As Vice President for IDC Retail Insights, Leslie Hand is responsible for the research direction for IDC Retail Insights, and leads research related to the digital transformation of retail omnichannel operations.  Hand works with retailers and technology providers on developing best practices and strategies, aligned with where they are, and where they want to go, leveraging IDC quantitative and qualitative data sets.

Ms. Hand's specific research includes a particular emphasis on mobile, IoT and augmented / virtual reality technologies and the threats and opportunities now facing the entire retail ecosystem from evolving consumer behaviors. Leslie likes to say that she will always be a retailer through and through, but in her current role she now has the opportunity to work for many top retailers and the technology providers that serve them.

BACKGROUND

Before joining IDC, Ms. Hand spent 28 years in the retail industry, with 5 years in operations and 23 in retail information technology and technology strategy. While in retail operations she managed stores and was instrumental in defining new customer centric and more efficient operational processes. While in retail technology she has guided strategy, technology selection, development, deployment and support efforts for the full gamut of retail technologies, in a variety of retail segments that include grocery, drug store, and specialty. 

EDUCATION/INDUSTRY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• MIT Sloan Executive Certificate in Technology, Operations, and Value Chain Management
• B.A. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania
• Leslie won IDC's most prestigious and highest honor for research excellence, The James Peacock Award, in January 2013
• Leslie has repeatedly been named a top 10 retail influencer
• Frequent speaker, presenter and moderator at industry conferences.
• Interviewed regularly and quoted often by multiple media outlets including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Bloomberg and various retail trade journals.

Follow Leslie on Twitter @lesliehand.

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