BizTech Magazine Names Top 30 Influencers to Follow

Leslie Hand, group vice president, IDC Retail Insights, was named a Top Retail IT Influencer by BizTech Magazine. Widely recognized as an authority on the evolving retail IT landscape, Leslie boasts nearly three decades of experience in retail and more than 13 years serving as a trusted industry analyst with IDC Retail Insights. As Group Vice President, Leslie is responsible for spearheading the direction of IDC Retail Insights’ research, managing the team, and helping technology suppliers and buyers develop best practices and strategies, leveraging IDC quantitative and qualitative data sets. Follow Leslie on Twitter @lesliehand or LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/lesliehand.

• ClicktoTweet: IDC's @LeslieHand was mentioned in @BizTechMagazine's, "30 Retail IT Influencers to Follow in 2021", as one of the top thought leaders to follow in order to get the inside track on the very latest in retail technology, including e-commerce and the shift to digital: https://bit.ly/31eQyC0

As one of the most highly sought-after resources in the retail IT industry, Leslie's research focuses on the digital transformation of the future store. Her research library explores how retailers are building platforms and solution sets that enable real-time, AI-supported customer and employee experiences that improve the new metrics of retail. Her coverage of retail operations illuminates the accepted vision for the future of retail and how retailers are applying technology to drive more resilience and innovation in the entire retail ecosystem. Check out Leslie’s latest research, including the much anticipated IDC FutureScape: Worldwide Retail 2022 Predictions, HERE.

Leslie is a frequent speaker, presenter, and moderator at top industry events, including the National Retail Federation "Big Show" (NRF) in NYC in January and the Retail Innovation Conference and Expo in Chicago in May. Leslie holds an Executive Certificate in Technology, Operations and Value Chain Management from MIT Sloan, has been awarded IDC’s most prestigious and highest honor for research excellence, The James Peacock Award, and is regularly quoted as an industry expert in top-tier media outlets. She serves as a trusted voice of reason and go-to resource on the most important IT trends to impact the retail industry.

"We are not surprised that Leslie continues to be acknowledged for her keen understanding of the retail IT industry and thoughtful recommendations to guide strategic IT decisions among today's top retailers," said Bob Parker, senior vice president, IDC. "Clients value her opinion, trust her recommendations, and appreciate her wealth of experience as they navigate the changing tides of a digital-first world. We are proud of her continued hard work and grateful to call her an integral member of the IDC community."

To arrange a one-on-one briefing with Leslie Hand, please contact Sarah Murray at 781-378-2674 or sarah@attunecommunications.com.

About IDC Retail Insights

IDC Retail Insights assists retail businesses and IT leaders, as well as the suppliers who serve them, in making more effective technology decisions by providing accurate, timely, and insightful fact-based research and consulting services. Staffed by senior analysts with decades of industry experience, our global research analyzes and advises on business and technology issues facing asset intensive, brand oriented, technology oriented, and engineering oriented retail industries. International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology market. IDC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of IDG, the world’s leading tech media, data, and marketing services company. For more information, please visit www.idc-ri.com, email info@idc-ri.com, or call 508-988-7900.

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Leslie Hand, group vice president, IDC Retail Insights, was named a Top Retail IT Influencer by BizTech Magazine.