Events

Kelly Lee (left) and NRF leadership at a Georgetown event

The NRF Business of Retail Initiative brings together students, faculty, and industry leaders to explore the future of retail. Through events that spark dialogue and discovery, we create space for big ideas, emerging trends, and meaningful connections across the Georgetown community.

Upcoming Events

All Upcoming Events

Stay tuned for our collaborative events with other initiatives at Georgetown McDonough.

Past Event Highlights

Spring 2026

Jan. 8-11, 2026 – NRF Foundation Student Program Recap

Panelists on stage in New York City at NRF Foundation Student Program event — *Left to right: Sheena Butler-Young, Lisa Yamner, and Tamesha Henry*

From January 8-11, the NRF Business of Retail Initiative fellows and program director traveled to New York City to represent Georgetown at the NRF Foundation Student Program. Over four days, students participated in executive mentor roundtables, speaker sessions, company visits, and the NRF Foundation Career Fair – gaining firsthand exposure to how today’s retail leaders think, operate, and innovate.

Highlights included an inside look at Kohl’s retail operations, discussions on how AI is shaping the next generation of merchants, and conversations with leaders from Gap, Daydream, and the Tapestry Foundation on technology, sustainability, and customer experience. The program connected classroom learning with real-world retail leadership and provided insights students are bringing back to their work at Georgetown.

Explore the NRF Foundation Student Program

Fall 2025

Nov. 7, 2025 – Business of Sustainability Leadership and Innovation Summit

From the Store Shelf to the Donation Bin: Rethinking Retail Sustainability

Safak Yucel (left), David Eagles (center, Goodwill), and Scot Case (right, NRF) on Lohrfink stage at Georgetown McDonough — *Safak Yucel (left), David Eagles (center, Goodwill), and Scot Case (right, NRF)* *during Leadership and Innovation Summit*

At Georgetown McDonough’s Business of Sustainability Initiative Leadership and Innovation Summit, a closing fireside chat with Scot Case, vice president of sustainability at the National Retail Federation, and David Eagles, COO of Goodwill Industries International, brought the day’s discussions down to the store shelf and the donation bin. Case emphasized retail’s unique influence as the consumer-facing end of complex global supply chains, while Eagles highlighted Goodwill’s role in the circular economy — keeping billions of pounds of goods in circulation and helping millions of people access sustainable career pathways. Together, they underscored how every retail decision, from sourcing to reuse, shapes environmental and community impact. Through its partnership with the NRF and the Sustainability Initiative, the NRF Business of Retail Initiative connects students directly to these conversations, preparing future leaders to integrate sustainability into the core of modern retail strategy.

Oct. 28, 2025 – Global Retail Marketing Guest Lecture

Students in Charles Skuba’s Global Retail Marketing course heard from Mark Mathews, chief economist and executive director of research at the National Retail Federation (NRF), who shared how data and analytics are transforming the retail industry.

From the evolution of loyalty programs to today’s AI-powered insights, Mathews highlighted how retailers use data to anticipate customer needs, personalize experiences, and navigate the “messy middle” of the modern shopping journey.

The session, part of Georgetown’s ongoing partnership with the NRF, gave students a real-world look at how data now drives every major strategic decision in retail.

Oct. 3, 2025 – Stewardship Luncheon

Georgetown University and NRF leadership gather for Stewardship Luncheon to celebrate NRF's support of the Business of Retail Initiative — Photo By Phil Humnicky/Georgetown Univ.

NRF Business of Retail Initiative Stewardship Luncheon at a long dining table — Photo By Phil Humnicky/Georgetown Univ.

Georgetown University hosted the NRF Stewardship Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, to celebrate the National Retail Federation’s generous gift supporting the NRF Business of Retail Initiative at the McDonough School of Business. The event brought together NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay (EMBA’11), university leadership, and students to recognize the growing partnership advancing retail education and engagement at Georgetown.

Sept. 16, 2025 – NRF Business of Retail and Marketing Society Info Session

*Georgetown McDonough students at NRF Business of Retail info session*

On Tuesday, Sept. 16, we held an information session hosted by the National Retail Federation (NRF) Business of Retail Initiative, NRF Foundation, the Georgetown Marketing Society, and Georgetown Retail and Luxury Association. The program gave students valuable insights into marketing and retail career paths, resources for professional growth, and opportunities to engage with industry leaders. The session was led by Kelly Lee, program director of the NRF Business of Retail Initiative, who served as faculty host.