C Store Women adds Harvard DCE certificate to 2026 leadership conference

C Store Women’s 2026 conference will include Harvard Division of Continuing Education-led sessions and a certificate from Harvard DCE Professional & Executive Development for attendees who complete the program. The three-day event runs Nov. 2-4 in Paradise Valley, Arizona, and targets leaders across convenience retail.

Why it matters: - The partnership gives convenience retail leaders access to Harvard-branded executive education inside an industry event. - Attendees who complete the program will earn a certificate from Harvard DCE Professional & Executive Development. - The format is built for leaders who want practical tools they can apply immediately in operations, merchandising, marketing, finance and other functions.

What happened: - C Store Women announced a new collaboration with the Harvard Division of Continuing Education for its 2026 conference. - The three-day event will take place Nov. 2-4, 2026, at Mountain Shadows Resort in Paradise Valley, Arizona. - The conference combines C Store Women’s peer-driven community with Harvard DCE-led sessions focused on leadership and applied learning. - Registration and additional information are available on C-Store Women's website for registration details, partnership opportunities and eligibility information.

The details: - The audience includes leaders and rising leaders across operations, merchandising, marketing, finance and related areas. - A general session for all attendees will cover leading through change and industry disruption. - The general session will examine strategy, innovation and customer-centricity as ways to build competitive advantage. - The session will also address consumer expectations, labor challenges, operational complexity and rapid industry shifts in convenience retail. - A mid-level leaders breakout will focus on practical problem-solving for high-performing teams. - That workshop will use small-group work and structured problem-solving tools to address operational and talent challenges tied to engagement, performance and retention. - A senior leaders breakout will focus on shaping outcomes in high-stakes negotiations. - The negotiation session will cover anchoring, positioning, underlying interests and cognitive biases, with examples including compensation discussions.

Between the lines: - C Store Women is positioning the conference as more than a networking event by layering in credentialed leadership training. - The Harvard DCE association may help the event stand out in a crowded trade conference calendar. - The session topics point to industry pressure around labor, customer expectations and decision-making at every level of the organization.

What's next: - Registration is open through the C Store Women website. - C Store Women is also offering partnership opportunities and eligibility information ahead of the November event. - Attendees who want the certificate will need to complete the program during the conference.

The bottom line: - The 2026 C Store Women conference is adding a Harvard DCE certificate track to boost the event’s appeal for convenience retail leaders looking for practical executive education.