Terry Lundgren on CEO responsibility
From Retail & The Runway: Terry J. Lundgren (Episode 2) · · Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing
“I always felt like I was responsible for all of my employees and if I didn't make the right decisions and right choices and lead the company properly, you know, that I was impacting the 140,000 at one point employees that I had working for Macy's and Bloomingdales and Blue Mercury, which was all under my supervising all of those those companies and and so I felt like I had a I had a responsibility there. I don't think everybody quite understands that, you know, and and uh uh so I took that very seriously. I I I I I knew that they had a livelihood that was counting on me and counting on me making good decisions for them.”
On , Terry Lundgren, Former Chairman & Chief Executive Officer at Macy's, spoke about CEO responsibility during Retail & The Runway: Terry J. Lundgren (Episode 2) on Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing.
About Terry Lundgren
Terry Lundgren, former chairman and CEO of Macy's, appeared on the podcast "Retail & The Runway" on May 1, 2026, hosted by Ashley Morgan. During the episode, Lundgren discussed the responsibilities of a CEO, stating that he felt responsible for the 140,000 employees he oversaw at Macy's, Bloomingdale's, and Blue Mercury. He also addressed the future of retail, arguing that the strongest retailers will be those that offer an omnichannel shopping experience, combining physical stores with online sales. He noted that Amazon has succeeded without mastering the physical side of the business but said that for most other retailers, a formula involving both physical and online sales will be most successful. Lundgren also commented on the role of artificial intelligence in retail, saying that while many believe AI will help them, they are unsure how. He advised that people should learn more about technology and AI, adding that AI "will more than likely replace some jobs but will create other jobs." Additionally, he encouraged students to make personal connections with executives, suggesting that taking the initiative to introduce oneself can leave a positive impression and provide a competitive edge.