If AI agents run retail, who keeps thinking?

If “modernizing” sounds like a buzzword, this conversation turns it into a blueprint. We sit with retail veteran Art Sebastian to trace how a beloved convenience chain moved from hometown habits to a unified, omni-channel engine - without breaking trust or losing its core. The journey starts with customer truth and a clear-eyed data audit, then builds toward a single customer view that powers relevance across email, SMS, push, and in-app experiences. The result isn’t just more messages; it’s fewer blind spots, cleaner consent, and faster baskets. We go inside the organics of change: how a brand creates a Digital Experience team from scratch, scales talent with a two-in-the-box model, and ultimately merges digital, media, PR, and e-commerce into one omni-channel group. Art shares why a customer data platform (CDP) is the spine of modern retail - making identity resolution, privacy compliance, segmentation, and retail media networks both possible and profitable. We also dig into Gen Z’s sharp expectations: personalization over platitudes, time saved over slogans, and social content that feels native rather than promotional. Then we fast-forward into the AI era - predictive, generative, and agentic. You’ll hear practical wins retailers are already capturing (recommendations, send-time optimization, labor scheduling) and a candid look at what’s next as AI agents start coordinating across systems. The takeaway is both empowering and cautionary: IT skills will shift from vendor management to integration mastery, and leaders must defend critical thinking even as automation scales. If you’re steering a grocery, c-store, or retail brand through transformation, this is a roadmap you can actually use. Enjoy the episode? Follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review to help more retail leaders find it.