Bringing Retail Talent Leaders Together: Inside NRF TAG at PetSmart

In April, PetSmart welcomed the National Retail Federation Talent Acquisition Group (NRF TAG) to our home office in Phoenix, bringing together nearly 50 talent leaders representing 25 retail brands.

For two days, our space became a place for networking, conversation, shared challenges, and practical ideas shaping the future of talent in retail. The agenda covered a wide range of topics from federal and state policy updates impacting hiring to workforce planning. Attendees heard from partners at PwC and Workday on trends influencing retail strategy and the evolving role of AI in the hiring journey. Our very own, David Redfiled, EVP, Chief Operating Officer and Theresa Lee, VP, HR spoke to the group in a fireside chat focused on evolving talent needs and Katherine Sanford, Sr. Director, Talent Acquisition led a benchmarking session on internal mobility.

While our leaders did an incredibly job leading conversations, our Human Resources pups, Henry, Roo and Walter were the stars of the show! 

But what stood out most wasn’t just the content. It was the conversation. There was a shared focus on how organizations are navigating change in real time, balancing immediate hiring needs with longer-term workforce planning and rethinking how teams adapt as technology continues to evolve.

Sessions were balanced with time for connection, where conversations continued beyond the agenda, between sessions, over coffee, and in the kind of informal moments where ideas tend to take shape.

Hosting NRF TAG was an opportunity for us to create that kind of environment intentionally.

At PetSmart, we believe progress happens when people can share openly, challenge each other thoughtfully, and leave with something they can apply in their roles.

We’re grateful to NRF and the leaders who joined us for making it such a thoughtful and engaging convening.