Few people have impacted the footwear industry like Tacey Powers.
Two Ten Footwear Foundation will recognize the Nordstrom veteran at its gala on June 2 with the WIFI Impact Award, in gratitude for her extensive contributions to the Women in the Footwear Industry (WIFI) community.
Shawn Osborne, president and CEO of Two Ten, noted that Powers has proven her commitment to empowering women through her formal involvement in Two Ten, as well as in her leadership role at the department store as executive vice president and general merchandise manager of shoes, accessories, home and kids.
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“Tacey has had such an impressive career, and at Nordstrom, she’s always focused on opening doors for others and creating opportunities for women,” said Osborne. “Those are the same values that are instilled in WIFI. She could be the poster child for WIFI — she really does live it.”
Below, Powers reflects on the importance of the WIFI community and what is necessary to propel women into the top echelons of the retail industry.
What does it mean to receive the WIFI Impact Award from Two Ten?
“I am deeply honored to be recognized as someone who is seen as having made an impact in support of women in the footwear industry. Our industry is filled with extraordinary women who show up and make a difference every single day. To be seen or called out among that group is not something that I take lightly, and it’s a distinction that I hold with great pride and gratitude.”
Why did you initially get involved with the Two Ten organization?
“[At Nordstrom], we’re structured in what we call an inverted pyramid. Everything that we do is in support of the customer, and our salespeople are at the top of the pyramid. After my first Two Ten fundraiser, it was evident that Two Ten was set up in a similar fashion — to support people in the industry, and that resonated with me, so I felt obligated to get involved. And I’m so glad I did, because I’ve had the privilege to work alongside a lot of people I wouldn’t have met. And it’s given me a broader view of the industry: its people, its strengths and its opportunities. You can work in the shoe industry, or you can be involved in the shoe industry, and Two Ten and WIFI allowed me to do that.”
What makes WIFI such an important part of the equation?
“WIFI is more than just an organization. It’s really a community, and it brings people together and creates a network rooted in genuine support and connection. I have seen firsthand the impact it’s had on my own team. They’ve built meaningful relationships with women across the industry, and those connections have translated into deeper, more-engaged working relationships. The camaraderie is real.”
How can the next generation of female leaders make the most of it?
“I encourage them to continue to come together as a group. Trust each other. It’s OK to be vulnerable and discuss your fears, discuss your challenges, discuss your successes. As our industry goes through what I would consider an ever-evolving retail climate, it’s going to be more important than ever that these women have each other to lean on.”
With many equity and inclusion programs stalled, what is needed to support the advancement of female leaders?
“The way women in our industry right now can secure it and expand it is by continuing to lead with excellence, lifting each other as we climb and leaving this industry better than we found it. We can’t give up. We’ve got to keep fighting.”
What’s your advice for women looking to break through in retail?
“It will be important to lead with curiosity. For instance, so many people talk about the AI topic, and you must run toward it. You cannot run away from it. There will be a lot of those kinds of topics that women are going to face in the ever-changing retail climate. Do not stop learning, and do things that make you uncomfortable, because that’s the only way we all grow. They also need to work hard, they must stay true to who they are, and they must trust that their voice has value.”