Georgetown & NRF Launch $6M Retail Initiative for AI & Sustainability
Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business and the National Retail Federation (NRF) have joined forces to launch the NRF Business of Retail Initiative. This collaboration brings together academic excellence and industry expertise to tackle contemporary retail challenges and elevate retail studies.
The initiative, backed by a $6 million gift from the NRF, will endow various programs and research grants. It aims to develop solutions for issues like personalization, logistics, and AI applications in retail. Kelly Lee, assistant teaching professor of marketing, will serve as the initiative's Program Director, while Luc Wathieu, professor of marketing, takes on the role of Research Director.
The initiative will operate at the intersection of business and global affairs, offering academic offerings and experiential learning opportunities. It will collaborate with existing academic areas and faculty-led centers at McDonough, such as the Business of Sustainability Initiative and the AI, Analytics and the Future of Work Initiative. The NRF, as the leading authority and voice for the retail industry, will empower the initiative to share the story of retail as an industry driven by innovation and opportunity.
The NRF Business of Retail Initiative, led by McDonough and supported by the NRF, seeks to produce long-lasting research and shape the future of retail. By combining Georgetown's academic excellence with the NRF's industry expertise, the initiative aims to elevate retail studies and create meaningful impact.
