{"id":18978,"date":"2026-02-05T15:10:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T20:10:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/?p=18978"},"modified":"2026-02-05T15:10:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T20:10:20","slug":"trailblazers-black-leadership-in-retail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chainstoreguide.com\/offthechain\/2026\/02\/trailblazers-black-leadership-in-retail\/","title":{"rendered":"Trailblazers: Black Leadership in Retail"},"content":{"rendered":"

Latriece Watkins Takes the Helm at Sam’s Club<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We often think of companies in terms of their iconic logos or catchy slogans. Rarely do we think of the people behind the big corporate machine and the human element that makes it all possible. CSG\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>Trailblazer<\/span><\/a>\u00a0series puts a spotlight on individuals who have made their own way and empowered those around them. February is Black History Month, and\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0kicking off 2026 by celebrating Black executives who have taken their industries by storm and guided legacy brands to a new future.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Imagine starting as an intern and\u00a0nearly three\u00a0decades later becoming the CEO.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0exactly what happened to Latriece Watkins, who just took over as President and CEO of\u00a0<\/span>Sam\u2019s Club<\/span><\/b>\u00a0on February 1st. Her story is one of those rare career journeys that\u00a0prove\u00a0persistence and seizing opportunities can take you all the way to the top. What makes it even better? She started shopping at\u00a0<\/span>Walmart<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>as a kid in small-town Arkansas and never\u00a0<\/span>dreamed;<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>she\u00a0would<\/span>\u00a0one day be running one of its biggest divisions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Growing up in McGehee, Arkansas, Watkins was just another kid shopping at Walmart stores. She went on to earn her bachelor\u2019s degree in political science from\u00a0<\/span>Spelman College,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>then attended law school at the\u00a0<\/span>University of Arkansas<\/span>. While studying for her law degree, she landed an internship in Walmart\u2019s real estate division in 1997. That part-time job eventually turned into a full-time career. Guiding her through\u00a0just about every\u00a0major area of the company, from real estate, merchandising, human resources, and store operations.\u00a0She\u2019s\u00a0climbed the ladder one rung at a time and earned her reputation as one of retail\u2019s most influential leaders.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Before stepping into the Sam\u2019s Club CEO role, Watkins ran merchandising for Walmart U.S., which is a fancy way of saying she decided what products ended up on shelves in stores across the country.\u00a0We\u2019re\u00a0talking about\u00a0$500 billion\u00a0worth of merchandise.\u00a0That\u2019s\u00a0one of the most powerful jobs in retail. She had a knack for bringing in premium brands such as\u00a0Sonos\u00a0speakers and La Roche-Posay skincare while\u00a0still keeping\u00a0prices low. Her biggest win? Launching\u00a0<\/span>Bettergoods<\/span>, Walmart\u2019s first new grocery private label in 20 years.\u00a0<\/span>Think about<\/span>\u00a0international flavors with eye-catching packaging, and 90% of the items are priced under five\u00a0bucks. She proved you\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0have to sacrifice quality to keep things affordable.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Watkins has her work cut out for her leading Sam\u2019s Club as it goes head-to-head with\u00a0<\/span>Costco<\/span><\/b>. Sam\u2019s Club\u00a0pulled in\u00a0$90.2 billion\u00a0in sales last year across 600 stores, about 13% of Walmart\u2019s total revenue. Her game plan? Beef up Sam\u2019s Club\u2019s private label,\u00a0<\/span>Member\u2019s Mark<\/span>, which already makes up about a third of sales. Given her\u00a0track record\u00a0with\u00a0developing winning brands and understanding what wealthier shoppers want,\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0the right person for the job.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Watkins\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0just about business. She is also a member of the Board of Directors for\u00a0<\/span>Live Nation Entertainment.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0In addition, she stays busy with\u00a0a long list\u00a0of community organizations: the Thaden School, Mercy Health Foundation, American Heart Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and the Boys and Girls Club. She even chaired UNITY, Walmart\u2019s affinity group for\u00a0<\/span>African American<\/span>\u00a0associates, for two terms, and has been\u00a0a strong supporter\u00a0of diversity and inclusion throughout her career.\u00a0<\/span>Fortune<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>called it back in 2020 when they put her on a list of women most likely to become one of their Most Powerful Women. She was also inducted into the\u00a0<\/span>Arkansas Black Hall of Fame<\/span>\u00a0for everything\u00a0she\u2019s\u00a0done in business and her community.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s why Watkins\u2019 appointment matters beyond just business wins: Black women make up only 1.7% of executive roles in retail, according to the Women of Color Retail Alliance. Her promotion puts another Black woman at the very top of corporate America and builds on what\u00a0<\/span>Rosalind Brewer<\/span>\u00a0started when she led Sam\u2019s Club from 2012 to 2017 before moving on to run\u00a0<\/span>Starbucks<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>and\u00a0<\/span>Walgreens<\/span><\/b>. Watkins credits the strong women in her family for her success and believes that life comes full circle. She lives in Bentonville with her two kids,\u00a0Alex\u00a0and Londyn.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As Watkins settles into her new role at Sam\u2019s Club, she will be bringing a customer-first mindset, years of operational experience, and a commitment to building up her team. She believes that \u201cgreat retail starts with great people,\u201d which is exactly the kind of thinking\u00a0that\u2019ll\u00a0keep Sam\u2019s Club moving forward. The retail world is watching to see what she does next, and if her\u00a0track record\u00a0is any\u00a0indication,\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0in for some exciting changes.\u00a0She\u2019s\u00a0living proof that with opportunity, hard work, and vision, you can make it to the top. Follow CSG as we continue celebrating Black History Month with more\u00a0<\/span>trailblazers<\/span><\/a>\u00a0who are shaping the future of retail and foodservice.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Sources<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n