Meet the Advisors: Andrea K. Leigh
With over two decades of experience shaping the digital retail landscape, Andrea K. Leigh has built a career at the intersection of commerce, technology, and consumer behavior. As the Founder and CEO of Allume Group, she leads a strategic consultancy that empowers brands to compete — and win — in today’s fast-paced digital and omnichannel retail environments.
Andrea’s journey spans 10 years working in Amazon’s commerce division, where she helped launch product categories across three countries. Her time at Amazon gave her deep insight into the mechanics of global eCommerce operations and the evolving expectations of digital shoppers.
Now, as a member of the Retail Cloud Alliance Advisory Council, Andrea is joining a forward-looking network of retail leaders who are helping shape the future of commerce. She brings a unique perspective informed by decades of practical experience and a deep passion for innovation in shopper experience, backend efficiency, and the intelligent use of data and cloud technologies.
How have you seen the retail industry evolving recently? Are there any hot trends you’re paying attention to?
Absolutely - AI is now influencing over half of product journeys online, bifurcting traffic that used to go to retailer web sites and providing shoppers with a high degree of personalization and convenience. Retailers are following suit, enabling AI-powered search and virtual shopping assistants on their web sites. It's a race to capture the dynamic shopper, who's changing right now more than ever before.
What does retail innovation look like to you?
Retail innovation is about improving either shopper discovery, execution (add to cart, checkout, payments, etc.) or about improving backend operations to drive more transactions at a lower cost.
What role does cloud technology play in retail’s digital transformation?
Cloud technology is the backbone of retail’s digital transformation. It enables real-time data processing, scalability, and the integration of AI and machine learning tools that power everything from personalized recommendations to dynamic pricing. It's what makes agility possible right now.
What advice would you give to aspiring retail executives and thought leaders?
Find ways to stay current, but be open to revisiting them. As AI became a bigger part of commerce, my regular thought leaders, conferences, and systems weren't helping me stay current, so I had to find new ones! Always be on the lookout for interesting people and publications that can help you learn and foster your sense of curiosity!
Why are you and Allume Group excited to be part of the Retail Cloud Alliance?
We're thrilled to be a part of the Retail Cloud Alliance to learn from and be inspired by others forging the path of the unknown - the future of retail technology!
