Why community matters. Why operations define success. And why real leadership starts behind the scenes.

In this special episode of Unlocked with Austin & Elizabeth, we take a step back and look inward—at the people, places, and conversations that sparked this podcast and continue to shape the future of retail media.

We’re joined by Mark Donohue, former GM at Gap Inc. and Western Union, who brings a candid, experienced perspective on what it really takes to scale retail media from the inside out.

Together, we dive into:

• The origins of Unlocked and how the Ascendant Network helped form a community of retail media leaders long before the headlines caught up
   
• Operational foundations—why internal alignment, team design, and decision-making frameworks are the keys to success in commerce media
   
• Cultural leadership—how the values you lead with internally are often the difference between momentum and stagnation
   
• The value of peer-driven connection in a fast-evolving, high-stakes environment like retail media
   

This episode is part retrospective, part blueprint—and a full-circle moment that reminds us why we’re doing this in the first place.