Future Commerce at The Lead Summit 2026

What is the Lead Summit?

The Lead Summit, formerly known as The Lead Innovation Summit, is one of the premier annual commerce and retail conferences in the United States. Organized by The Lead, it brings together over 3,000 senior executives from across the retail, ecommerce, and direct-to-consumer landscape for two days of programming, networking, and strategy.What sets The Lead Summit apart from events like Shoptalk or NRF is its audience.

This isn't a 40,000-person trade show with booth traffic dominating the floor. It's a focused gathering where 85% of attendees are director-level or above and 23% hold C-suite titles. The conversations are different when everyone in the room is a decision-maker.You'll also hear it referred to as The Lead Conference in industry circles. Whatever you call it, the draw is the same: the most concentrated room of mid-market retail and DTC leaders you'll find on the spring conference calendar.

STRATA: Our Ten Aesthetics Continue to Shape Commerce

We're continuing our celebration of STRATA Vol. 001, a new annual from Future Commerce. Part cultural criticism, part commercial analysis, it documents ten commercial aesthetics as evidence of a tectonic shift in how we make, sell, buy, and belong.

Browse it on the show floor or take it home. Either way, it will change how you see the relationship between culture and commerce.

Sessions Worth Attending at The Lead Summit 2026

David Baker (CRO, Beekman 1802) — "Facilitate Agentic Product Discovery Through Content and Community"

1802 built a cult DTC brand that crossed into mass retail. Now Baker is exploring how agentic AI changes the way consumers find and choose products. This is the session for anyone who wants to understand what product discovery looks like when AI agents are doing the browsing.

Colleen Waters (VP, Ecommerce, Steven Madden) — "Early Lessons on Activating Commerce within Gen AI Platforms"

Most brands are still figuring out what gen AI means for their .com. Steven Madden is already testing commerce inside gen AI platforms. Waters brings first-mover insights on what's working, what isn't, and what the early data actually says. If you're evaluating where to place your next digital bet, start here.

Dan Manioci (SVP, Global Consumer Engagement & Digital Marketing, Parlux) + Rachel Lockett (VP, Marketing, MAC Cosmetics) — "Master the Modern Cultural Landscape Through Velocity, Resonance or Celebrity"

Two of beauty's sharpest marketing minds on how brands create cultural relevance in 2026. Parlux builds celebrity fragrance empires; MAC has been a cultural institution for decades. We all know that culture matters, but the power lies in when you move and which levers you actually pull.

Mimi Ruiz (VP, Ecommerce, Columbia Sportswear) — "Move From AI Experimentation to Mature AI Operating Models and Consumer Experiences"

Columbia Sportswear) Most companies are stuck in AI pilot mode. Ruiz is running AI at scale across Columbia Sportswear's ecommerce operation. This session is about what happens after the experiment — how you build AI into your actual operating model, not just your innovation deck.

Amy Sullivan (VP, Buying & Private Brands, Stitch Fix) — "Apply AI to Understand Demand and Optimize Pricing in Real Time"

Stitch Fix has been at the intersection of AI and retail longer than almost anyone. Sullivan leads buying and private brands at a moment when real-time demand sensing and dynamic pricing are becoming operational realities. This is where AI meets margin.

Tanya Golesic (CEO, Mackage) + Jed Berger (Global President & CEO, Kenneth Cole Productions) — "Strategies to Drive Growth and Increase Market Share Despite a Challenging Business Environment"

Two brand CEOs on the same stage talking growth in a tough market. Golesic scaled Mackage into a global luxury outerwear brand; Berger is leading Kenneth Cole's next chapter. This is what growth strategy looks like when the macro environment isn't cooperating.

Katia Unlu (Chief Commercial Officer, Boll & Branch) + Declan Duggan (SVP, Sales & Distribution, BERO) — DTC Symposium: "Drive Profitable Growth Through Wholesale and Retail Optimization"

The DTC-to-wholesale playbook is the single most relevant strategic question for the brands in this room. Boll & Branch built a premium DTC bedding brand now expanding into retail. BERO is Tom Brady's wellness brand scaling distribution. Two different categories, same challenge: how do you grow beyond DTC without losing what made you special? If you're only going to one DTC Symposium session, make it this one.

For the full Lead Summit 2026 agenda, visit summit.the-lead.co/agenda.

Who Attends The Lead Summit?

The Lead Summit draws a uniquely senior audience: 85% of attendees are director-level or above, and 23% hold C-suite titles. With over 3,000 executives attending, the conference is built for mid-market retailers and DTC brand leaders who are making purchasing decisions and shaping strategy.

Expect to see VPs of eCommerce, CMOs from emerging brands, heads of digital transformation, and founders scaling from DTC into wholesale and retail. If you're looking for a conference where you can have real conversations with decision-makers, The Lead Conference delivers. For registration, hotel blocks, and the full conference agenda, visit the official Lead Summit site.

The Lead Summit 2026: Dates, Location + Key Details

Dates: May 20-21, 2026
‍Venue: Pier 36, 299 South Street, New York City
‍Neighborhood: Lower East Side waterfront, Manhattan
‍Attendance: 3,000+ senior retail and ecommerce executives
‍Co-located Event: The DTC Symposium (May 21, included with registration)
‍Venue highlight: Waterfront views of Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO

Pier 36 is a waterfront event venue on Manhattan's Lower East Side. If you've attended conferences at convention centers in Las Vegas or Orlando, this one feels different — natural light, open layouts, and a setting that's more premium than cavernous. It sets a tone for the kind of event The Lead Summit is: focused, curated, and built for senior leaders.

‍Getting there: The closest subway stations are East Broadway (F) and Delancey-Essex (F/J/M/Z). Rideshare drop-off is straightforward on South Street. Book hotels early — Lower East Side, FiDi, and Chinatown neighborhoods are all walkable to the venue.For registration and the full conference agenda, visit the official Lead Summit site.

Join Us at The Lead Summit 2026

May 20-21, Pier 36, New York City. Get our session recaps, podcast episodes, and trend reports from The Lead Summit 2026 delivered to your inbox. Subscribe to the Future Commerce newsletter so you don't miss a beat.
‍
And don't forget: the conversations that really matter happen after hours. Don't miss the Future Commerce x Klaviyo salon dinner — an intimate gathering for the leaders shaping the next era of retail and DTC.