“I am of the belief that you need to build a strong team around you. I hire people that are much smarter than I am — that’s how you develop the best solutions.”
As president of HRC Retail Advisory and interim CEO of True Religion, Efros has helped several big brands reach bold objectives. Her sought-after expertise as a consultant is built on past experiences in leading roles at companies like The Partnering Group, PwC and Office Depot.
As executive vice-president and chief merchandising officer of Office Depot, Efros was responsible for transforming the merchandising operation of its 1170 locations across North America.
“It was stressful but rewarding! Being part of and leading the change was just incredible,” says Efros.
Major challenge
“Just being a woman in business is an everyday challenge. That, in itself, creates a different expectation and perception. But it’s about keeping your head up high and having conviction.”
Career advice
“To me it’s all about being humble, being true to yourself, being ethical and listening to others. Regardless of the role people play in an organization, each person has an opinion and they should be heard and welcomed.”
The importance of team work
“I am of the belief that you need to build a strong team around you. I hire people that are much smarter than I am — that’s how you develop the best solutions. Plus, I ensure that we trust each other and that we’re all rowing in the same direction.”
The Concordia advantage
“Concordia was an incredible experience; I was able to build a nice community both with teachers and students, largely due to the smaller class size and the resources available to us. That really set the stage.