Erika Lepczyk is the Senior Global Director of Ecommerce, currently leading the Ecommerce Division at Britax Child Safety. Born and raised in Michigan and attended Michigan State University; Erika has been in Ecommerce since the day she graduated school, 12+ years. Erika’s Ecommerce career has purposely taken her through all aspects of Ecommerce, holding Ecommerce roles in Sales, Marketing, Channel, Operations and more within Pure Play, DTC, B2B, eTail. Amazon expertise is where she’s landed, but she is a full rounded Ecommerce professional.

In her spare time, she can be found reading a new Thriller novel, @Madabolic, or on a walk outside with her husband, two daughters, and goldendoodle in beautiful North Carolina.

Why did you choose to pursue eCommerce in your career? It happened by accident and I’m so glad it did. I graduated from Michigan State University in 2008 with a degree in Retail. I wanted to move to NYC and become a fashion buyer. I was presented an opportunity to work on a special project at Sears Holdings Corp in Chicago for Eddie Lampert within the Ecommerce/Sears Marketplace division and it fly-wheeled my Ecommerce passion into the career I have today.

What is your biggest strength, and how have you used it for your success in eCommerce? Probably my pragmatic demeanor and humble approach to any and all situations. I try not to overcomplicate things or be the smartest person in the room, acting as a “know it all”. Ecommerce can be intimidating, and people tend to push away things they do not feel confident in. I try to lay it out in laymen’s terms, be super approachable and educate always.

What is the weirdest skill or talent to come in handy in your eCommerce experience? I’m okay with “failing fast”. Being a realist, I’m usually not one in my personal life to take big risks. In my professional career, I’m the risk taker, the skeptic influencer and the make believer.

How have you most successfully influenced change within your organization (or with your clients)? I bring them along in my journey and translate my delivery of information to the people in the room. I have been apart of organizations where I’ve built Ecommerce departments from the ground up and have come into organizations where there is mature growth in Ecommerce and how they have gotten there could be identified as “uncertain”. In either side of the spectrum, using data to tell the story of why and bringing the right people along to gain that knowledge, is power.

What was your most “valuable” career failure, and why? Being misunderstood. I have presented countless decks and business cases on the “why” and have experienced faces looking back at me like “is she out of her mind?”. Being misunderstood makes me thrive. I love being able to influence and change perceptions by the “simple” things that I view as common sense, but to others it may not be. Ecommerce tends to be misunderstood – but if you get on board, good things will happen.

In the last five years, what new belief, behavior or habit has most improved your life? I live in the “now”. Being young and scrappy in my professional career I was always thriving for the next big thing. Same applies for my personal life – I stop myself more in the moment and wish I could pause time, keep my children little and live in this chaos forever. I have realized that I have it all right now and I need to thrive in it while I’m here.

What are you learning right now? Everything. When am I not learning? Being in Ecommerce I am constantly studying and staying in the know… but that’s a boring answer. I’m currently learning how to balance LIFE and positive self-talk; being an attentive and loving mother, a passionate career professional, a wife to an entrepreneur, a daughter, a sister, a friend… I’m always learning how to just be better.

What are the 1-3 songs that would make up your career soundtrack today?

• Days Like This by Van Morrison
• The Weight by  The Band
• Aint Too Proud to Beg by The Temptations

What are the 1-3 books you’ve gifted the most or that have greatly influenced your life, and why?

• The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*CK by Mark Manson: Learn how to stop trying to be positive all the time so that we can truly become better, happier people. Be truthful to the real you, not everyone is going to love you and you don’t have to be perfect.
• Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis: Learn how to own who you are and what you want – start living to your full potential and don’t be sorry about it.
• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie: My dad gifted me this book when I graduated college along with “The Secret”. These books are so simple – Become genuinely interested in other people and manifest in the good with positive thinking and the law of attraction.

If you could have a gigantic billboard for the world to see with anything on it, what would it say, and why? 

Wake up laughing

I once woke up from a dream laughing. I will never forget that morning. I wish I could wake up every day like that.

What are the worst recommendations or advice you have heard related to eCommerce?

“[Insert Ecommerce Leader’s Name who just Presented a Proven Ecommerce Strategy], I think we really need a strategy first.”

“Why don’t we show up at the top when I search [Insert broadest category keyword]?”

“We have no budget allocated for Ecommerce – if you put an assortment online, it will sell.”

What advice would you give to a future leader of change about to enter business, or specifically the eCommerce field? You only win in Ecommerce if you’re cross-functionally supported – operating in silos or on an island will not result in success. Take risks. Accept challenges. Always be open to new experiences. And always believe in yourself even when you’re misunderstood.

What specific, industry-related change do you believe will happen that few others seem to see? I do believe this is obvious to most, but the ability of AI and Voice technology to adapt to consumer behaviors and the need for personalization is strong. I also think that there will be an Ecommerce shift within B2B buying, head-winning with Amazon Business in the near future. 

What is the last thing you bought online, and why? An Amazon Subscribe & Save order 12 packs of SmartSweets Sweetfish and Peach Rings. Because I’m obsessed… with SmartSweets and Subscribe & Save.

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First Movers is a change leader interview series featuring select industry pioneers who are boldly driving the evolution of digital commerce, the consumer and everything in between.