Episode 26: Regina Ye - Retail Media 3.0, Building the Infastructure Behind the Future of Commerce.

About this episode

Episode 26: Retail Media 3.0 – Building the Infrastructure Behind the Future of Commerce

Live from Cannes Lions with Regina Ye, Founder & CEO, Topsort

Retail media has officially grown up—but is the industry ready for what comes next?

Recorded live from Cannes Lions, Cristina and Jacqui sit down with Regina Ye, Founder & CEO of Topsort, to unpack what they believe is the next evolution of commerce: Retail Media 3.0.

While much of the industry is focused on new ad formats and AI buzzwords, Regina challenges the conversation entirely. Instead of asking what's the next shiny object?, she asks a far more important question:

What infrastructure do we need to build for the future of commerce?

From machine learning and AI optimization to agentic commerce, auction technology, and the democratization of retail media, Regina shares why the next era won't be won by the companies with the biggest budgets—it will be won by those building the smartest systems.

Together, the conversation explores why retail media must evolve beyond sponsored products and display advertising into an intelligent, connected ecosystem capable of adapting to whatever comes next. Whether that's AI-powered shopping assistants, autonomous buying agents, or entirely new commerce experiences, success will depend on technology that's designed around decision-making—not just advertising.

But this episode isn't just about technology.

As one of the few female founders leading infrastructure innovation in ad tech, Regina opens up about navigating a traditionally male-dominated industry with authenticity instead of conformity. She shares candid advice for women building businesses, discusses the importance of unwavering self-belief, and explains why trying to fit in is often the biggest mistake founders make.

One of our favorite takeaways?

"Don't care. Be yourself. Believe aggressively in yourself."

It's a refreshing reminder that leadership doesn't require becoming someone else—it requires doubling down on who you already are.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why today's retail media landscape still favors early adopters—and what needs to change
• What defines Retail Media 3.0 beyond sponsored products and display advertising
• Why AI should become the invisible infrastructure powering commerce, not just another feature
• The rise of Agentic Commerce and how autonomous AI agents could fundamentally reshape shopping experiences
• Why measurement, transparency, and performance remain the true currency of retail media
• How retailers and brands can prepare their technology stacks for the next generation of commerce
• The critical role auctions, ad serving, and machine learning will play in future retail ecosystems
• Regina's leadership journey as a female founder in one of tech's most complex industries
• Practical advice for women building careers in technology, commerce, and entrepreneurship
• Regina's predictions for where AI-powered commerce will be by 2028—and why the next few years will redefine the industry.

Memorable Quotes:

"Retail Media 3.0 is less about the formats and more about the intelligence behind them."

"Keep your eyes on the prize—performance still matters."

"If you don't believe in yourself, who's going to believe in you?"

"I would love to see the future win instead of people going back to what's comfortable."

About Regina Ye:

Regina Ye is the Founder & CEO of Topsort, an AI-first retail media infrastructure platform helping retailers and marketplaces build scalable, performance-driven advertising ecosystems. Under her leadership, Topsort is democratizing access to enterprise-grade retail media technology, enabling businesses of all sizes to compete through intelligent automation, machine learning, and commerce optimization.

If you're wondering where retail media, AI, and commerce are heading next, this conversation offers both the technical vision and the leadership perspective shaping the industry's future.

Because at SHeCOMMERCE, we believe the future isn't built by the loudest voices.

It's built by the people quietly creating the infrastructure that changes everything.

Bold Brands. Fierce Women. One Sisterhood.

SHeCOMMERCE: 

Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/
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