Parag Shah, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at Think Blue
What does it take to transform legacy retail systems into future-ready strategies—without losing sight of what matters most?
In this episode of Candid with Candidates, Jenn Hahn welcomes Parag Shah, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Think Blue, to discuss his 25-year journey in the grocery, retail, and CPG space—and what it truly means to lead through transformation.
Parag’s career began in the aisles of Wakefern Food Corp., where his merchant mindset was honed across buying, category management, supply chain, and executive leadership roles. He later brought that expertise to the Giant Company, where he integrated digital strategy into core merchandising functions. Now, at Think Blue, Parag partners with top retailers and brands to simplify complexity, leverage data more effectively, and reimagine the merchant function for the modern era.
This conversation offers a deep dive into strategic innovation, leadership maturity, and the balance between urgency and professional patience—plus why every leader, regardless of role, must now embrace technology as part of their core skillset.
Episode Highlights
(03:41) Parag’s early career at Wakefern and the evolution from buyer to vice president
(06:32) Joining the Giant Company in 2022 to lead merchandising and e-commerce innovation
(08:32) A 24-month digital transformation initiative—and the 48 board meetings it took to get there
(13:16) How to balance innovation with organizational readiness through “professional patience”
(21:31) What Think Blue does: helping retailers modernize space planning, strategy, and shopper engagement
(25:23) Reframing technology as an enabler of strategy—not a replacement for it
(29:37) The role of every leader in embracing digital tools like AI and ChatGPT
(36:47) Parag’s advice to candidates.
“Technology should amplify your strategy, not define it. It’s not about chasing every new tool—it’s about using the right ones to create lasting value.”
What You’ll Learn from This Episode
How to modernize retail operations without abandoning the core customer experience
Why modern merchandising must merge data, instincts, and customer-centric design
What effective digital transformation really requires—beyond new toolsHow Think Blue is helping retailers move from joint business planning to joint value creation
Practical ways leaders and candidates alike can future-proof their roles through technological fluency
Connect with Parag
Parag Shah on LinkedIn
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Candid with Candidates shares real stories from inside major organizations—stories that don’t make it into the slide decks or LinkedIn highlight reels. Follow along for conversations that inform, encourage, and help you navigate your own path to leadership.
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