How tech is driving industry transformation

Google Cloud VP of Retail Carrie Tharp has a long background of embracing disruption. Having joined the Mountain View, Calif.-based tech giant in July, she might be a relative newcomer, but she is no stranger to developing and supporting technology for the changing retail landscape. Tharp spent the past three years at Neiman Marcus Group creating the luxury retailer's digital-first strategy, including shifting to a cloud-centric software stack for marketing and ecommerce and leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to drive programs like digital styling, personalized promos and algorithmic buying. Before that, she was immersed in similar tasks at Fossil and Travelocity. One theme that weaves throughout her career: Tharp embraces the challenge of shepherding retail brands through disruption and helping them evolve the way they interact with customers.