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Colleen Baum

Senior PartnerNova York

Advises retailers and apparel brands on growth strategy, retail footprint, inventory management, and omnichannel fulfillment topics, and leads our work on North American retail real estate

Colleen, a leader of McKinsey’s retail operations and retail real estate initiatives for the Americas, is responsible for our work on store network optimization, supply chain, inventory planning, store operations, and procurement.

Drawing on her extensive experience in end-to-end operations, Colleen advises retailers and apparel brands on how to adapt operations to serve changing consumer behaviors, using analytics to improve supply chain product flows, inventory positioning, store network footprint, and assortment localization.

Examples of her recent client work include the following:

  • advising a global apparel brand on inventory planning to improve inventory turnover by 15%, improving forecast accuracy and automating ordering processes
  • driving a holistic supply-chain transformation at a leading US grocery, delivering 12% expense savings while reducing in-store complexity and optimizing inventory levels
  • helping a specialty retailer future proof their supply chain amidst rapid revenue growth and increased online sales penetration
  • empowering a global apparel and footwear retailer to optimize its store network footprint, reducing occupancy expense by 20%, and investing behind high-growth store concepts

Before joining McKinsey, Colleen worked as the supply chain strategy manager at Home Depot, where she led a team responsible for selecting distribution center locations, managing store service assignments, and designing a multitier inventory positioning model.

In addition to her client service, Colleen is committed to bringing the best talent to McKinsey, co-leading our NY office recruiting and women’s recruiting across the Americas. Outside of work, Colleen serves on the board of the YMCA of Greater New York.

Published Work

What the real estate industry needs to know about experiential retail,” McKinsey & Company, September 2024

At a crossroads: New York’s status as a global fashion capital,” McKinsey & Company, September 2024

Deconstructing silos to discover savings: The end-to-end excellence playbook for retailers,” McKinsey & Company, August 2024

Holiday shopping in 2023: ‘It started early and will end late’,” McKinsey & Company, November 2023

US holiday shopping 2023: Consumer caution and retailer resilience,” McKinsey & Company, November 2023

Thinking beyond markdowns to tackle retail’s inventory glut,” McKinsey & Company, May 2023

US holiday shopping 2022: ’Tis the season to be (cautiously) optimistic,” McKinsey & Company, October 2022

Perspectives for North America’s fashion industry in a time of crisis,” McKinsey & Company, March 2020 

CPG Manufacturing: Making the most of multichannel opportunities” McKinsey & Company, March 2017 

Past Experience

Home Depot
Supply chain strategy manager

Booz Allen Hamilton
Associate, analytics

Education

Georgia Institute of Technology
BS, industrial and systems engineering