Creative and Competitive Retail Strategies

Laura is the co-founder of She Summits, where they empower organizations to enhance retail success through innovative customer acquisition and engagement solutions. Their transformative workshops for women have inspired thousands throughout North America at companies like Fjallraven, Athleta, icebreaker, Fairmont Hotels. 

As a Retail Success Consultant and Certified Mindset Coach Laura excels at fostering connections within businesses and between brands and customers. Join her as she moderates a discussion on adapting to shifting consumer demands and exploring creative strategies to elevate in-store shopping experiences.

Rachel is well known for her leadership and entrepreneurial achievement as Founder & CEO of
Canadian jewelry brand, Hillberg & Berk. The company started from her kitchen table and was
named to honour her great-grandmother, Hilda Bergman. With fourteen stores across Canada, and
global Ecommerce operations, Rachel has grown the H&B brand that continues to attract
international attention and demand. Rachel’s business successes have included a showing at The
Oscars, a deal on Dragon’s Den, partnerships with Olympic ice dance champion Tessa Virtue, model
and activist Ashley Callingbull, Canadian influencer Jillian Harris, and two custom design
commissions for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Rachel has built a successful national brand with purpose and impact baked into the DNA. Since
inception, H&B has donated millions in financial and product contributions to partner organizations
who share the company’s mission to connect women to their power.
Rachel’s accolades and volunteer contributions over the years are impressive, as she passionately
works to recognize and empower women across Canada and around the world. Rachel was
awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for her volunteer work in 2012 and the Queen’s
Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2023, was named an Ernst and Young class of Winning Women in 2015,
was named one of XL’s Canada’s Top 40 under 40 in 2017, was named one of Women’s Executive
Network Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women in 2016 and 2017 and received the Women
Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Celebration of Achievement Award in 2018.
As a notable alumna from the University of Regina, Rachel received an Honorary Doctor of Laws
Degree in 2022, and supports the Saskatchewan community by generously funding several
scholarships that empower young women. Rachel volunteers her time as an Honorary Captain of the
Royal Canadian Navy and on the national board of Dress for Success Canada.
More recently, Rachel has been very open about her cervical cancer journey, in hopes that it might
encourage other women to access healthcare and undergo regular pap testing, and she channels
this passion into advocacy and philanthropy for medical innovation for women’s health through
Women Leading Philanthropy in Saskatchewan. Rachel is married to her best friend, Zlatan, and is a
proud mom to three children.

Briannah has 20 years of marketing leadership experience in developing sustainable competitive advantage for brands across D2C, B2B, and B2C sectors within the dynamic new media landscape. She is an experienced growth marketing leader with a proven track record in developing and executing compelling customer-centric programs and campaigns across a variety of industries including retail, tech, FMCG, and the creative industries. As a degree qualified photographer and graphic designer, Briannah balances the art and science of brand and digital to help brands effectively navigate today’s fast-evolving competitive landscape and effectively position themselves for growth, build brand equity, and create best-in-class customer experiences.

Known for fostering a culture of creative courage and collaboration, Briannah empowers her teams to take calculated risks and push boundaries to create memorable brands. Her expertise lies in designing omnichannel marketing strategies that nurture sustainable competitive advantage. In her role as Senior Manager of Digital & Content for Trail Appliances, Briannah looks after a wide array of full-funnel marketing initiatives for the family-owned company’s Retail, Builder & Designer Sales divisions.

Lauren Megson has worked in the retail industry for close to 20 years both in the US and Canada. She has been with Fjallraven for 11 years, overseeing the Canadian brand stores since their first flagship Vancouver store opening in 2012. She is passionate about developing people, building relationships and cultivating ideas to enhance positive and innovative guest experience strategy that aligns with brand values and vision. Lauren has successfully led and coordinated multiple teams, projects, and events that have increased brand awareness, loyalty, and retention. With a degree in marketing and merchandising, Lauren is forever learning ways in which to contribute to impactful change to create successful teams and workplace culture.