“In today's world of intense competition, rising costs, labor shortages and digital disruption, financial acumen is more critical than ever before,” said David Wessels, adjunct professor at the Wharton School and leader of the NACS Financial Leadership Executive Education program.
The Financial Leadership program, which will take place July 13-18, 2025, at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, is designed for convenience and fuel retailing professionals who want to elevate their financial acumen, enhance their organizational impact and drive success through financially strategic leadership.
“As an HR professional, I was very pleased to see a blend of attendees including operators and financial professionals. I appreciated the blended approach to learning, including instructor-led discussions and group learning. The dynamics of the groups and understanding how peers think about scenarios only deepens the learning,” said Sherri Hart, VP of total rewards at Casey’s General Stores and a program alum. “The presenters were clearly experts in their field and were able to challenge the group to think differently about business planning and the use of analytics in decision making. Attending definitely increased my retail business acumen as well as helped me think about questions I should be asking when getting data.”
The NACS Financial Leadership Program at Wharton empowers convenience leaders to:
- Develop strategic skills within the framework of financial leadership.
- Build strong partnerships with key stakeholders.
- Transition from information provider to strategic partner.
- Gain an understanding of emerging trends in finance.
- Apply financial insights that drive profitability and long-term growth.
“Our course is designed to fine tune your strategic thinking and elevate your financial skills so that you can navigate these challenges effectively. Our week together will feature some of Wharton’s very best instructors, known for their deep expertise and styles of innovative teaching,” Wessels said.
Attendees apply the principles and tools they’ve learned to a fictional convenience store business to “gain a deeper understanding and truly internalize the material. This simulation will prepare you to tackle similar issues in your own business, ensuring that you’re ready to lead effectively when you return home,” added Wessels.
For more information, visit convenience.org/FLP or contact NACS education program manager Brandi Mauro at bmauro@convenience.org.