Rack Room Senior Director Melanie Ortlieb on the Importance of a ‘United Front’: Women Who Rock
Jennie Bell
Deputy Managing Editor
Melanie Ortlieb has bone to pick with the retail industry.
“While women demonstrate strong leadership qualities and possess valuable analytical and strategic skills, they remain significantly underrepresented in leadership positions within the retail sector,” she said.
Ortlieb has the experience to back up that declaration. She has worked in the industry for more than two decades, at major retail companies including DSW, Lane Bryant, Family Dollar and The Limited. For the past several years, she’s been a leader at Rack Room Shoes in Charlotte, N.C., now serving as senior director of planning and allocation.
To foster more gender equity in the retail sector, she said, “it is crucial to provide robust support systems for women, including access to mentorship programs and comprehensive professional development opportunities.”
Watch on FN
One such opportunity she relies on is the Empowering Women in Business Conference, organized by the Charlotte Area Chamber of Commerce. Orlieb said the annual event offers inspiring and motivating sessions, so she consistently encourages other women from throughout the Rack Room organization to participate each year.
“These sessions provide valuable insights and practical strategies for navigating both personal and professional challenges, equipping colleagues across the business with new skills and techniques,” she explained. “A significant advantage of this conference is the invaluable opportunity to network with other accomplished women.”
And Ortlieb believes it’s vital to cultivate strong networks that support and celebrate each other’s successes. “This spirit of sisterhood, embodied in the adage ‘real queens fix each other’s crowns,’ fosters a positive and empowering environment,” she said.
However, she notes, instances of competitive and destructive behavior do exist between women in the workplace — but they are a “lose-lose scenario.”
“Ultimately, a united front, characterized by mutual support and encouragement, presents the most advantageous path for women’s collective progress,” said Ortlieb.
A version of this article appeared in the Feb. 3 print issue of FN, as part of the “Women Who Rock” special section. On Feb. 4, FN and Two Ten Footwear Foundation will honor these women at the annual live event in New York City.
