A new nonprofit organization, Women of Color in Retail (WOCIR), has launched with the goal of supporting the careers of women of color in the retail industry through hard and soft skills training, leadership development and networking opportunities.
The group was founded by Kimberly Lee Minor, who spent time at Bath & Body Works, Nine West Group and Talbots before taking on her latest role as CEO of the consulting firm Bumbershoot. Described as “a robust network of ready-now, talented women of color,” WOCIR will help companies re-imagine their diversity imperatives by bringing sponsorship into the open, giving them a platform to share their stories with the WOCIR network and provide access to diverse talent across all functions and levels.
Among its Board and membership leaders, WOCIR already counts executives from across the retail industry, including Amazon, Sephora, Tommy Hilfiger, True Religion, Stuart Weitzman and Victoria’s Secret. The group’s Board of Directors includes:
- Bethany Klynn, President of Insight Leadership
- Christiane Pendarvis, President of Savage X Fenty
- Christina Otero McIntyre, Attorney at Abercrombie & Fitch
- Janice Drake, President of Hope 360
- Karen Cho, SVP of Designer Brands
- Kimberly Minor, CEO of Bumbershoot
WOCIR hosted its first official gathering, a launch party in early November 2021, and the group is now working to plan additional events, including a Lunch & Learn with Minor, Janelle Burgess of Amazon/The Drop and Pendarvis on Dec. 17.
Advertisement
