Rosa Passi

I attribute my success to my ability to adapt and stay positive through change. I’ve worked through different roles and transitions, and I’ve learned that being open to learning and willing to figure things out as you go makes a big difference. Building strong relationships has also been key for me, whether that’s with teammates, leaders, or partners. I’m fortunate to have a strong support system both professionally and personally that’s helped push me to grow and stay grounded. Lastly, my creative side plays an important role in how I approach challenges, allowing me to think differently, stay flexible, and find solutions that aren’t always obvious.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is to always ask the question. If you don’t ask, the answer is already no. That mindset has shaped how I learn, how I grow, and how I navigate new opportunities. I’ve been fortunate to have strong mentors and leaders throughout my career who reinforced this, encouraging me to speak up, ask questions without fear, and trust that everyone in leadership once started in the same place. That advice helped me build confidence, make better decisions, and take on challenges I might have otherwise hesitated to pursue. It’s a simple lesson, but it’s had a lasting impact on my career: curiosity opens doors, and growth starts with asking.

I would advise young women entering this industry to never stop learning, trust their gut, and believe in themselves. This industry moves quickly, and staying curious and open to growth will create opportunities you may not even realize are possible. It’s important to ask questions, take risks when something feels right, and not be afraid of stepping into unfamiliar or male-dominated spaces. Your instincts matter, and if you feel pulled toward an opportunity, go for it, most things can be figured out along the way. Finally, don’t feel like your career path has to be perfectly linear. Growth often comes from saying yes to new challenges, building strong relationships, and showing resilience through change. And most importantly, never dull your shine or quiet your voice to make others comfortable.

One of the biggest challenges right now is the pace of change. There’s a lot happening at once, industry consolidation, large acquisitions, shifting customer expectations, all while teams are juggling more priorities than ever. It can be tough to balance long-term strategy with the day-to-day operational demands that still need to get done. That said, there’s also a huge opportunity in that disruption. Teams that really lean into data, stay agile, and build strong supplier partnerships are in a great position to stand out. There’s also a lot of room to innovate, whether that’s through smarter assortments, new product development, or finding better ways to serve customers. When you get that balance right, it can truly drive growth.

The values that matter most to me are integrity, continuous learning, and balance. I believe in doing the right thing, being honest, and showing up consistently for the people I work with. I’m always looking for ways to grow and improve, and I enjoy combining data and creativity to solve problems in a thoughtful way. I also really value collaboration and mentorship, both at work and outside of it. Giving back to my community is important to me, especially when it comes to supporting and developing others. And finally, I try to maintain a healthy balance between growing my career and being present for my family, because both matter to me.