Meet Our Founder, April Sabral

Meet April Sabral, a seasoned retail executive with an impressive track record spanning over three decades. Her journey began when she was forced to strike out on her own at the age of 17, starting as a part-time sales associate and eventually climbing the corporate ladder to become a Senior Vice President overseeing 300 stores. Her career has taken her across three continents, where she has made significant contributions to iconic brands like Paul Smith, Apple, Starbucks, Gap, Banana Republic, Holt Renfrew, Laura Canada, Armani Exchange, and DAVIDsTEA.  An intriguing tidbit about April: She's the person who began writing customers' names on Starbucks cups back in 2000 during her tenure as a Starbucks Manager.

Her ability to instigate positive change that ripples throughout organizations has been a cornerstone of her success.  In 2018, April harnessed her vast expertise and founded retailu.ca, an innovative online leadership development platform tailored for field leaders. Retailu equips leaders with essential skills through bite-sized learning modules and practical exercises that seamlessly integrate into their workweeks. You can explore reviews of retailu HERE.  But April's commitment to personal and professional growth didn't stop there. She pursued and obtained multiple coaching certifications, including those from John C. Maxwell and The World Association of Business Coaching, and is now a distinguished member of the Forbes Coaching Council.

In 2019, her exceptional talents were recognized when she was named an emerging leader to watch in the Marques Who's Who directory.  Building on her accomplishments, April penned her first book and launched The Positivity Company. Here, she introduces innovative leadership tools such as self-coaching cards and a self-development workbook to complement her book, 'The Positive Effect.'

Today, April dedicates herself to coaching, speaking, and facilitating sessions on leadership, with a special emphasis on the transformative power of positive leadership.  In 2023, April's influence in the retail world was further solidified as she earned the distinction of being one of the top retail influencers by RETHINK retail for both 2022 and 2023. As a sought-after thought leader, she's frequently sought after for her insights on retail trends, store management, and the remarkable impact of positive leadership.  

Moreover, April has recently achieved another remarkable milestone in her career, being named one of the top 23 entrepreneurs in 2023 by NYWeekly, alongside the likes of Ed Mylett, Sam Altman, and Maggie Bergoff. This prestigious recognition underscores her exceptional contributions to the world of business and leadership.