“Lead with positivity, act with purpose, and always be curious.”
Beth Picha is a results-driven executive with over two decades of leadership in business strategy, sales, marketing and organizational transformation. With a career spanning some of the most competitive sectors—Retail, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Technology, and Education Services—Beth has made her mark by combining human-centered design with go-to-market strategy to drive sustainable growth and innovation. Her ability to translate complex problems into simple, actionable solutions has earned her a reputation as a trusted leader and collaborative change agent.
Currently serving as Managing Director of Industry Solutions at Korn Ferry, Beth leads strategic client engagements in the Retail sector—Korn Ferry’s fastest-growing division. In this role, she partners with C-suite executives to solve high-stakes business challenges, deliver scalable growth solutions, and leverage Korn Ferry’s global network of executive talent to deliver measurable outcomes. Within her first 100 days, she secured multiple new revenue streams and deepened client relationships through customized, insight-led strategies.
Beth’s professional journey includes high-impact roles at Applaudo, Concentrix, and Samsung Electronics, where she consistently delivered revenue gains and process optimization at scale. At Samsung, she spearheaded the brand’s first-ever retail footprint within Best Buy, rolling out a “store-within-a-store” model to 1,400+ locations in just four months—saving 25% in costs and coming in $5M under budget. She also transformed Samsung’s partnership marketing playbook, setting new benchmarks for retail product launches.
At Applaudo, Beth was instrumental in strengthening client success within the U.S. retail portfolio. She led growth strategies across existing accounts and played a key role in driving client expansion and long-term retention—especially within Fortune 100 relationships.
At Concentrix, she led a $70M+ global transformation portfolio, implementing SaaS-based customer journey solutions for Fortune 500 clients across Automotive, Retail, and Travel sectors. Her efforts contributed to new client growth, cost savings of over $2M, and the launch of a digital customer experience that shifted 30% of actions to self-service, improving both satisfaction and efficiency.
Beth’s earlier roles laid a strong foundation in strategic marketing and operational excellence. As Director of Client Services and Operations at WIS International, she was responsible for growing topline revenue by 30% within her first year and led a 7-person leadership team across North America. Her innovative approach to go-to-market strategies continued during her consultancy work with Marvin Windows & Doors, where she led the early stages of a product launch that earned “Best Indoor Product” at the 2020 IBS Show.
Beth’s versatility also extends into education, where she serves currently as an MBA Adjunct/Business Adjunct Professor at Concordia University-St. Paul since 2016. There, she mentors graduate students on marketing strategy and leadership, blending academic theory with real-world insights from her corporate experiences. This teaching role reflects her deep commitment to talent development and thought leadership
Internationally, Beth has built meaningful relationships and business outcomes across Latin America, India, China, Korea, and Japan. She brings a global lens to local challenges, and her knowledge of the Latin culture (coupled with her sales and account leadership) has been an asset in cross-border collaboration and cultural alignment. Her experiences have helped her navigate global supply chains, understand diverse consumer behaviors, and implement scalable solutions across regions.
Beth is also deeply committed to community and values-driven leadership. She currently serves as President of the Gentry Foundation Board, is an Advisory Board Member for Women in Leadership at Minnesota State University and previously chaired a grant committee and served as Marketing Chair for the Quad Area Chamber of Commerce. Her volunteer work aligns with her personal mission: to leave a positive legacy and model purposeful leadership for her three children.
Recognized as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Minnesota in 2023, Beth is a role model for emerging leaders and a collaborative peer to seasoned executives. She believes that strong businesses are built on trust, curiosity, and the courage to change. Her ability to motivate teams, foster innovation, and communicate a clear vision has made her a go-to leader during times of transition and growth.
Character:
Beth is guided by integrity, empathy, and a relentless drive to make a positive impact. Her leadership style is both empowering and inclusive, helping others rise while staying grounded in purpose.
Knowledge:
With 20+ years of experience across multiple sectors, Beth brings a deep understanding of strategic marketing, digital transformation, and client development. Her academic contributions and hands-on experience give her both breadth and depth.
Strategic:
Beth has a proven ability to develop and execute go-to-market strategies that drive measurable outcomes. She combines data insights with human-centered approaches to build scalable, forward-thinking solutions.
Communication:
An engaging speaker and thoughtful collaborator, Beth excels in distilling complex ideas into clear, persuasive narratives. Her ability to build relationships across levels and functions sets her apart as a trusted advisor.
