By MMR, MARCH 11, 2026 || A Publication of MMR (Mass Market Retailers)
The recognition showcases the accomplishments of these leaders and their vital role in shaping the future of retail.
NEW YORK — The Women of Influence 2026 issue of Mass Market Retailers has been published, honoring a distinguished group of executives whose leadership continues to shape the future of retail. From consumer packaged goods companies and major retail chains to emerging brands and service providers, this year’s honorees represent a wide cross-section of the organizations that drive today’s retail marketplace.
The annual recognition spotlights women who are creating measurable impact in merchandising, marketing, supply chain, digital commerce, retail media, product innovation, and organizational leadership. Their efforts are helping retailers and brands adapt to a quickly changing environment driven by shifting consumer expectations, new technologies, and increasing demand for health, wellness, and convenience-focused products.
Across the industry, women leaders are playing a vital role in advancing strategies that enhance consumer engagement, drive growth, and strengthen partnerships between retailers and suppliers. Many of the 2026 honorees are leading initiatives focused on data-driven merchandising, omnichannel retail, AI-powered insights, and the development of products aligned with changing consumer priorities.
Women of Influence also recognizes leadership beyond just financial success. Honorees are celebrated for mentoring new talent, creating inclusive organizations, and supporting innovative ideas that help the retail industry stay competitive.
The Women of Influence 2026 issue of Mass Market Retailers showcases the accomplishments of these leaders and their vital role in shaping the future of retail. Readers can review profiles of this year’s honorees and discover more about their contributions to the industry in the newly published issue and on our website.
Wendy Liebmann
Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Shopper, WSL Strategic Retail.
For nearly four decades, Wendy Liebmann has built a career around a deceptively simple idea: The future of retail becomes clear when you watch the shopper.
As founder, chief executive officer and “chief shopper” of WSL Strategic Retail, the New York–based consultancy she launched in 1986, Liebmann has helped global brands and retailers rethink strategy through the lens of shopper behavior. Long before “shopper insights” became an industry buzzword, she was championing the idea that executives needed to leave the board room and spend time where commerce actually happens.
Her message to corporate leaders remains direct. “It’s never been more important for executives to get away from their desks and out of their aisles to understand what’s really going on with shoppers,” Liebmann says. “Those who don’t do that are doomed to fail.”
That philosophy underpins WSL’s signature research initiative, “How America Shops,” a national study launched in 1990 that tracks evolving consumer behavior and retail trends. The long-running survey has become a key forecasting tool for companies seeking to understand how shifting shopper priorities — from value to convenience to experience — are reshaping the marketplace.
Retail leaders often turn to Liebmann for candid perspective and strategic clarity. As one major retailer has observed, she is “never afraid to tell us when we are not being bold enough.”
Beyond her advisory work, Liebmann is a frequent commentator on the retail industry, appearing in outlets such as Bloomberg, Fortune and The New York Times. She also hosts WSL’s Future Shop podcast and serves on advisory boards including the Fashion Institute of Technology and Cosmetic Executive Women.
View the full list of MMR’s 2026 Women of Influence, here.