McGill Executive Institute
Unleash your potential
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McGill Executive Institute
Unleash your potential

Excelling in the New World of Retail

Accelerate Your Digitization and Omni-Channel Transformation

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Overview

In a rapidly evolving retail landscape, this retail executive education program addresses the need for retailers to stay ahead of significant shifts in consumer behaviour and emerging business models. Through a hands-on, applied approach, attendees learn the latest in AI and data analytics, develop skills to create successful supply chain value operations, and gain insights into the new world of retail and shifts in the competitive landscape. Three distinct modules, led by academic experts, provide a comprehensive learning experience. This dynamic program also leverages real-world case studies and innovative research to facilitate deep learning.

Key Benefits and Takeaways

  • Gain strategic insights into the new world of retail and changing consumer behaviours
  • Understand and apply AI and data analytics for effective decision-making
  • Master techniques for developing superior supply chain management strategies
  • Learn from real-life case studies and best practices in retail transformation
  • Engage with peers and experts in a collaborative learning environment
  • Enhance your strategic thinking with forward-looking trends and innovations

 

This program is intended for senior managers, VPs, Directors and Group/Brand Managers, and C-suite members from retail companies worldwide who are dedicated to spearheading their organization's digital and omni-channel transformation.

The registration fee includes facilitation by our highly rated faculty members, course materials, results-oriented exercises, meal service (continental breakfast, lunch, and breaks) *, and a certificate of completion from the McGill Executive Institute and the Bensadoun School of Retail Management. To successfully complete the course and receive your certificate of completion, you will need to attend all sessions and complete the pre-work for each session.

*Meal service is included for in-person programs only.

Topics covered in this course

  • Gain strategic insights into the shifting realities of the retail landscape
  • Learn to identify and understand new consumer behaviours and emerging trends
  • Analyze shifts in the competitive landscape and understand their impact on your organization
  • Identify winning business models for success in the new retail environment
  • Understand the role of data and AI in decision-making processes within the retail sector
  • Develop skills in pricing and revenue management using AI and data analytics
  • Learn how to predict demand effectively using data science techniques
  • Gain proficiency in detecting changes in retail trends and respond accordingly
  • Explore A/B testing methods for informed decision-making
  • Learn how to create targeted offers and incentives using data insights
  • Understand the importance of and strategies for optimizing omni-channel retailing
  • Learn about the changing role of physical stores and operations in the digital age
  • Explore the concept of frictionless retail and its benefits to customer experience
  • Master techniques for effective inventory and logistics management
  • Understand the challenges and solutions for last-mile delivery in e-commerce
  • Get to grips with the latest fintech solutions and payment systems for seamless transactions

Program Professors

headshot of Carl Boutet

Carl Boutet

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Carl Boutet

Carl Boutet is the principal advisor for the McGill University Retail Innovation Lab, faculty lecturer in the McGill Master of Management in Retailing Program and faculty member of the McGill Executive Institute. He brings over 30 years of diverse experience spanning operational, marketing, and retail executive roles, specializing digital marketing, emerging technologies, and new business models.

Rethink Retail and other industry publications have recognized Carl as among the world’s 10 most influential retail innovation thought leaders. He published The Great Acceleration (2021), which examines how the pandemic reshaped digital transformation. His latest book, Blindspot (2024), explores the unintended consequences of technology on commerce.

Carl holds an MBA from Queen’s University and professional certificates from Stanford, Harvard, and MIT.

headshot of Maxime Cohen

Maxime Cohen

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Prof. Maxime Cohen

Maxime Cohen is the Scale AI Chair Professor of Retail and Operations Management and Director of Research at McGill University. He is also a Visiting Professor of Operations Management and a Shubik Fellow at Yale School of Management (2023-2024). He is the Chief AI Officer of ELNA Medical and the Scientific Director of the non-profit MyOpenCourt.org. He is also a Scientific Advisor in AI at IVADO Labs, and he is actively advising corporations, retailers, and startups on topics related to pricing, retail, and data science. He has worked on retail, ride-sharing, airline, sustainability, cloud computing, online advertising, peer-to-peer lending, real estate, healthcare, and conflict analytics. He has collaborated with many companies including Google, Waze, Oracle Retail, IBM Research, Via (ride-sharing), Spotify, Aldo Group, Couche-Tard/Circle K, L'Oréal, Cargo, and Staples and he serves on the advisory board of several startups. His research and teaching have received 30+ awards, including Poets&Quants Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors, RETHINK Retail’s Top Retail Influencers, MSOM Young Scholar Prize, and Best OM Paper in Management Science.

 

headshot of Saibal Ray

Saibal Ray

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Prof. Saibal Ray

James McGill Professor, Operations Management and Vice-Dean, Faculty, Desautels Faculty of Management

  • Prof. Ray joined the Operations Management area of the Desautels Faculty of Management in 2001, after finishing his PhD from the University of Waterloo. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Production Engineering, and a master's degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering.
  • Prof. Ray's research interest can broadly be categorized as supply chain management. He is specifically interested in studying supply chain risk management, retail operations management, and supply chain issues related to agri-food and natural resources sectors. Most of his research is at the interface of operations and marketing.
  • Prof. Ray is a member of the Royal Society of Canada College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists and James McGill Chair in Supply Chain Management.

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    Upcoming Sessions

    Begins June 2 2025 | Register by May 26

    McGill Executive Institute

    Format
    Classes will take place in person at the McGill Executive Institute. In addition to the in-class sessions, you can expect about 1-2 hours of additional work per day for group and individual preparation.


    Individual Prep 1-2 weeks before first in-person session

    Before joining us on campus, you complete individual prep work on myCourses, McGill's digital learning platform—all from the comfort of your home or office. Activites include readings, case studies and videos on our digital learning platform to prepare you for the in-person sessions.

    Date Time Activity Location
    Monday, June 2, 2025 9 am - 5:00 pm EDT In-person session #1 McGill Executive Institute
    Tuesday, June 3, 2025 9 am - 5:00 pm EDT In-person session #2 McGill Executive Institute
    Wednesday, June 4, 2025 9 am - 5:00 pm EDT In-person session #3 McGill Executive Institute
    Price: CA$3,095.00

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