KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Former CEO of Burberry | Former SVP of Apple Retail
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KEYNOTE TOPICS
Ahrendts led transformations at two of the world's most iconic brands by putting people and purpose first. She shows leaders how empathy, vulnerability, and genuine care — not just strategy — are what actually drive lasting performance and culture.
Drawing on her turnaround of Burberry, Ahrendts shows how she revived a fading 150-year-old brand by reconnecting it to its founding purpose and betting early on digital — declaring Burberry the first "digital luxury brand" before the smartphone era had fully arrived.
From restructuring Burberry during the financial crisis to reinventing Apple's retail experience, Ahrendts offers a practical view of how to lead an organization — and tens of thousands of people — through disruption while keeping the brand's integrity intact.
Ahrendts reframes retail and customer experience around human connection, sharing how she built cultures and store experiences designed to create community and trust rather than simply sell products.
Angela Ahrendts is one of the most admired business leaders of her generation, having led transformations at two of the world's most iconic brands. As CEO of Burberry from 2006 to 2014, she revived a fading British heritage label and grew the company's value from £2 billion to more than £7 billion, pioneering digital luxury years before its competitors. She then became the first woman on Apple's executive team under Tim Cook, serving as Senior Vice President of Retail and Online Stores, where she led 70,000 employees across 27 countries and reimagined the Apple Store as a place of community and connection.
Before Burberry, Ahrendts built her career across major fashion houses — Donna Karan, Henri Bendel, and Liz Claiborne — developing a reputation for reviving brands and expanding them internationally. Raised in small-town Indiana, the third of six children, she has spoken candidly about leading with heart, vulnerability, and purpose. Awarded a DBE for services to British business and named among the world's most powerful women by Forbes, she now serves on the boards of Airbnb, Ralph Lauren, and Save the Children, and is a sought-after voice on the human side of leadership.
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