In this episode I sit down with James B. Smith, Founder and CEO of Rare Placement, to explore the evolving nature of retail leadership. Drawing from a storied career in media, publishing, and executive search, James unpacks the importance of storytelling, agility, and culture fit in talent placement. He also shares practical tips for executives navigating career transitions, succession planning, and building high-impact boards in today’s hybrid, fast-moving retail environment.
In this episode of The Voice of Retail, I’m joined by James B. Smith, Founder and CEO of Rare Placement, for a wide-ranging conversation on modern leadership, executive search, and the future of talent in the retail industry.
James brings an exceptional career journey to the mic, beginning in advertising with agencies like Grey and Ogilvy, moving into marketing leadership at Citibank, in leadership roles at Esquire and then Conde Nast Traveller—where he helped it become the top-performing title, even outpacing Vogue. His passion for growth and transformation led him to become a CEO, owner-operator, and eventually launch Rare Placement, a boutique executive search firm focused on personalized, human-centric talent solutions.
In our conversation, James emphasizes the power of storytelling—not just for brands, but for leaders. He reveals that every candidate he’s placed has gone on to become a client, a testament to his laser focus on culture fit, agility, and soft skills over just resumes. We dive into how executive hiring has changed, why modern CEOs need courage, humility, and the ability to say “I don’t know,” and how COVID permanently reshaped leadership styles and expectations around flexibility and culture.
James shares practical advice for current and aspiring retail leaders—from building a strong, concise personal narrative to investing in ongoing networking, not just when you're in transition. He stresses that succession planning should be an ongoing, layered strategy, and reminds executives that “people buy leaders, not logos.”
We also explore the increasing importance of board roles—both fiduciary and advisory—and how executives can position themselves for these opportunities by knowing what they uniquely bring to the table.
Whether you’re a retail executive planning your next move, a CEO rethinking your leadership team, or a rising leader wondering how to stand out, this episode is packed with actionable insights.