RISING STARS
Gabrielle Roux
Head of retail , people & culture Sheike
T o say Gabrielle Roux has a wide impact on the operations at Sheike would be an understatement . As head of retail , people & culture , she oversees much of what makes the clothing brand tick – retail is all about people , after all .
Gabrielle focuses on challenging her teams and bringing out the best in them , ensuring that regardless of what else is going on , they are her first priority . She has been described as a “ force that needs to be seen to be believed ”.
She has also been commended for empathetic communication skills , her ability to get the best out of her colleagues in any situation and her team-first approach .
Gabrielle has worked hard to create a positive and genuine company culture at Sheike over the years , and puts the customer at the centre of every decision she makes .
But her aim is and always has been to help more people thrive in their retail careers , and she hopes she can bring more people along for the ride in the future .
“ I think in Australia the retail industry is not seen as a career opportunity for a lot of people , but it really can be ,” Gabrielle said . “ I love that we are a human industry . It ’ s all about people and growing relationships .”
Kristy Missios
Senior retail assistant Homie
K risty Missios is an invaluable member of the Homie team . As senior retail assistant , she has a wide range of responsibilities , from leading shifts and opening and closing Homie ’ s store in Melbourne , to staff training and visual merchandising . Described as the “ ultimate team player ”, she recently stepped up as acting store manager during the busy Christmas trading season when a colleague took a period of leave . But it is her involvement in the streetwear brand ’ s impact programs – the Pathway Alliance and VIP Days – where Kristy truly shines .
These programs are at the heart of Homie ’ s core purpose to support young people experiencing homelessness or hardship by equipping them with skills , confidence and work experience to help them land their next role . VIP Days offer young people a chance to come into the Homie store for five free pieces of clothing , beauty services including haircuts , and lunch , while participants in the Pathway Alliance receive a Certificate III in Business and six months of paid retail employment .
Having been a participant in both programs , Kristy ’ s lived experience enables her to provide mentorship , positivity and engagement to those currently going through it , making everyone she comes across leave with a smile and feeling like they matter .
“ It ’ s a really nice feeling to be on the other end of [ Homie ’ s work ] and provide support to the young people coming through . It ’ s also amazing to see how far the programs have evolved and progressed over the years , and it makes me really proud to be a part of that ,” Kristy said .
May 2023 www . insideretail . com . au | 69