Mar 18, 2026
In this episode of The Story of a Brand, host Rose Hamilton, CEO of Compass Rose Ventures, sits down with Sucharita Kodali, Vice President and Principal Analyst at Forrester Research, for a thoughtful and strategic conversation about the forces reshaping modern retail.
The discussion draws on Rose’s experience as an operator inside
brands like The Vitamin
Shoppe and Nutrafol, where
Forrester’s research often informed critical boardroom decisions.
Throughout the episode, Rose and Sucharita unpack how retail
strategy has evolved—from marketplaces and DTC to retail media and
AI—and why leaders today must think beyond growth tactics to
understand leverage, channel strategy, and long-term enterprise
value.
Key moments from the episode include:
* Why brands should approach marketplaces strategically and
consider the sequencing of channels when building long-term
value
* The importance of “e-control”—protecting pricing, distribution
integrity, and brand presentation across marketplaces
* How retail media networks are becoming structural components of
retailer economics
* What leaders should understand about AI and generative AI in
retail today—and where the hype exceeds reality
* Why the most effective research blends data with narrative to
create conviction and drive decision-making
This episode offers an inside look at how data-driven insight
shapes the biggest strategic decisions in retail and commerce.
Join us in listening to the episode to hear Rose Hamilton and
Sucharita Kodali explore the patterns, shifts, and lessons that
continue to influence how brands build durable growth in a rapidly
evolving marketplace.
For more on Sucharita Kodali and Forrester
Research visit: https://www.forrester.com/bold/
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