Zaira Makaeva

Zaira Makaeva is a retail leader who believes a store is a stage — and that a great performance is rehearsed daily. Over two decades she has gone from running her own multi-unit retail business in Moscow to managing stores for some of New York's most recognizable fashion brands: Karl Lagerfeld Paris, Michael Kors, and Aeropostale.

Her method is simple and relentless: clear goals posted where the whole team can see them, coaching that meets each associate where they are, and a shop floor kept beautiful enough to sell on its own. The result — teams that hit their numbers, and clients who come back.

“Retail is theatre. The floor is the stage, the team is the cast — and every day is opening night.”