mornin’ merry makers ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

in an era where tech gets the glory & algorithms get the funding, ron thurston is betting on something radically analog: people.

after decades leading teams at truly best-in-class retailers, ron became retail’s loudest (& kindest) voice for human potential. his first book, retail pride, reframed the retail job as a career with dignity. now, in his newset book, human pride, he’s going even deeper.

asking what it means to thrive in a world increasingly built for machines?

my favorite fun fact about ron is that he packed his life into an airstream & toured 30 states, visiting retail workers where they are. not where we assume they should be. cough in coastal elite cities cough.

today’s letter part travelogue, part testimony, part love letter to the people holding up the frontline of commerce.

& it couldn’t be more timely for pride month!

bts q&a: ron thurston

Q1: can you share a little bit about you and the work that you do?

I’m Ron Thurston—bestselling author, keynote speaker, and advisor to forward-thinking companies and leaders who want to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving workplace. After decades of leading iconic retail brands like Apple, Gap, and Saint Laurent, I’ve shifted my focus to helping people and businesses unlock what I call their greatest human potential—especially in an era where AI and automation are rewriting the rules.

Through my company, YOUR GREATEST POTENTIAL™, I work with executive teams, emerging leaders, and front-line talent to build strategic clarity, energize culture, and drive results through bold human-centered leadership.

My new book, HUMAN PRIDE: Optimizing Your Human Potential in a Digital Job Market, is a guide for anyone looking to stand out, take ownership of their career, & lead with purpose in a world that’s changing faster than ever.

Q2: through your retail in america tour across 30 states, what surprised you most about how retail differs across the country?

you’ve made it to the good part 😎