Marla Oates

She also serves on the board of directors at INSEAD, which is my alma mater and one of the world's leading graduate business schools. Barbara, welcome to Redefiners.

Well, we are so grateful to have you here today. You have had an incredible career so far. As Simon mentioned in the introduction, you've worked in nine countries. You've led leadership roles in several industries, technology, home furnishings, food delivery, consumer electronics. What haven't you done? Coming into Decathlon, you were an outsider in a family-owned French sporting goods company.

Well, we are so grateful to have you here today. You have had an incredible career so far. As Simon mentioned in the introduction, you've worked in nine countries. You've led leadership roles in several industries, technology, home furnishings, food delivery, consumer electronics. What haven't you done? Coming into Decathlon, you were an outsider in a family-owned French sporting goods company.

Well, we are so grateful to have you here today. You have had an incredible career so far. As Simon mentioned in the introduction, you've worked in nine countries. You've led leadership roles in several industries, technology, home furnishings, food delivery, consumer electronics. What haven't you done? Coming into Decathlon, you were an outsider in a family-owned French sporting goods company.

What brought you to Decathlon and why did you shift industries?

What brought you to Decathlon and why did you shift industries?

What brought you to Decathlon and why did you shift industries?

I love that sentiment, Barbara. And there are many women that listen to this podcast and are seeking advice, trying to move up in their career. I mean, you held a number of different C roles and leaned into you know, CTO, CMO, CEO, what advice would you give to women as they're moving up in their career?

I love that sentiment, Barbara. And there are many women that listen to this podcast and are seeking advice, trying to move up in their career. I mean, you held a number of different C roles and leaned into you know, CTO, CMO, CEO, what advice would you give to women as they're moving up in their career?

I love that sentiment, Barbara. And there are many women that listen to this podcast and are seeking advice, trying to move up in their career. I mean, you held a number of different C roles and leaned into you know, CTO, CMO, CEO, what advice would you give to women as they're moving up in their career?

No, I love that. Why not you? Lean in. I think that's great advice. I imagine you came into a pretty well-established culture, both at Decathlon and IKEA. What are some of the things you focused on in your early days to better understand the company and culture?

No, I love that. Why not you? Lean in. I think that's great advice. I imagine you came into a pretty well-established culture, both at Decathlon and IKEA. What are some of the things you focused on in your early days to better understand the company and culture?

No, I love that. Why not you? Lean in. I think that's great advice. I imagine you came into a pretty well-established culture, both at Decathlon and IKEA. What are some of the things you focused on in your early days to better understand the company and culture?

Did you take a similar approach and establish a North Star at IKEA and Grubhub, or was that new to Decathlon?

Did you take a similar approach and establish a North Star at IKEA and Grubhub, or was that new to Decathlon?

Did you take a similar approach and establish a North Star at IKEA and Grubhub, or was that new to Decathlon?

As we understand, I think you have a vertical business model, right? So you're managing everything from initial R&D design through customer sales and service. How is that a differentiator for you as a business, but also as a leader?

As we understand, I think you have a vertical business model, right? So you're managing everything from initial R&D design through customer sales and service. How is that a differentiator for you as a business, but also as a leader?

As we understand, I think you have a vertical business model, right? So you're managing everything from initial R&D design through customer sales and service. How is that a differentiator for you as a business, but also as a leader?

We'll be right back with Barbara Martin Coppola. But first, let's hear from Pam Fitzpatrick, Global Head of Sustainability at Russell Reynolds Associates. Pam will discuss key insights from our 2024 sustainability report and the commitments we've made as a firm.