Celebrating International Women’s Day
At clearer.io, this International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the incredible women who inspire us every day. In these special spotlight editions, we’re highlighting stories from our brilliant colleagues, customers, and partners who are transforming the eCommerce landscape.
"I’m thrilled that we are highlighting International Women’s Day this year by sharing stories from our wonderful female colleagues at clearer.io, along with our inspirational customers and partners. I’ve had the honor of participating in numerous IWD events over the past several years, and I’ve learned how much this day—and this month—means to men and women alike. It’s an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the important women in our lives: mothers, aunts, grandmothers, wives, partners, daughters, nieces, close friends, and colleagues." Jen Leuer — CEO, clearer.io
Read on as Jen shares her insights on the fast-evolving tech and e-commerce landscape, the power of diversity in leadership, and how clearer.io is paving the way for innovative solutions. Her journey is a testament to the impact of purposeful leadership and the importance of inclusion, a value that resonates deeply not only on International Women’s Day, but every day at clearer.io
What captivates you about the tech and eCommerce landscape today, and how does that energy shape your daily vision?
I’m excited by how fast things are changing in tech and eCommerce right now. There's always a new idea or technology around the corner that can create value for merchants and their customers. AI, in particular, has been transformational for both productivity and creativity. We see it helping merchants offer the right products to their customers and optimize their processes so they can grow more efficiently. It’s this sense of endless possibility that inspires me each day at clearer.io. I love watching our team build simple, impactful solutions that make a real difference for our clients around the world.
Working with a global team of fantastic people, including many amazing women, how does this diversity fuel innovation and shape your leadership?
We do have so many amazing women here, don’t we? I love what I do, and my favorite part of the job by far is working with our incredible, diverse team. Our employees, who span five continents - from Asia to South America, are our biggest strength. I truly believe different perspectives lead to better ideas, and smarter decisions. One of our Culture values is ‘Always Open’ which means empowering our global teammates, being transparent in our communication, and welcoming unique viewpoints. Collaborating with people from various backgrounds inspires me to be a more thoughtful leader and helps us create solutions that serve an equally diverse range of customers. Genuine understanding and collaboration are powerful drivers for innovation.
"Customers at the Heart is huge for use; it keeps us grounded in solving real customer problems every day."
How do you foster an inclusive, innovative culture that drives both immediate impact and long-term growth?
You make that all sound so easy! I’m kidding, of course. The most important part of my role is creating an environment where every person on our team can make a real difference - both for the business and in their own career growth. Our team played a key role in shaping our Culture values, which we celebrate regularly. Those values guide everything we do. ‘Customers at the Heart’ is huge for us; it keeps us grounded in solving real customer problems every day, while making sure our business is sustainable for the future. We also celebrate ‘Purposeful Progress’ and ‘Endless Innovation’ to keep that balance between daily execution and long-term thinking. And we’ve already talked about ‘Always Open’ which ensures we include all voices.
When challenges arise, how do you keep your team agile and focused on innovation?
We face challenges all the time just as our customers do, so we focus a lot on problem-solving. I like to say we win as a team, and lose as a team - so how we handle challenges together matters greatly. When something unexpected happens, we rally as one team to figure out the root cause. We break big problems down into smaller pieces, assign clear responsibilities, and share progress in real time. For instance, we recently tackled a system slowdown by working methodically and leaning into our team’s diverse skill sets. Not only did we fix the issue quickly, but we also uncovered fresh ideas to boost overall performance. By creating a safe space to test new approaches and learn quickly, we keep our focus on moving forward and delivering value for merchants and their customers.
Can you share a recent moment at clearer.io that made you rethink what’s possible in our industry?
We’ve been quite focused on examining our customers’ challenges as we design our product roadmaps. Our team unlocked a really exciting approach to integrating some of our solutions to solve a major problem our customers have expressed. I won’t spoil the release because it’s still in development, but the speed at which our team was able to design a proof of concept surprised us (and even them!).That moment reminded me how a first-generation idea can still create significant impact, and how important it is to believe in our team’s capacity to innovate. That success has really encouraged us to push the boundaries of what we are able to deliver in the coming months.
" We're committed to turning a shopper's first visit into a great transaction."
How do you see clearer.io evolving over the next few years, and what bold ideas are you excited to bring to life?
I believe AI and automation will transform e-commerce into a more personalized, efficient experience for everyone. I see clearer.io developing into a platform that helps our customers automatically make smarter decisions that lead to deeper customer relationships - enabling them to truly understand and anticipate people’s needs. We’re committed to turning a shopper’s first visit into a great transaction, and hopefully, into a long-term bond.
How do you believe emerging technologies will reshape eCommerce in the near future?
AI and automation will make eCommerce far more personalized, efficient, and seamless. For example, today I might shop for a special event by searching for a dress using various filters - like color and style, only to realize later I need a wrap for an evening event on a chilly patio. Very soon, I’ll simply let the merchant know I’m shopping for an outdoor event in March, and I’ll instantly receive tailored outfit recommendations based on the occasion and my past purchases. The dress suggestions will reflect my usual preferences, while the wrap is automatically bundled because of the event date and location. Businesses that embrace these technologies will deliver a richer customer experience and foster deeper relationships, which is why this moment in eCommerce is so exciting and such an incredible time for innovation.
If a new business were entering eCommerce today, what one piece of advice would you give them to stand out?
Understand your customers and focus on addressing their genuine needs. Businesses that build thoughtful relationships and deliver consistent value will stand out in a crowded market. Management pioneer Peter Drucker famously said that the purpose of a business is to create a customer. When you focus on meeting customers’ needs, they keep coming back, which leads to growth and profitability.
