Hello Inner Circle readers!

We have a great issue in store for you this week. For starters, check out our podcast with Callie Schweitzer, managing editor of Thrive Global, Arianna Huffington’s new corporate wellness company. Callie is a digital media wunderkind who spent the last three years at Time Inc., first overseeing digital innovation for Time magazine and most recently serving as editorial director for audience strategy for the company at large. Earlier this year, Schweitzer helped launch Motto, Time Inc’s website aimed at young women.

Callie’s podcast episode was taped at Women in Retail Leadership Circle’s Girl Talks East, which took place in New York Citylast Thursday evening. In her Girl Talk, and subsequently the podcast, Callie talks about why it’s important to have an entrepreneurial spirit no matter the size of the company you work for.

Girl Talks East, by the way, was fantastic! We’ll be running articles, podcasts, videos and photos from the event in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned!

And that reminds me: I hope all of you West Coast readers are signed up for Girl Talks West, which is taking place at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco on Thurs., Oct. 27. The event will feature women executives from industry powerhouses, including Williams-Sonoma, True & Co., SharpAlice, and Joyus/theBoardlist. Make sure to grab your ticket today! The cost is $49 for qualified retailers, and free for WIRLC members! (Members, please email me at mcampanelli@napco.com for the discount code!)

This issue of Inner Circle also includes the first installment in our new feature series, What’s in Store: 5 Questions With … by Lucille DeHart, a marketing professional with more 25 years experience, as well as being a social media strategist, public speaker and accomplished writer. For each feature, Lucille will ask a retail leader five questions about their businesses, personal and/or professional lives, and secrets to success. The first installment is with Miki Racine Berardelli, CEO of Kidbox (and friend of the WIRLC!).

Enjoy!

— Melissa Campanelli, Co-Founder, Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC)