Catherine Barba

Catherine Barba

Pioneering Architect of E-Commerce, Digital Transformation Vanguard, and Champion of Inclusive Innovation

Core Intelligence Domain: Digital Transformation
Location: Paris, France & New York, USA | Languages: English, French
Representation: Represented globally by PSpeakers Global Intelligence

Catherine Barba is a globally recognised pioneer in e-commerce, digital retail transformation, and a relentless advocate for women in technology. With a proprietary foresight honed over two decades of building, scaling, and successfully exiting digital ventures, she provides boards, C-suite executives, and global organisations with the strategic blueprints required to navigate the rapid convergence of technology, retail, and consumer behaviour. Her frameworks do not merely adapt to the digital age; they actively reshape the future of commerce and the modern workplace.

A Trailblazer in Digital Commerce and Investment

As one of Europe’s earliest architects of the digital economy, Catherine’s entrepreneurial journey is marked by high-profile success. She founded and successfully sold two of France’s leading digital businesses: Cashstore.fr, a pioneer in cashback and affiliate marketing, and Malinea, a highly sought-after digital consultancy agency acquired by the global giant vente-privee.com (now Veepee). Following these exits, she established the Catherine Barba Group (CB Group) and the PEPS Lab in New York, assisting international retailers in bridging the gap between traditional brick-and-mortar operations and agile digital strategies.

Beyond her own ventures, Catherine is a formidable angel investor, ecosystem builder, and corporate governance expert. She has backed numerous successful tech startups, including Leetchi and FrenchWeb, and has brought her digital acumen to the board of directors for major global corporations such as Renault, Etam, and SEB. Her investment and strategic thesis heavily favours innovation in retail tech, omnichannel synergy, and platforms that drive societal advancement.

Championing Women in Tech and the Future of Work

Catherine’s influence extends far beyond the boardroom; she is a profound advocate for diversity and inclusion within the technology sector. She co-founded the Journée de la Femme Digitale (Digital Women’s Day), an influential European initiative designed to inspire and empower women to pursue leadership roles in technology and entrepreneurship. Furthermore, recognising the shifting paradigms of modern employment, she launched Envi, an innovative educational platform tailored to support independent workers, solopreneurs, and freelancers in building sustainable, future-proof businesses in a rapidly evolving economy.

For her extraordinary contributions to the digital economy, entrepreneurial ecosystems, and her steadfast advocacy for women in business, Catherine Barba has been awarded the highest national honours, including Knight of the French National Order of Merit and Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour. She was also named “Femme en Or” (Golden Woman) in Business.

Core Speaking Themes and Strategic Frameworks

• The Future of Retail & E-Commerce: Decoding the seamless integration of physical and digital consumer journeys to drive retail hyper-growth and relevance.
• Omnichannel Customer Experience: Designing frictionless, emotionally resonant, and data-driven brand interactions across all modern consumer touchpoints.
• Digital Transformation & Agile Leadership: Equipping C-suite executives with the frameworks to foster a culture of constant innovation, agility, and intrapreneurship within legacy organisations.
• Women in Tech & Inclusive Leadership: Strategies for dismantling systemic barriers, championing diversity, and unlocking the immense commercial value of inclusive teams.
• The Future of Work & The Independent Economy: Adapting corporate strategy to the rise of the independent workforce and redefining talent management for a decentralised, gig-driven economy.

Key Takeaways

• Strategic Foresight: Actionable, proprietary blueprints for navigating the continuous evolution of digital retail, consumer expectations, and e-commerce technology.
• Innovation Frameworks: Proven methodologies to inject startup agility, risk tolerance, and rapid prototyping into established corporate structures.
• Cultural Transformation: A compelling, data-backed mandate for embedding diversity and inclusion at the very core of technological advancement and corporate governance.
• Future-Proofing Talent: Crucial insights into the shifting dynamics of the global workforce and how organisations can harness the power of entrepreneurial thinking and independent talent.