What happens when data becomes more than a tool and starts to shape how we lead, learn, and listen?

In this episode of Retail Relates, Rich Honiball and Guy Courtin sit down with Katherine Black, Partner at Kearney and one of RETHINK Retail’s Top Retail Experts for 2025. Katherine’s career has taken her from Capital One to dunnhumby, KPMG, and now Kearney - helping global retailers turn customer data into meaningful loyalty and long-term growth.

She explains why curiosity beats coding, how the best loyalty programs are built on trust - not transactions - and why AI is most powerful when guided by human judgment. Katherine also reflects on lessons from her work with Tesco, Goodwill, and other global organizations, and what students and emerging leaders can learn from the next wave of “agent commerce.”

Insightful, practical, and refreshingly human - this episode is a masterclass in transforming data into impact.

Katherine Black Bio
Katherine P. Black is a data-driven strategist and Partner at Kearney, where she helps global retail and consumer companies transform how they grow, compete, and create value through data. With more than twenty years of experience leading commercial and technical teams, she specializes in converting data assets into strategic advantage—building loyalty ecosystems, designing data-driven pricing and personalization, and launching large-scale monetization programs that unlock new revenue streams. Her work consistently delivers measurable results, driving mature businesses to 3–5-point sales growth and launching new lines that achieve double-digit gains in year one.

Prior to Kearney, Katherine held leadership roles at KPMG and dunnhumby, where she led customer analytics partnerships with retailers including Tesco, Kroger, and Macy’s. She is a member of Chief, serves on the Board of Directors for Goodwill NY/NJ, and has been recognized among Retail Leader’s “Top Women to Watch in Retail” and DM News’ “40 Under 40.” Most recently, she was named one of RETHINK Retail’s Top Retail Experts for 2025. A lifelong believer that “data gives a voice to every customer,” Katherine is passionate about helping companies listen better, act smarter, and grow with purpose.