Coworking with Kathleen Chan

On Wednesdays, we wear pink spotlight Retail Brew’s readers. Want to be featured in an upcoming edition? Click here to introduce yourself.

Kathleen Chan is founder and CEO of AI-powered sourcing platform Calico, backed by investors like Serena Ventures.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? I’m the founder of Calico, an AI-powered platform that helps consumer brands bring products to life. We take the guesswork out of sourcing and manufacturing by helping teams figure out where to produce, which factory to work with, how much it will cost, and how to get from design to finished product—faster and with fewer headaches.

One thing we can’t guess about your job from your LinkedIn profile? I still personally visit factories when I can. There’s no substitute for seeing how things actually get made. Some of the most insightful conversations I’ve had have been on the ground in places like Vietnam, Turkey, and Peru.

What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on? Helping a brand rebuild their production strategy after losing a key factory partner mid-cycle. We worked closely with them to diversify across new regions and stabilize their timelines—it was intense, but really rewarding to help them turn things around quickly.

Which emerging retail trend are you most excited about right now, and why? I’m excited by how sourcing is finally becoming part of the strategic conversation. It used to be treated like a back-office function, but between Covid-19, ongoing delays, and now tariffs, brands are realizing how much sourcing impacts everything—from margins to speed to product creativity. It’s driving a new wave of innovation, and it’s long overdue.

What’s your go-to coffee order? Matcha drinker! Currently very attached to this drink called a matcha drop which is a blend of matcha concentrate, water, and matcha foam!

Worst piece of advice you’ve received? “Stick to what you know.” That was code for “Stay in your lane”—as a female founder, and as someone coming from fashion. But my experience is exactly what gave me the perspective to build something better.

What was your favorite retail product when you were 15, and what’s your favorite retail product now? At 15, it was a hoodie I wore nonstop—simple, reliable, and quietly part of my identity. Now, it’s my Rains backpack. It’s well-built, thoughtful in all the right ways, and just works. I respect products that solve real problems without shouting about it.