Global eCommerce Leaders Forum NYC 2023 DeBrief with co-founders Kent Allen and Jim Okamura

Greetings and welcome to Season Three of the Global eCommerce
Leaders #podcast, picking up from the New York edition of the
Global eCommerce Leaders Forum, where I met and chatted with some
of the most interesting global commerce leaders in the world live
in person in the Stream Commerce podcast studio, gathered as part
of the thriving GELF community.


This season is brought to you by Stream Commerce, a full-service
consultancy that ideates, strategizes, and executes growth
marketing solutions for our clients. They partner with people and
brands they believe in to create websites that are deeply
committed to the user experience and drive omnichannel digital
transformation. As the world changes, they listen, and they
deliver world-class e-commerce websites on Shopify Plus.


In this episode kicking us off for our third season, GELF
co-founders Kent Allen and Jim Okamura take us through what they
heard on the stage and in the hallways of GELF NYC 2023 and get
us ready for GELF LA, February 22, 2024. 


 


About Kent


I help innovative digital companies tell their story and build
relationships with prospective and established clients and
partners. I've spent the last twenty years providing market
analysis, research & thought leadership, market development
and consulting services within the ecommerce technology and
digital marketing community.

Current focus: Globalization via cross-border ecommerce,
marketplaces and international retail expansion. Co-founded the
Global eCommerce Leaders Forum to foster community among and
provide education to digital professionals with international
growth objectives.

My 20+ years of experience in the digital commerce and marketing
industry and strong personal connections have provided me with
opportunities to stay ahead of the curve and explore "what's
next" for my clients and our audiences.

My research, content marketing & thought leadership skills
coupled with my strong client interface skills allow me to define
& execute next-generation marketing and commerce strategies
& improve business performance. 

Specialties/Skills: Market Research, Communications, Strategy,
Planning, Best Practices, Trend, Data and Competitive Analysis,
Public Speaking, Writing and Expression


About Jim


Jim Okamura is Partner with McMillan Doolittle - The Retail
Experts. Jim has more than 25 years of consulting experience
focused on the retail industry, including 20+ years in digital
transformation strategies for retailers, brands and
retail-related companies. 

Specializations include cross-border & global ecommerce and
organization design for digital transformations. Through our
global alliance, Ebeltoft Group, we have deep retail expertise in
more than 20 countries.

Clients include Wahl Clipper, Gap, adidas, Hunter Fan, Bassett
Furniture, Giant Eagle, Federated Coop, Harley-Davidson,
Baccarat, DSW, Tractor Supply Co., MasterCard, Verizon Wireless,
Neiman Marcus, Navy Exchange, Lands’ End, Microsoft, The Body
Shop International, L Brands, Timberland, Media Markt, Lowe’s
Companies, Pep Boys, Crate and Barrel, Loyalty One, VISA, and
Cadillac Fairview.

Jim is a Co-founder of the Global E-Commerce Leaders Forum, a
community and conference series focused on global and
cross-border ecommerce. Digital Retail Globalization, such as
riding China's ecommerce growth wave, is important for brands,
retailers and distribution partners of all sizes.


Michael LeBlanc  is the Founder &
President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor
to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and
consulting practice.   He brings 25+ years of
brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience, and
has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his
entire career.  Michael is the producer and host of a
network of leading podcasts including Canada’s top retail
industry podcast,       The
Voice of Retail, plus  Global eCommerce Leaders
podcast, and The Food Professor  with Dr. Sylvain
Charlebois.    You can learn more about
Michael   here  or on    
LinkedIn. 


Be sure and check out Michael's latest venture for fun and
influencer riches - Last Request Barbecue,  his YouTube BBQ
cooking channel!


Presented by StreamCommerce, a full-service consultancy that
ideates, strategizes, and executes growth marketing solutions for
their clients. They partner with people and brands they believe
in, to create websites that are deeply committed to the user
experience and that drive omnichannel digital transformation.
StreamCommerce increases your bottom line sustainably by
delivering a customer experience that's true to your brand.
 Their team of industry experts allows them to make informed
and strategic decisions quickly. As the world changes, we listen,
and they deliver world-class e-commerce websites on Shopify
Plus.