Ep. 90 - Apparel to Omnichannel: Walmart Veteran Deanah Baker's Journey
The Doing Business in Bentonville Podcast
The Doing Business in Bentonville Podcast
Ep. 90 - Apparel to Omnichannel: Walmart Veteran Deanah Baker's Journey
Mar 25, 2025
Doing Business in Bentonville

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Walmart retail veteran Deanah Baker steps into a new role at Doing Business in Bentonville, bringing three decades of transformational leadership experience to the podcast. 

As the former Senior Vice President of Omni-Channel Merchandising at Walmart, Baker offers unprecedented insights into navigating retail's most challenging transitions - from brick-and-mortar to omnichannel and beyond.

Baker's story is one of strategic vision and practical execution. During her 32-year Walmart career, she managed a $25 billion P&L while orchestrating massive transformations in how customers shop for apparel. 

From consolidating private brands to implementing game-changing RFID technology that revealed 30% "ghost inventory," her innovations fundamentally changed how Walmart serves its customers across physical and digital touchpoints.

What makes Baker's perspective particularly valuable is her focus on "navigating the gray" - making decisive moves despite incomplete information. 

"You have to be comfortable making decisions without knowing all the answers," she explains, revealing how successful retail leaders balance the certainty of customer-centricity with the ambiguity of transformation. 

Her implementation of the "Store of the Future" concept for apparel departments demonstrates how retailers can evolve their physical presence while embracing digital integration.

Baker's upcoming podcast series will feature respected industry leaders, beginning with Terry Truffles from Interdeco discussing how to maintain win-win supplier-retailer partnerships despite today's challenging business environment. 

Her story of learning the sock business from supplier Vic Stober exemplifies her leadership philosophy: stay humble, use intuition to build trusted relationships, and recognize that humility isn't weakness but "quiet strength."

Join us monthly as Deanah Baker shares the insights, strategies and leadership principles that transformed Walmart's approach to omnichannel retail - lessons that remain essential for anyone navigating today's rapidly evolving retail landscape.

Episode Artwork Ep. 90 - Apparel to Omnichannel: Walmart Veteran Deanah Baker's Journey 43:27 Episode Artwork Ep. 89 - Unlocking Retail Media Advertising with AdFury 36:00 Episode Artwork Ep. 88 - Adaptive Retail: The Future of Shopping 40:10 Episode Artwork Ep. 87 - JB Hunt's 360 Box: Freight's Future Beyond Traditional Trucking 38:18 Episode Artwork Ep. 86 - Repurposing the Old: New Age Warehousing Insights with Brendan Howell 40:42 Episode Artwork Ep. 85 - Transforming Retail with Electronic Shelf Labels 42:10 Episode Artwork Ep. 84 - Empowering High-Performance Teams: Leadership Lessons with Celia Swanson 40:00 Episode Artwork Ep. 83 - Phil Shellhammer on Cultivating a New Wave of Innovators 38:24 Episode Artwork Ep. 82 - Maximizing Growth Potential through Smart Capital Solutions 29:04 Episode Artwork Ep. 81 - From Corporate Giants to Educating Future Leaders with Sam Dunn 40:56 Episode Artwork Ep. 80 - Revolutionizing Gig Economy Retail: Christian Crynes and Ken Drish on InstaWork's Tech-Driven Solutions 35:39 Episode Artwork Ep. 79 - The Corporate Compass: Guiding CEOs Through E-commerce and Beyond with Megan Marshall 31:28 Episode Artwork Ep. 78 - Sam Walton's Enduring Influence on Leadership and Culture at Walmart with Sam Dunn 39:22 Episode Artwork Ep. 77 - Peggy Knight's Path to Retail Excellence and Strategic Growth 34:47 Episode Artwork Ep. 76 - Jim Okamura on Navigating the Future of Marketplace Strategies 41:18 Episode Artwork Ep. 75 - Revolutionizing Logistics One SKU at a Time Featuring Daniel Zagalowski 29:58 Episode Artwork Ep. 74 - Unlocking Retail Innovation: John Hopkins on Smart Cart Technology and Customer Engagement 35:42 Episode Artwork Ep. 73 - Mike Graen on Pioneering Omnichannel Retail Strategies 42:49 Episode Artwork Ep. 72 - Redefining Corporate Command via Data-Driven Strategies with Derek Lusk 32:18 Episode Artwork Ep. 71 - Unlocking AI's Transformative Power in Business with Karen Kilroy and Orson Weems 34:47 Episode Artwork Ep. 70 - Rethinking Retail: Merging Analytics, AI, and Sustainability with Leon Nicholas and Kerry Bailey 52:22 Episode Artwork Ep. 69 - Exploring Retail Sustainability and Supply Chain Evolution with Rod Thomas 35:09 Episode Artwork Ep. 68 - Transforming Retail with AI: Chris Sheldon on Market Trends and Growth 35:59 Episode Artwork Ep. 67 - Unveiling E-Commerce Mastery and Shifting Retail Values with Leon Nicholas and Kerry Bailey 29:37 Episode Artwork Ep. 66 - Crafting Cohesive Teams Amidst Digital Disruption with David Gloss 32:07