239: Laying The Foundations To Transform

Step into the world of preparing an organisation for retail transformation in this engaging conversation with Brandon Rael, a seasoned retail transformation consultant. In this episode, we delve into the essential aspects of getting a retail business primed for transformation, the pitfalls of neglecting this critical phase, and the steps necessary for establishing a solid foundation for change. However, with the typical urgency, this preparation is often difficult to squeeze in. Unravel the complexities of preparing a retail organisation for successful change.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The essence of “getting the organisation ready” for transformation and why it’s pivotal.
• The potential consequences of neglecting preparation for transformation – and the symptoms to look out for.
• The key steps to take if your organisation isn’t quite ready for transformation yet – and how to balance with the demand for urgency.

Introducing Brandon Rael

Brandon Rael is a trusted advisor with significant strategy, operational improvement, profit optimization, technology, and organizational change experience across the retail, wholesale, and consumer industries.

He has worked for and in partnership with Fortune 100 global companies and has a deep understanding of the retail market landscape and the evolving consumer mindset. He is a valued partner for companies to identify and drive key initiatives to enable business growth, define new operating models, enhance capabilities, and shift go-to-market strategies. And he comes with an exceptional track record of successfully leading complex digital business transformations, delivering significant EBITDA improvements, driving meaningful ROI, building high-performing teams, inspiring organizational change, and exceeding expectations.

He has authored industry articles, is a regular podcast contributor, and is a Rethink Retail Top Retail Influencer from 2021-2023 and a RetailWire Braintrust member.

Connect with Brandon Rael on LinkedIn.

Additional podcast episodes to listen to

To dive deeper into this topic, join Oliver as he talks to EY’s Trevellyan Collier in episode 235: Profit Warnings And Transformation. You’ll hear about some of the key transformation trends and how these shift the classical view of “turning the tanker.”

Take a scroll through the podcast archived to episode 93: Rethinking Silos. Listen to this one and challenge yourself to consider if organisational silos were actually a good thing.

And finally, the journey of transformation can be challenging and difficult, with plenty of stressful situations along the way. In episode 182: Overcoming Stress With Science, Oliver Banks explores neuroscience and discover some tips to help beat negative thoughts and feelings.