Coworking with Anncy Rowe

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Anncy Rowe is chief commercial officer at skin and hair care company Rodan + Fields.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? As chief commercial officer at Rodan + Fields—a clinically driven luxury skin care brand—my focus is on delivering a cohesive, elevated brand experience across every consumer touchpoint, from digital to in store, with a clear goal: to drive growth. Achieving that requires deep cross-functional collaboration across creative, digital, social, sales, and consumer insights. My role is to ensure that the way we define the brand internally is fully aligned with how our customers experience it externally. And when there’s a disconnect, it’s my job to identify it and close the gap—deliberately, strategically, and consistently.

One thing we can’t guess about your job from your LinkedIn profile? Although Rodan + Fields is a well-established, multimillion-dollar brand, the energy within the organization is distinctly entrepreneurial—faster-paced and more agile than many might expect. We’re in the midst of a strategic transformation, which means we’re continuously testing, learning, and evolving. That spirit of innovation is something I find especially energizing.

What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on? I joined Rodan + Fields to help lead a transformation that hadn’t been done before—evolving a 15-year-old direct-selling powerhouse into a brand that thrives in modern retail. Launching in Ulta was a major milestone, but it was just the beginning. What’s made the experience so energizing is the chance to build everything from the ground up: sharpening our brand positioning, developing our first-ever advertising campaign, and crafting a retail launch strategy with no existing playbook. It’s been a series of bold firsts—and that’s exactly what excites me.

Which emerging retail trend are you most excited about right now, and why? What excites me most right now is the return of “experience” in retail—but with a fresh, elevated twist. While I’m all for the ease and scale of online shopping, there’s something powerful happening as retailers reimagine physical spaces not just as places to shop, but as moments of curated experience. From luxury pop-ups and immersive shop-in-shops to hyper-personalized services, the in-store experience is becoming more curated, more sensorial, and ultimately more memorable. What’s even more compelling is how brands are evolving in step—leaning into partnerships, co-creating experiences, and thinking beyond traditional retail to deliver something that feels both premium and personal.

What’s your go-to coffee order? My most-of-the-year go-to is a boring oat milk latte, but come Q4, my go-to is a peppermint mocha.

Worst piece of advice you’ve received? “Just put your head down, do good work, and your career will take care of itself.” It sounds nice in theory, but it simply doesn’t hold up. The reality is—you are the only one who can own your career. That means being proactive: building your network, finding sponsors, being vocal about your goals, and creating a roadmap to get there. I learned that lesson later than I wish I had, and I try to pass it on now whenever I can. And perhaps most importantly: Know when it’s time to pivot or move on. Staying too long out of comfort or inertia can stall growth just as much as not speaking up at all.

What was your favorite retail product when you were 15, and what’s your favorite retail product now? I am a music lover, so I have to say my Sony Discman was my soundtrack on the go when I was 15! My favorite product now—as you can tell, I am a self-proclaimed beauty junkie and I am obsessed with the Rodan + Fields Multi-Function Eye Cream. It’s my go-to eye cream for when my eyes need a wake-up call (which is most days, unfortunately).