In this encore episode from Fall 2024, I sit down with Michelle Williams, Chief Technology Officer at Walmart Canada, for an insightful conversation on leading tech innovation at one of the country’s largest retailers. Michelle shares her personal career journey, the challenges of balancing stability and disruption, and the power of AI to transform retail. We explore local solutions, supply chain automation, and her
🎧 Encore Episode Alert! Revisit one of our most popular conversations from Fall 2024 as I sit down with Michelle Williams, Chief Technology Officer at Walmart Canada, for a wide-ranging discussion on leading technology innovation in Canada’s largest retail landscape. Recorded live at Walmart Canada headquarters, Michelle shares her career journey—from a high school intern at RBC to helming technology strategy at Walmart—highlighting the passion for problem-solving and creativity that fueled her ascent.
In this exclusive interview, Michelle unpacks the complexities of managing three horizons of retail technology: maintaining system stability, driving incremental improvements, and pioneering disruptive innovations. She explains how Walmart balances global solutions with unique local requirements in Canada, from pharmacy operations to supply chain logistics across a vast geography. Michelle emphasizes that 30% of Walmart Canada's tech stack is tailored for the local market, showcasing the importance of adaptability in global retail operations.
A key theme is the accelerated pace of innovation post-pandemic, particularly in online grocery and omni-channel experiences. Michelle reflects on how the pandemic forced Walmart to “pivot quickly” and experiment boldly, fostering a culture of agility and learning. She provides an insider’s view on how Walmart Canada approaches innovation through a portfolio mindset, selectively adopting global technologies while developing homegrown solutions to meet specific Canadian challenges.
Michelle offers candid insights into Walmart’s approach to AI, describing current use cases like automated product tagging and content generation, while stressing the need for “human in the loop” oversight. She positions AI as a transformational but still maturing tool—“we’re in spring training”—with long-term potential to level the playing field for businesses of all sizes.
We also explore the intersection of technology and marketing at Walmart, from empowering associates with actionable data to enhancing in-store experiences that bring the brand to life. Michelle closes with powerful advice for women in tech, encouraging curiosity, continuous learning, and breaking out of limiting assumptions: “If you’re nervous about something, go learn it.”
Whether you're a retailer, technologist, or leader navigating innovation, this encore episode offers invaluable insights from one of Canada’s top retail technology executives.
💥 Don’t miss this repeat of a listener favourite!