About Mark Ryski:

Mark Ryski is the Founder and CEO of HeadCount, a pioneer in store traffic and conversion analytics since 1994. He is the author of two landmark books—When Retail Customers Count, the first book ever written on the subject, and CONVERSION: The Last Great Retail Metric, now considered the industry’s definitive guide. His expertise has been featured in Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, Retail Dive, CBC, and The Globe & Mail, and he is a BrainTrust contributor for RetailWire. Today, HeadCount works with leading retailers in 24 countries, helping them transform traffic data into insights, boost conversion rates, and drive stronger business results.

In this episode, Kevin and Mark Ryski discuss:

• Why data without insight fails to create impact
• The evolving role of brick-and-mortar stores in a digital-first world
• How focus and specialization drive growth and innovation
• Finding purpose and resilience through failure and reinvention
• The balance between business performance and human connection

Key Takeaways:

• Data only matters when it leads to insight. Numbers by themselves are noise — what separates great leaders is their ability to see patterns, connect meaning, and tell stories that inspire action.
• The retail world isn’t dying, it’s adapting. In-person experiences continue to play a vital role in the customer journey, and the brands that blend digital convenience with human connection will always stand out.
• Focus creates strength. Instead of chasing endless opportunities, narrowing your attention allows you to build depth, clarity, and mastery — the kind that positions you as the expert in your field.
• Resilience is the thread running through every leadership story. Failure, uncertainty, and redirection aren’t the end — they’re often the very moments that refine purpose and reveal what truly matters.

"You are constantly in the fog of not having certainty about how things will turn out. But you need to make the decisions anyway." – Mark Ryski

Connect with Mark Ryski:

Website: http://headcount.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-ryski-8826601/ & https://www.linkedin.com/company/headcount-corporation/

Book: https://a.co/d/aSDWmMz

Connect with Kevin Neal:

Website: https://drkdneal.com

Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS

https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63