Kristen Sosa, division president of New York Brands at Caleres, is embracing the uncertain.
“Disruption has always been part of our industry, but today’s environment is especially volatile,” Sosa told FN. “As a leader, this type of moment requires the mindset to embrace uncertainty while maintaining discipline, rigor and the ability to adapt quickly.”
To address the growing use of artificial intelligence in the industry, Sosa noted that she’s invested time in building fluency around new AI capabilities to improve efficiency and enable smarter, faster decisions. “At the same time, I’m staying deeply focused on the evolving marketing and distribution ecosystem as consumers discover our brands in more ways than ever,” she said.
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But this isn’t the first time disruption has influenced Sosa’s career path. “Over a 30-year career, I’ve led through challenges I never could have imagined — from 9/11 and the financial crisis to the pandemic, tariffs and dramatic shifts in consumer behavior,” the executive maintained. “Each moment required us to respond to both people and business challenges in entirely new ways. We often had to act quickly, while staying grounded in our values and focused on long-term outcomes. That experience reinforces the importance of calm leadership, resilience and disciplined decision-making in uncertain times.”
But no matter the challenge she’s faced, Sosa said that her definition of success has remained relatively the same throughout her career. “Success has always meant being a leader who inspires others, lives their values and consistently delivers results,” Sosa noted. “Over time, I’ve learned that those elements are deeply connected — when you lead with purpose and integrity, strong business outcomes follow. That definition has remained constant, even as the scale and complexity of the role have evolved.”
And AI disruption aside, Sosa believes now is an “incredibly exciting time” to start a career. “Put yourself in learning situations—ask questions, seek out meetings, build relationships and stay deeply curious,” she explained. “Use data to understand every aspect of the business, from consumer behavior to product performance, but always push to understand the why.”
A version of this article appeared in the June 1 print issue of FN, as part of the “Women Who Rock” special section. On June 3, FN and Two Ten Footwear Foundation honored these women at the annual live event in New York City.
