2025 Speakers

Michelle Gass is Levi Strauss & Co.’s president and chief executive officer and serves on the company’s board of directors. Michelle joined LS&Co. in 2023 as the company’s president and was appointed CEO by the Board in January 2024. She is spearheading the transformation of the company into a best-in-class, DTC-first denim lifestyle retailer that leverages the Levi’s® brand's iconic heritage and long-held place at the center of culture to achieve sustainable growth for the years to come.

Michelle has 35 years of experience in the retail and consumer goods industries. Prior to joining LS&Co., Michelle served for five years as CEO of Kohl’s, where she led the company’s evolution into a leading omnichannel retailer by building out a multibillion-dollar ecommerce business, establishing innovative brand collaborations including partnerships with Sephora and Amazon, and introducing a best-in-class loyalty program.

Michelle began her career with Procter & Gamble, then spent close to 17 years with Starbucks, serving as president, Starbucks EMEA, after holding a variety of senior leadership roles across product, marketing and global strategy. She has received numerous professional honors, including being named to Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in Business and Businessperson of the Year lists, as well as being named The Visionary 2020 by the National Retail Federation.

Michelle currently serves on the Board of Directors for PepsiCo and on the Boards of the Retail Industry Leaders Association and the National Retail Federation. She received her undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from the University of Washington.