Katia Walsh on 'permeating Levi's with the best digital data and AI capabilities'

The retail industry is increasingly integrating AI efforts into business strategies, and Katia Walsh, chief global strategy and AI officer at Levi Strauss and Co., is at the forefront of those changes. Walsh has been with Levi's for nearly four years and has led the charge of melding Levi's values with innovative technological capabilities to both drive change and increase revenue. Walsh has a strong track record. Prior to Levi's, Walsh's work contributed to transforming companies across many industries in 30-plus countries. She holds a Ph.D. in strategic communication with a specialization in quantitative methodology. "I joined Levi's because of what the brand symbolizes for me. Especially growing up in a communist country, it meant so much more than clothes — and I love the clothes. ... It's also a symbol of freedom, of democracy, of the unattainable. To this day, if you ask people in Eastern Europe what some of the strongest brands are, Levi's tops that list. I also joined Levi's because of its DNA of innovation. ... It has always stood up for making an impact on the world," Walsh said on the latest episode of the Glossy Podcast. The executive credits developing three particular passions as the key to her professional success. Those include data and information, technology's ability to amplify information, and the power of machine learning to analyze it all and drive desired outcomes.