In this episode of SHeCOMMERCE, Cristina and Jacqui sit down with Melissa Burdick, co-founder and president of Pacvue—and newly recognized as a Commerce Media Power 100 honoree by The Drum. From her early days at Amazon to bootstrapping, following a major health scare that sharpened her resolve to build the company she always knew she wanted to create.

We dig into what it really takes to go from corporate to “hell yeah” moment when product-market fit became undeniable (hello, first paying customer in six months).

On the industry side, Melissa calls BS on one of the biggest retail media misconceptions: “If we build it, interest won't magically appear just because a retailer launches a network—and why brands’ budgets, cycles, and prioritization realities matter more than hype.

We close with a future-facing conversation on AI-first work, bold career growth (“say yes before you’re ready”), and Melissa’s passion project focused on engineering through creative ad building with real brand assets, real campaigns, and real measurement.

Bold brands. Fierce women. One sisterhood.

SHeCOMMERCE:

Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from SHeCOMMERCE Podcast or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SHeCOMMERCE Podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

SHeCOMMERCE Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

Recorded live from CES, Cristina and Jacqui hit the show floor for a fast-paced “SheCommerce Champagne Bites” episode—short, sharp interviews with female leaders on what’s real vs. what’s hype in tech, AI, and the future of commerce.

First up, Dara Joy Clay (Microsoft AI / Microsoft Advertising) shares a future-casting view of what happens when wearables + biometric data + generative AI collide. The big idea: commerce could shift from “shopping” to anticipation—where your data helps an AI assistant proactively recommend (and even reorder) the wellness products you need, before you even think to add them to cart.

Next, Amishi Takalkar (CEO, Nailbiter) brings the grounded take: AI is the real deal, but the ROI is still catching up to the investment. Her advice is simple and actionable: don’t fear AI—use it as your assistant, not your replacement. The value comes from partnership: let AI handle the basics so humans can focus on higher-order thinking, judgment, and creativity.

Then, Joanne O'Connell (Omnicom) delivers one of the strongest takeaways from the week: human creativity is still the superpower. AI can expand imagination—but it can also create a “sea of sameness” if teams use it like a crutch. The differentiator won’t be access to tools. It’ll be the discipline, talent, and originality behind how we use them.

Cristina and Jacqui close with their own reflections: AI is everywhere at CES, and the bigger conversation is workforce readiness. This isn’t just about jobs disappearing—it’s about parts of jobs changing, fast. The challenge (and opportunity) is how we equip today’s professionals and future graduates to level up with AI, not get left behind.

Because at SheCommerce, it’s never just about trends—it’s about who gets to shape them.

Bold Brands. Fierce Women. One Sisterhood.

...

SHeCOMMERCE:

Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from SHeCOMMERCE Podcast or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SHeCOMMERCE Podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

SHeCOMMERCE Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

We’re closing out 2025 with a no-fluff, all-receipts conversation where power women and real talk collide. Cristina and Jackie are joined by industry heavyweights Peter and Sri from The CPG Guys to audit the year that was—and forecast what’s next.
From the AI hype that fizzled to the retail media reality check, we call BS on overused buzzwords and dig into what really moved the needle (and what didn’t). Expect hot takes on:

AI-powered everything—why it was the most overused phrase and what it actually delivered.
Innovation drought—65% of launches were renovations, not true innovation.
Retail media wins & fails—where it worked (in-store, search) and where it flopped (off-site display).
Metrics that need to die—ROAS, influencer engagement, and “new-to-brand” obsession.
Promo addiction & price-pack architecture—why frequency vs depth matters more than ever.
Women in leadership—progress made, but why representation still lags behind consumer reality.
Unspoken rules to retire—FaceTime ≠ commitment, and culture fit ≠ sameness.

Plus, we tackle the big question: What does “Beyond the Basket” really mean? Spoiler: It’s about relationships, not transactions.
This episode is bold, provocative, and packed with insights for anyone navigating the evolving world of CPG, retail media, and commerce.

SHeCOMMERCE:

Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shecommercepodcast/

DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from SHeCOMMERCE Podcast or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SHeCOMMERCE Podcast. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.

SHeCOMMERCE Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.