Spend enough time visiting stores and you start to notice something. Store managers are working harder than ever. But leadership capability is not keeping pace. It's not a motivation problem - it's a capability problem that most retail organisations are only just beginning to recognise.

Employee retention is one of the biggest challenges facing retail organisations in 2025. As Gen Z and Millennials become the majority of the retail workforce, leadership capability, development pathways and workplace culture are increasingly shaping who stays and who leaves.

Introduction By 2025, Gen Z will represent nearly a third of the global workforce, with a significant proportion entering retail through frontline, specialist, and early leadership roles. For many retailers, the challenge is no longer attracting Gen Z talent, it’s keeping them. In retail environments defined by pace, pressure, and constant change, Gen Z employees are quick to disengage when leadership capability, development pathways, or workplace culture fall short. Traditio

Leadership and management are often confused, but they require very different mindsets. This article explains the difference and why it matters in retail.