The LPM “Magpie” Awards offer a means to celebrate industry accomplishments on an ongoing basis, recognizing the loss prevention professionals, teams, solution providers, law enforcement partners, and others that demonstrate a stellar contribution to the profession. Nominate your peers at Excellence[at]LPportal.com.
Excellence in Leadership
Bill Titus, Senior Vice President of Loss Prevention, Sears Holdings (Retired)
“I accidentally started my career in retail as a controller with Montgomery Ward when the job market was difficult—a role I saw as temporary until the employment market improved,” said Titus. “Yet forty-five years later, I was still in retail. As it turned out, there wasn’t a moment that I didn’t enjoy what I was doing. The same dynamics, individual growth, learning, and pace challenged me at each level and motivated me to excel.”
Titus feels that the opportunity to work with smart, dedicated individuals and “having a small part in helping their growth” are among his greatest accomplishments in loss prevention. “To be successful, you need to be a thought leader, a great developer of people, have the fortitude and resilience to influence outcomes, be a great listener, have the confidence in your team to allow them to influence the organization’s direction, and then lead that change,” he said. “It brings great satisfaction as I look back over my career to see those I had the opportunity to work with now taking their place as leaders in the industry.”
He believes that the path to long-term success starts with being a great learner. “Take the steps to understand the business that you’re in and how your function and your input can impact the organization as a whole,” he said. “It’s not about winning your point but understanding how this leads to the best possible outcome for the company. Also, don’t be afraid to zig-zag along your career path. This helps build your knowledge base and improves your overall value to both your company and the industry. Development happens at all levels. While self-improvement is essential, make sure you’re involved with your team’s growth, the growth and awareness of your partners within the company and others throughout the industry when the opportunity arises.”
