How Coach and Kate Spade are evolving for a new generation
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Tapestry's Sandeep Seth joins NRF's Retail Gets Real Podcast in New York City.
Sandeep Seth will be celebrated at the NRF Foundation Honors as one of the dynamic leaders on The List of People Shaping Retail’s Future 2027.
From selling fax machines door to door in India to helping lead some of the world's most recognizable brands, Sandeep Seth has built a career around reinvention, consumer understanding and challenging what's possible. As chief growth officer and president of Tapestry International, Seth brings decades of experience in brand building and leadership to the company behind Coach and Kate Spade. On this episode of NRF's Retail Gets Real podcast, he speaks about building his career, leadership lessons and the future of retail.
Sandeep Seth, chief growth officer and president of Tapestry International
Building a career through reinvention
After beginning his career in engineering and technology, Seth spent nearly 24 years at Procter & Gamble, eventually becoming global CEO of skincare brand SK-II. His move to Tapestry in 2021 was one of his biggest professional risks, requiring a transition to a new company, industry, country and culture. But one principle remained consistent throughout his career: understanding what consumers value and creating something meaningful for them.
Unlocking potential through leadership
Seth's leadership philosophy centers on helping employees recognize capabilities they may not see in themselves. He's particularly motivated by challenges that initially seem impossible and the opportunities they create for teams to grow.
His manager at P&G challenged him to bring his own ideas and perspectives to the table, as just working hard on its own wasn’t enough. That lesson continues to influence his advice to others: Having the courage to express a point of view is what sets people apart.
“What differentiates you is to have the courage to have a point of view,” Seth says. “Even if you are wrong, it’s okay to be wrong.”
Why the future of retail is human
Despite rapid advances in technology, younger consumers are increasingly embracing physical stores, events and real-world experiences. Technology remains essential, but customers now expect it to work seamlessly in the background rather than dominate their shopping experiences.
At Coach and Kate Spade, growth across both physical and digital channels reinforces the importance of bringing these experiences together. Stores are evolving beyond places to buy products into spaces for experiences and human connection, and artificial intelligence can help retailers operate more efficiently and give store associates better information to serve customers. But Seth believes emotional connections, not technology itself, will define the future of retail.
Staying curious and embracing change
Keeping up with innovation requires curiosity and a willingness to learn from unexpected places. Seth regularly observes consumers in everyday settings, visits their homes and explores emerging technologies to better understand how people live and shop. “My philosophy is to move away from ‘I want to know it all’ to ‘I want to learn it all,’ Seth says.
That mindset also shapes how he approaches organizational change. Growth requires challenging established ways of working, but successful transformation means understanding the human emotions behind resistance, not just presenting data. At Tapestry, combining creativity with data and operational discipline helps its brands evolve while preserving their unique identities. Looking ahead, consumer obsession remains central to sustaining Coach's momentum and building growth at Kate Spade.
Episode chapters
(00:00:00) A career built on reinvention and taking risks
Why transitioning to Tapestry was his biggest professional risk
The importance of understanding consumers across industries
(00:05:57) Unlocking potential through leadership
How setting overly ambitious goals can bring out the best in teams
The importance of having the courage to share your ideas and perspectives
(00:11:08) Staying curious in a rapidly changing world
What observing consumers in their everyday lives can teach retailers
Finding inspiration from global technology leaders and younger generations
(00:13:33) The future of retail is human connection
Why younger consumers are returning to physical stores and experiences
How Coach and Kate Spade are balancing digital and in-store growth
Where AI fits into the future of retail and customer engagement
(00:18:10) Balancing creativity and data to drive growth
How Tapestry combines creative intuition with data and operational discipline
Navigating resistance to change while preserving a brand's identity
Resources:
Read the NRF Foundation’s List of People Shaping Retail’s Future for 2027
Get ready for Retail’s Big Show in NYC
Become an NRF member and join the world’s largest retail trade association
Find more episodes at retailgetsreal.com