Career Sliding Doors: The Pivotal Moments That Changed These 4 Ecomm Leaders' Careers

In today’s episode, I dive into one of my favorite topics—those unexpected career-defining moments that shape everything. I’m talking about the “sliding doors” decisions that, in hindsight, changed the trajectory of some of the most impressive retail media leaders I know. You’ll hear real, raw stories from brand-side professionals who took chances, followed curiosities, or simply annoyed the right person at the right time—and it paid off.

From mentorship programs that reshaped mindsets to the grind of early Amazon days, and serendipitous job ads in local papers, this episode is packed with career pivot moments that will inspire you to lean into your own opportunities—even the ones that don’t look glamorous at first. Whether you’re new to eCommerce or a seasoned pro, these stories are a reminder that the path to success in retail media is rarely a straight line.

⏱️ Timeline Summary

[1:28] - Julie Liu shares how mentorship with Sarah Hofstetter led her to rethink her career through a new lens of soft skill development.

[3:30] - Josh Clarkson reveals how being persistently curious helped him land a role on the Amazon team—kickstarting his eCommerce journey.

[4:59] - Todd Wegen recalls a bold leap from a dull project management role into a startup that pioneered eCom tools—and eventually Amazon.

[7:00] - Jace Ree tells the story of how a chance conversation led him from shopper marketing into an Amazon Fresh role that changed everything.

[9:33] - Reflections on the evolution of eCommerce and how early adopters paved the way for today’s specialized talent pool.

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