Clarity isn't just a mindset. It's a frequency.
Leading with Clarity
I recently changed my LinkedIn headline. Three words at the end: Leading with Clarity.
It might seem small. But for me, it was a stake in the ground.
We're in a moment of relentless uncertainty. Markets shift. Roles evolve. AI accelerates everything. The old playbooks—optimize, hustle, move faster—aren't working the way they used to.
I've felt it. You probably have too.
But here's what I've learned: clarity isn't about having all the answers. It's about knowing where you stand when the ground keeps moving.
Product Merchandising is the art and architecture of connection—between craft and commerce, between heritage and innovation, between the product and the person it's made for.
I've always known this.
I'm a 4th-generation merchant. I began at the drafting table, mapping textile repeats and sweater graphs, using foundational DOS-based CAD to decode the "math" of the yarn. That work taught me something that still guides me today: before you build anything, you have to understand the structure beneath it.
That foundation led me to architect early networked CAD environments and Oracle PLM & MMS systems. My journey spans the pinnacle of luxury—from managing historical archives dating to the pre-Napoleonic era to engineering high-complexity MTO collections for Super VIPs.
But the thread that connects all of it isn't technical. It's attention. Presence. The discipline to see clearly before you act.
That's where the yoga comes in.
I've been a practitioner for over 20 years. I'm also a teacher. And right now, I'm completing my certification in vibrational sound healing.
These aren't hobbies. They're leadership tools.
Yoga taught me to pause before reacting. Sound healing taught me to listen for resonance—what's in tune, what's dissonant, what needs to shift. These practices have shaped how I lead teams, build systems, and make decisions under pressure.
Clarity isn't just a mindset. It's a frequency.
It's ensuring that as we move into an AI-led landscape, the magic of the product remains scalable, visible, and commercially undeniable.
So what is Product Merchandising, really?
It's not just buying and selling. It's not just spreadsheets and PLM systems.
Product Merchandising is the art and architecture of connection—between craft and commerce, between heritage and innovation, between the product and the person it's made for.
It's ensuring that as we move into an AI-led landscape, the magic of the product remains scalable, visible, and commercially undeniable.
I view the operational loop as a creative medium. Whether installing 4,500 shop-in-shops or building digital studios processing 10,000+ styles annually, I thrive on streamlining complexity—without losing the artistry.
Why this matters now.
AI is fast. It can optimize, generate, predict. But it can't feel resonance. It can't hold the tension between heritage and innovation. It can't decide what matters.
That's our job. That's leadership.
And in a world moving at machine speed, clarity is the edge.
The continued pursuit.
I'm a relentless student of the intersection between craft and machine intelligence. Whether mentoring talent or consulting for heritage brands navigating the 2026 shift, I help the industry evolve with integrity.
Because no matter how much changes, we can't lose the thread of the human story.
Let's connect: linkedin.com/in/willforrester
Will Forrester is a Product Director specializing in Merchandising & Systems Strategy. A 4th-generation merchant, 20+ year yoga practitioner, and sound healing student, he bridges heritage craft with digital innovation for luxury and lifestyle brands.