NEW YORK—As part of Mass Market Retailer's 2025 Women of Influence event, retailmediaIQ and MMR hosted the WE Leadership Panel, 'The Role Influence', sponsored by InMarket. The event took place at the Harmonie Club in New York City.
In a wide-ranging and dynamic discussion, panelists expounded on the topic of influence, sharing their experiences and ideas on how to gain and wield it.
On the panel, moderated by Wendy Liebman, CEO of WSL Strategic Research, were:
Marla Fielder, Health and Wellness Leader, Kroger
Sharon Glass, Practice Lead of Pharma and OTC, InMarket
Amanda Coussoule, Chief Customer Officer, Kenvue,
Kelly Mahoney, Chief Marketing Officer, Ulta Beauty
“It's amazing how much influence you can have without saying a word,” said Coussoule.
Reflecting on her career at Kroger, spanning over two decades, Fielder emphasized the importance of evolution. Leaders must be adaptable and open to new ideas to build and maintain influence.

Discussing how to influence the younger part of the workforce, Glass said, “How we were taught is vastly different from how this generation is taught.” Fielder added how important it is to meet them at their level; companies and leaders must adapt to influence their behavior. What worked in the past won't work forever.
A theme in the discussions was authenticity, which is a major concern for younger people. Panelists agreed that transparency is a key factor in gaining authenticity—transparency leads to influence.

At the end of the panel, they were asked about their advice for those starting their careers:
“Say yes to everything,” said Mahoney.
“Be an advocate for personal connection,” said Coussoule.
“Be your authentic self,” said Fielder.
“Show up,” Glass said, stressing the importance of real-world participation, not just in the digital world.
