Episode 143

full
Published on:

22nd Apr 2024

REI's Susan Viscon on Driving Racial Equity In The Outdoor Industry With Path Ahead Ventures

In this exclusive interview recorded live from the VusionGroup studio at the World Retail Congress in Paris, Susan Viscon, VP and Executive Director of Path Ahead Ventures at REI, sits down with Omni Talk's Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga to discuss the groundbreaking venture fund aimed at supporting entrepreneurs of color in the outdoor industry. With a career spanning over two decades at REI, including a role as Chief Merchant, Susan shares her journey and the inspiration behind Path Ahead Ventures.

Key Takeaways:

  • The $30 million fund's unique approach to direct equity investments and grants
  • Strategies for inviting and supporting diverse founders in the outdoor industry
  • The power of inclusive design and community activation in driving business success
  • Leveraging purpose to shape decision-making and create customer loyalty

Learn how REI is working to scale Path Ahead Ventures and drive meaningful change in the outdoor industry.

#REI #PathAheadVentures #SusanViscon #RacialEquity #OutdoorIndustry #EntrepreneursOfColor #InclusiveDesign #PurposeDrivenBusiness #OmniTalkPodcast #WorldRetailCongress



This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Omni Talk Retail

About the Podcast

Omni Talk Retail
Omni Talk Retail provides news, analysis, and commentary on the latest trends and issues in the retail industry
Omni Talk Retail provides news, analysis, and commentary on the latest trends and issues in the retail industry. It covers a wide range of topics related to retail, including e-commerce, technology, marketing, and consumer behavior. The podcast regularly features industry experts, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, as well as retail thought leaders who all share their insights and perspectives on the latest developments in retail.

About your hosts

Anne Mezzenga

Profile picture for Anne Mezzenga
Anne Mezzenga is an entrepreneurial Marketing Executive with nearly 20 years in the retail, experience design, and technology industries.

Currently, she is one of the founders and Co-CEOs of Omni Talk.

Prior to her latest ventures, Anne was most recently the Head of Marketing and Partnerships for Target’s Store of the Future project. Early in her career, Anne worked as a producer for advertising agencies, Martin Williams and Fallon, and as a producer and reporter for news affiliates NBC New York and KMSP Minneapolis.

Anne holds a BA in Journalism from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.

When Anne is not busy blogging, podcasting, or sharing her expertise with clients, she loves spending time with her husband and two boys and partaking in all the Minneapolis food scene has to offer.

Chris Walton

Profile picture for Chris Walton