Influential Woman · Luxury Retail
Anna Kistner
Manager, Merchandising Analytics & Reporting, Saks Global
Palo Alto, CA
Her Story
About Anna
Anna Kistner serves as Manager of Store Reporting and Analytics at Saks Global, the company that owns and operates Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. In this role for about two years, she analyzes the performance of over a thousand luxury fashion brands, works closely with leadership on issues and opportunities, and handles automation of most reports. With over 15 years in luxury retail, she previously worked in Dubai at Galeries Lafayette as a buyer and was promoted to head of accessories, where she managed over 150 luxury brands, handled $28 million in revenue and $5 million in open-to-buy, led a team of three sales managers and over 112 sales advisors, modernized the timepiece and jewelry department, and introduced the contemporary handbags department. She also completed a four-month consulting project in Riyadh for Al-Raji Holding on buying and merchandising for a luxury niche perfumery concept. Drawing from over 10 years as a buyer, Anna developed her Predictive Buying Intelligence Platform, an algorithm that forecasts demand in luxury fashion across 48 variables with 87 percent accuracy, helping brands like Dior, Chloe, and Versace reduce markdowns and waste. She holds an associate degree in finance, a bachelor and master's in marketing from Russia, a Master of Science in Business Analytics from California State University, training in fashion buying and merchandising from Central Saint Martins at the University of the Arts London, and studies in leadership and influence from Stanford. Anna attributes her success to her parents and tough upbringing in Russia, exposure to different cultures through travel and work in the Middle East and beyond, and experience with amazing fashion brands worldwide.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Anna
01What do you attribute your success to?
My parents played a major role in shaping who I am. Growing up in Russia was tough, which forced me to mature quickly and become serious and responsible. Travel and exposure to different cultures broadened my horizons—as did working with amazing fashion brands from all over the world. Without those three factors, I wouldn't be the person I am today.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Find your passion and monetize it. If it serves a higher purpose of making this world better—that's the ultimate thing you can do with your life.
I've carried this advice with me throughout my career. It reminds me that work shouldn't just be about earning a living—it should be about doing something that truly matters. When you align what you love with what you're good at, and when that work has a positive impact on others, it stops feeling like work altogether. That's what I strive for every day.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Follow your passion—and make sure you can monetize what you love. Success in your field, combined with genuine passion for your work, is a form of ikigai: that sweet spot where what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for all intersect.
When you're making a living doing what you love, while also contributing something useful to society and making the people around you happy—that, I believe, is the ultimate recipe for fulfillment and satisfaction in life.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in luxury retail today is that buying decisions are still largely based on intuition—buyers commit millions six months in advance while consumer behavior shifts in real time. This leads to $25B in annual markdowns and massive waste. The opportunity, however, is enormous: brands that embrace data-driven forecasting can achieve 87% accuracy, dramatically improve margins, and reduce waste. My PBIP methodology is already proving that shift is not only possible—it's profitable
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, curiosity, and impact.
Integrity means doing what's right even when no one is watching—being honest with myself, my colleagues, and the people I serve. In my work, that means making decisions based on data and evidence, not shortcuts or convenient narratives.
Curiosity is what drives me. I've always been the person who asks "why" and "what if." It's what led me to build PBIP—because I couldn't accept that buying decisions had to be based on intuition alone. In life, curiosity keeps me open, humble, and constantly learning.
Impact is the ultimate measure of success. I don't just want to be busy—I want what I do to matter. Whether it's helping a luxury brand reduce waste, mentoring a team member, or contributing something useful to society, I want to leave things better than I found them.
These three values—integrity, curiosity, and impact—guide everything I do. They're my compass.
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