Beyond the Sale: How Community Creates Competitive Advantage

29 Apr 2026
Main Stage

In a world of economic and geopolitical uncertainty, retention is harder to earn, loyalty harder to keep, and growth harder to sustain. 

This session brings together retail leaders who've had to build trust without brand heritage to lean on — in high-growth markets, purpose-built communities, and consumer segments long underserved by legacy players. Their thinking is instructive precisely because they couldn't rely on existing playbooks. Panellists will share how communities built on shared values, cultural fluency, and relational engagement deliver retention, advocacy, and growth that compound over time. 

Chairperson
Katherine Melchior Ray
Katherine Melchior Ray, President - Globe Ally Consulting
Speakers
Michael Roth
Michael Roth, SVP, Global Development - Fabletics
Fahed Ghanim
Fahed Ghanim, CEO - Majid Al Futtaim Lifestyle
Venu Nair
Venu Nair, Chief of Strategic Partnerships and Omnichannel, SVP - Myntra