COVID-19 changed Canadians’ retail shopping patterns overnight, but Deepak Chopra, former CEO of Canada Post, challenges the conventional wisdom that e-commerce will end bricks and mortar retail as we know it.

Chopra will discuss this further in his webinar “Has COVID delivered the death of retail or just kickstarted a vibrant renewal” Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 11 a.m. The online event is part of the free Business Breathers series facilitated by Goodman Group, the Goodman School of Business’ community-focused learning and development services provider.

“As every new generation searches for answers to the problems of the day, they ignore history at their own peril,” Chopra says. “Retail has always been fragile and hostage to consumer tastes and preferences, it has always been changing, sometimes slowly, sometimes too fast.”

The talk will delve into where and how future retailers can win and when it is better to adopt to an e-commerce approach. The presentation will also analyze the need for retailers to better understand the difference between when shopping is a chore for consumers and when it is not to help them devise the right strategies.

“Neuroscience research has shown that the digital world has created a significant sensory deficit that must be fulfilled through the physical world,” Chopra says.

Chopra has more than 35 years of global experience working with public, private and crown corporations in senior executive roles, including his most recent role as CEO of Canada Post Group. He has managed businesses in Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Canada.

This experience has established Chopra as a leader and highly sought-after corporate executive by entrepreneurs both in Canada and the United States for his unique ability to frame commercial opportunities for new disruptive technologies.

Everyone is welcome to attend Business Breathers webinars, which feature 30 minutes of industry and faculty expert-led discussions, followed by a 15-minute Q&A period. Topics focus on leadership, management and innovation as well as the financial and social impacts of trending topics.

Interested participants are asked to register online. A confirmation email will provide a link to access the webinar at the date and time of the event.

Upcoming Business Breathers:  

The Pushback Reflex – How to get out of your mind and stop sabotaging yourself
Mariola Czarniak, Founder, Maximum Results Academy
Wednesday, March 10 at 11 a.m. 

Wine Business Bounce Back – How wineries are using COVID to accelerate positive change
Presentation by Peter McAtamney, Wine Business Solutions
Wednesday, April 14 at 11 a.m.