Podcasts about Steelman

Retail is an industry built on people, emotion and constant reinvention, and few leaders embody that reality more fully than Ulta Beauty President and CEO Kecia Steelman. In this episode of Retail Gets Real recorded live from NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show in New York City, Steelman explores her remarkable career journey, leadership philosophy and how she's guiding the nation's largest specialty beauty retailer through one of the most transformative moments in retail history.(00:00:00) From the sales floor to the CEO seat(00:05:48) How retail creates opportunity at every level(00:09:14) Why beauty retail is about emotion, not just products(00:12:52) Why the future of retail has no finish line(00:16:24) How culture drives performance at Ulta Beauty(00:19:28) How Ulta Beauty localizes a global brand(00:22:14) What retail needs more (and less) of right nowThe National Retail Federation is the world's largest retail trade association.Every day, we passionately stand up for the people, policies and ideas that help retail succeed.Resources:• Become an NRF member and join the world's largest retail trade association• Learn about our retail education platform, NRF Foundation, at nrffoundation.org• Learn about retail advocacy at nrf.com/advocacy• Find more episodes at retailgetsreal.comRelated:• 380: How Vera Bradley transformed a legacy brand• 376: How Target's consumer-first strategy drives success

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE DISCUSS "FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT" AT THE LLOYD NOBLE CENTER, PORTER MOSER'S FUTURE AND JOE CASTIGLIONE'S LEGACY

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE DISCUSS STEELY'S DIABETES, THE LATEST SOUL-CRUSHING LOSS FOR OKLAHOMA MEN'S HOOPS AND FALSE FACEBOOK REPORTS OF TEDDY LEHMAN'S DEMISE

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE ADDRESS OKLAHOMA'S PENDING ATHLETIC DIRECTOR HIRE, INCLEMENT WEATHER AND THE BILLIKEN

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE DISCUSS PORTA-POTTIES, LINCOLN RILEY'S NEW DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR AND SNOWMAGEDDON NECESSITIES

Preparing for Snowmageddon.

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE DISCUSS RINGWORM, THE MERITS OF WRESTLING AND THE CANADIAN RAPPER SNOW'S 1992 HIT "INFORMER"

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MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE TALK TRANSFER PORTAL NEWS, JASON WITTEN'S OFFICIAL HIRING AND GEORGE CUMBY'S INDUCTION INTO THE CFB HALL OF FAME

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE DISCUSS WHETHER THE ILLUSTRIOUS UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA SHOULD CONTINUE TO EMPLOY PORTER MOSER AS HEAD MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH 

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE DISCUSS STEELY'S RETIREMENT PLANS, TROGLODYTES AND OKLAHOMA HOOPS CIRCLING THE DRAIN ONCE AGAIN

MIKE STEELY AND GRAYSON SINGLETON CONTINUE THE REACTION TO JASON WITTEN'S HIRING AS TIGHT END COACH, REACT TO MIAMI'S WIN OVER OLE MISS AND WELCOME OU INSIDER'S BRANDON DRUMM TO THE SHOW.

MIKE STEELY AND GRAYSON SINGLETON REACT TO OKLAHOMA HIRING JASON WITTEN AS TIGHT ENDS COACH AND DISCUSS STEELY'S CHILDHOOD SHENANIGANS.

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE TALK PORTAL AND REACT TO OKLAHOMA'S ADDITION OF ANOTHER PREMIUM CRACKER IN COLE SULLIVAN

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE BREAK DOWN OKLAHOMA'S ADDITION OF PREMIUM CRACKER PARKER LIVINGSTONE

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE DISCUSS THE SOONERS' LATEST PORTAL ADDITIONS, THE POSSIBLE COMMITMENT OF ROCKY BEERS, AND OU HOOPS' WIN IN THEIR CONFERENCE OPENER

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE DISCUSS NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS, DUNK ON LINCOLN RILEY AND TALK TRANSFER PORTAL

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE DISCUSS OKLAHOMA BASKETBALL'S NEW RUSSIAN ASSET, THE TRANSFER PORTAL AND BREAKFAST FOOD

MIKE STEELY & PARKER THUNE DIVE INTO THE TRANSFER PORTAL, OU BASKETBALL, COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF, ETC. ON THE STEEL MAN AND THUNE AT NOON SHOW. 

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MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE DISCUSS THE END OF OKLAHOMA'S SEASON, PORTAL POSSIBILITIES AND PEOPLE WHO DRINK WINE COOLERS

Mike Steely and Parker Thune are back to recap the disappointing end to OU's otherwise great season.

Hour 1 of The Dari Nowkhah Show on December 18th, 2025 - with Mike Steely and Blake Gamble filling in.

Hour 2 of The Dari Nowkhah Show on December 18th, 2025 - with Mike Steely and Blake Gamble filling in.

Hour 3 of The Dari Nowkhah Show on December 18th, 2025 - with Mike Steely and Blake Gamble filling in.

PARKER THUNE AND GRAYSON SINGLETON PREVIEW OKLAHOMA-ALABAMA AND WELCOME SEC UNFILTERED'S CHRIS PHILLIPS AND OUINSIDER'S BRODY LUSK TO THE SHOW

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE SHARE A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM GARY BUSEY, CONTINUE TO BREAK DOWN OU/ALABAMA AND TALK THROUGH STEELY'S MEMORIES OF INTERVIEWING SCANTILY CLAD MEN

MIKE STEELY AND CONNOR PASBY DISCUSS THE VARIOUS HAPPENINGS IN THE WORLD OF SPORTS, AND PARKER THUNE RETURNS FROM PRESS CONFERENCES FOR THE SHOW'S FINAL SEGMENT

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE DISCUSS BEING UPSTAGED BY DARI NOWKHAH, THE KEYS TO VICTORY AGAINST ALABAMA AND SOONER BIMBOS

In January, Kecia Steelman became one of the most powerful executives in beauty.  After more than a decade at Ulta Beauty in positions like COO and head of international, she stepped into the president and CEO role with an uphill battle ahead of her.  That's because sales at Ulta tumbled during the 2020 pandemic, and despite an uptick in 2021, year-over-year sales had been steadily falling for nearly three years. She took over as CEO in January, and by March, she unveiled her Ulta Beauty Unleashed comeback plan — and in just 11 months, her strategy has paid off.  As part of her vision, Steelman expanded Ulta's e-commerce and product assortment with a new online marketplace, led the acquisition of U.K. specialty beauty retailer SpaceNK, expanded internationally into Mexico and the Middle East, and shepherded a shop-in-shop breakup with Target, all while dramatically improving revenue. Sales at Ulta Beauty have been on a continuous upward swing since Steelman took over as CEO in January. In May, the retailer reported 4.5% net sales growth. This doubled to a 9.3% net sales spike, reported in August, and the company nearly tripled that growth in last month's earnings report.  Host Lexy Lebsack sat down with Steelman to unpack her first year in charge and look ahead to 2026 (16:50). But today's episode also celebrates Glossy 50, our annual award list honoring business leaders, changemakers and insiders behind the beauty, wellness and fashion industries. Steelman's interview is a special Glossy50 preview with the full list publishing next week.  But first, Lebsack is joined by co-host Emily Jensen to break down the news of the week. This includes the novel launch of a new "bedtime fragrance" from the U.K. sleep-solution company This Works. The brand is known for its pillow spray and body oil, which include ingredients such as lavender and magnesium, but this week it expanded into fine fragrance designed to be applied before bed to improve sleep. Lebsack and Jensen also discuss the newest spokesperson for Estée Lauder-owned M.A.C. Cosmetics, pop star Chappell Roan, and the mixed response from her fans online. In addition, they analyze an unexpected collaboration between The Gap and beauty brand Summer Fridays, which includes clothing but not beauty. And finally, the duo discusses the latest moves in the supplement space, including Sephora's rollback of the category from its selection, and a buzzy new launch from the co-founder and former CEO of Allbirds.

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE DISCUSS THE OKLAHOMA/ALABAMA MATCHUP AND DIVE INTO THE LORE OF THE BABE TOURNAMENT

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE DISCUSS THE OKLAHOMA OFFENSE'S KEYS TO GETTING BACK IN SYNC, AS WELL AS THE PHENOMENON OF KNOB SCOBBING

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE DISCUSS THE "WELL ACTUALLY" GUY, MAKE FUN OF NOTRE DAME AND DISCUSS THE SOONERS' UPCOMING PLAYOFF MATCHUP WITH ALABAMA

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE PREVIEW OU/ALABAMA: THE REMATCH, DISCUSS BARRY MANILOW'S SWITCH-HITTING ABILITY AND HANDICAP THE HEISMAN RACE

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE CHAT WITH BRANDON DRUMM, DISCUSS JOEL KLATT'S THOUGHTS ON OKLAHOMA AND PREVIEW CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE DISCUSS "FREAKAZOID" JAYDEN PETIT, THE INFAMOUS GAME "HIDE THE BELT," AND THE LIKABILITY OF ELI DRINKWITZ

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE DISCUSS ALL THE NEWSWORTHY NUGGETS FROM SIGNING DAY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE DECLARE JOEL KLATT AN ENEMY OF SOONER NATION, DECLARE WAR UPON THE NERDS, AND DISCUSS THE KEYS FOR OKLAHOMA AS THEY PREPARE FOR A CFP RUN

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE PLAY AN AMAZING REGGAE SONG ABOUT LANE KIFFIN, DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF THE QB POSITION AT OKLAHOMA AND RECAP THE LSU WIN

The Most Extensive and Comprehensive OU Football Pre Game Show you'll find anywhere previews today's big game as OU hosts LSU with a College Football Playoff appearance on the line.  Parker Thune, Toby Rowland, Teddy Lehman, Mike Steely, and Josh Helmer lead the way... BOOMER!

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE PREVIEW OKLAHOMA-LSU AND OTHER GAMES AROUND THE COUNTRY. PLUS, PARKER AND BRANDON DRUMM REACT TO COMMITMENTS FROM JAYDEN PETIT AND DANE BATHURST.

MIKE STEELY DIGS THE "STOOPS FAMILY THANKSGIVING" OUT OF MOTHBALLS

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE OFFER THE LISTENING AUDIENCE TWO HOURS OF BRILLIANT SPORTS RADIO, PER USUAL

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE DISCUSS OU-MISSOURI, TALK THROUGH PLAYOFF SCENARIOS AND PREOVIDE ANOTHER STEELY RENDITION OF THE WRECK OF THE EDMUND FITZGERALD FOR #REDNOVEMBER

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE PREVIEW OU-MIZZOU AND DISCUSS OKLAHOMA'S ANNOUNCED STADIUM RENOVATIONS. 

STEELY DOES HIS PART IN #REDNOVEMBER BY SINGING THE WRECK OF THE EDMUND FITZGERALD

STEELY AND PARKER DISCUSS SOMEWHAST LIKABLE DOOFUSSES LIKE ELI DRINKWITZ, OKLAHOMA'S OFFENSIVE MALAISE AND VARIOUS OTHER TOPICS

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE DISCUSS JOHN MATEER'S STRUGGLES, PREVIEW THE MISSOURI GAME AND REMINISCE ON STEELY'S DAYS AS A SUGAR DADDY

MIKE STEELY AND PARKER THUNE RECAP OKLAHOMA'S SECOND STRAIGHT ROAD UPSET, DISCUSS RED NOVEMBER AND LAMPOON MULESHOE'S JOB PROSPECTS