episode — give it a listen. https://lnkd.in/eg9kRn78 #RetailMedia #ShopperMarketing #P2PI #TheCPGGuys #MediaMeasurement #RMN #LeadershipMoment Peter V.S. Bond Sri Rajagopalan

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Pause and Walk. One lesson has shaped some of my biggest breakthroughs in tech. Rest is not a luxury. It’s a performance multiplier. Earlier in my career, I faced a stubborn issue where everything looked “fine” on the surface. Metrics were within range, dashboards were all green and moving on felt easier. But something didn’t add up. I refused to give up on the data, not by working longer hours, but by stepping away at the right moments. That’s when patterns emerged, trends became clearer, and a single outlier revealed the real root cause. Fixing it early prevented a much larger problem later. There’s solid science behind this. When we’re mentally fatigued, the brain defaults to fast, automatic thinking. It misses weak signals and accepts convenient answers. When we rest, quieter brain networks kick in, forming new neural connections. This is why insights often show up during a walk or a pause, not in front of a screen. In tech, we value speed. But clarity comes from balance. As we move through the holiday season, take the time to truly unplug and recharge. Sometimes the best gift you can give yourself and your work is real rest. #Leadership #Tech #ThinkingFastAndSlow

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Walmart continues to show what retail adaptability looks like at scale. Their latest AI tools for associates don’t just make operations more efficient—they simplify, guide, and free up time for what matters most: the customer. By combining generative AI with AR and RFID, they’re showing how real-time intelligence can enhance decision-making from the shelf to the backroom. It’s a move that echoes the principles of The Agile Code—adaptability, experimentation, and team empowerment. 💡 What’s your “escape fire”? How are you redeploying time saved through technology? #TheAgileCode #RetailInnovation #AIinRetail #Walmart #AgilityInAction https://lnkd.in/eGQwTKsd

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You cannot effectively address retail loss until you understand the motivations behind it and the broader ecosystem. There's no one more well-versed in the science and data behind retail crime than Read Hayes, PhD, Executive Director of the Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC). I was fortunate to spend time with him on Vantage Points, where he broke down the complex motivations behind retail theft—ranging from genuine "need," such as household essentials, to organized "greed," like converting high-value items to cash. He also gave a window into the body of research that he's been building over the past 30 years, and what interventions and solutions show the most impact in communities. Watch the episode here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e8tw64Vb

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How CEOs Language Drives Success Over the past decade, I’ve been building Natural Language Understanding (NLU) to understand what customers are searching for and show relevant products to help organizations drive billions in revenue. Naturally, I am in love with this Preply article analyzing the language patterns of America’s smartest CEOs. Strategic language drives results, and I’ve witnessed this firsthand. Here are two key insights from the article. • “Effective CEOs use simpler language, averaging readability accessible to a 9th-grade audience.” • “CEOs referencing concrete numbers significantly boost their credibility and confidence.” Have you seen language impact leadership in your experience? Full article: https://lnkd.in/egX-XgZN #Leadership #NLU #CEO

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