Skip to main content

Advisory Board

The RMI Advisory Board

RMI has assembled CEOs, Presidents, EVPs, CMOs and Directors from influential Silicon Valley, San Francisco Bay Area and leading brand companies. The Advisory Board meets twice a year to provide insights and perspective to ensure RMI remains a top destination for a retail business education.   The advisory board members are listed below.   Our industry fellows are listed here and our technology advisory committee is listed here.

Kirthi Kalyanam, Ph.D.

RMI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Michael Schriver

Group President LVMH North Asia
RMI Advisory Board Chair

Karl Bracken

Ocampo Capital LLC

RMI Advisory Board Vice Chair

Kris Bazán

Worldwide Retail Senior Director for Consumer Marketing,
Apple
Class of 1992/MBA '99

Mark Brashear

Former RMI Advisory Board chair
Class of 1983

Soumik Chatterjee

Vice President Corporate Strategy,
Petco

Barry Feld

99 Cents Only Stores
Former RMI Advisory Board Chair

 

Jeff Hom

Executive Vice President: General Merchandise Manager - Home and Hardlines categories at Kohl's 

Michelle Kennedy

EVP, CHRO, Movado Group

Mark Lavelle

Chief Executive Officer
X Delivery

Jim Miller

CTO, Board Member and Advisor,
Wayfair, Inc.
The Real Real

Jamie Nordstrom

Chief Merchandising Officer, Nordstrom

Mike Osorio

Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing
Tori Richard Ltd.
Class of 1984

John Strain

Chief Digital & Technology Officer,
Gap Inc.
Class of 1990

Kamelia Aryafar

Director of Engineering, Cloud Artificial Intelligence
Google

Barry Gilbert

Wine VIP, Owner/Operator

Gautam Gupta

M13 Ventures, Partner

Matt Murphy

Partner,
Montage Ventures
Class of 2002

Michelle DeMartini Wlazlo

Executive Vice President, Chief Merchandising Officer
J.C. Penney

Gisel Ruiz

Retired EVP, Chief Operations Officer
Sam's Club
Class of 1992

RMI Industry Fellows

RMI Industry Fellows are professionals recognized for their experience and expertise in retailing and allied industries.  They provide an essential link between retail studies students and their exposure to retail + Silicon Valley technology influencers.  

The Industry Fellows develop and impact RMI programs and research as we continue to innovate and educate on the technologies and emerging trends that are creating retail’s future. 

Interested in joining RMI as an Industry Fellow?  Emall RMI Executive Director Kirthi Kalyanam at kkalyanam@scu.edu.

 

Burlington Stores, Inc
Senior Vice President, General Merchandise Manager

Patrick Anderson

NielsenIQ
Vice President, Omnichannel Products

Ken Cassar

Bloomreach
Business Services Consultant
Instructor, RMI Digital Merchandising Program

Justin Daniel

Google
Global Head of Product Development Partnerships

Jodi Goldberg

Guild Education
General Manager, Employer Partnerships

Jonathan Marek

Google
Logistics Program Manager

Evan Monahan

Swytchback
Co-Founder, Head of Product

Cole Patterson

Metamorphosis Partners
CEO & Co-Founder

Brock Weatherup

 

Innovation and Technology Advisory Committee

The Innovation and Technology Advisory Committee members are recognized for their experience and expertise in Innovation and Technology related to retailing.  They provide the Retail Management Institute with insights and advice about the frontiers of innovation and technology in retail.

Interested in joining RMI as an Innovation and Technology Advisory Committee Fellow?  Email RMI Executive Director Kirthi Kalyanam at kkalyanam@scu.edu.

 

Donald Kingsborough

FORMER DIRECTOR, WESTFIELD CORPORATION
FORMER PRESIDENT, WESTFIELD RETAIL SOLUTIONS

LinkedIn logo in blue text.

Ram Narasimhan

VICE PRESIDENT, NEW VENTURES & GROWTH, 
WALMART GLOBAL TECH

Talent Acceleration Committee

Kirthi Kalyanam, Ph.D. (Ex Officio)

RMI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Karl Bracken (Chair)

Executive Vice President, Merchandising & Private Brands, Guitar Center Inc.

Kris Bazán

Worldwide Retail Senior Director for Consumer Marketing,
Apple
Class of 1992/MBA '99

Michelle Kennedy

SVP Talent/HR
Williams Sonoma Inc.

Mike Osorio

Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing
Tori Richard Ltd.
Class of 1984

Michael Schriver

Group President LVMH North Asia
Louis Vuitton

Trish Kalbash Schmidt (Chief of Staff)

Educational Consultant

Alumni Advisors

Casey Hill

Class of 2023
Jewelry Merchandising Specialist
Bulgari

Emeritus

W. Howard Lester

CEO and Chairman Emeritus
Williams Sonoma Inc
Emeritus

Kent Anderson

CEO & Former President,
Macys.com
Emeritus

Ken Duane

Vice Chairman - Wholesale Apparel,
Phillips-Van Heusen (PVH) Corp.

David Folkman

Former CEO,
Espirit and Emporium
Emeritus

Ellen Magnin Newman

President,
Ellen Newman Associates
Emeritus

Philip S. Schlein

Former General Partner - USVP,
Mavatar Technologies Inc
Emeritus

Joseph Tomaselli

Former VP Global Apparel Sourcing,
Nike
Emeritus