Target CEO's big lesson: Listen to consumers

Target (TGT) CEO Brian Cornell is a true retail veteran. Before taking the top job at the cheap-chic retailer in 2014, the 65-year-old leader held executive positions at major companies, including Safeway, Sam’s Club (WMT), and PepsiCo (PEP). Cornell says mentors and leaders have shaped his point of view throughout his career. When asked about learnings that stood out, Cornell reflects back to his days with fruit juice maker, Tropicana. The company’s former CEO Ellen Marram reminded Cornell who to listen to when running a business. “Brian, I really don't care about what you think. I want to hear what the consumer says” Cornell recalls Marram telling him. For more of the full conversation with Cornell click here. For more of our Lead This Way series, click here, and tune in to Yahoo Finance Live for more expert insight and the latest market action, Monday through Friday. Editor's note: This article was written by Luke Brooks.

Target ( ) CEO Brian Cornell is a true retail veteran. Before taking the top job at the cheap-chic retailer in 2014, the 65-year-old leader held executive positions at major companies, including Safeway, Sam’s Club ( ), and PepsiCo ( ). Cornell says mentors and leaders have shaped his point of view throughout his career.

When asked about learnings that stood out, Cornell reflects back to his days with fruit juice maker, Tropicana. The company’s former CEO Ellen Marram reminded Cornell who to listen to when running a business. “Brian, I really don't care about what you think.

I want to hear what the consumer says” Cornell recalls Marram telling him. For more of the full conversation with Cornell click . For more of our Lead This Way series, click , and tune in to for more expert insight and the latest market action, Monday through Friday.

Video Transcript I think I've been fortunate throughout my life, people have kind of reached out and shared their experiences, helped accelerate my career. And I've had some great teachers. Um when I was part of the Tropicana Organization back in the days and consumer Packaged goods, I worked for a woman by the name of Ellen Marham.

And she had grown up at Nabisco. She knew the consumer package good world so well. And she reminded me, Brian, I really don't care about what you think.

I want to hear what the consumer says. And it's been a lens that I've always looked through since that moment saying, all right, nobody really wants to hear about my point of view. I gotta be listening to consumers being a really good student and ask good questions and then be a really intense listener.

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