One of the ways we strive to be at the forefront of innovation at Levi Strauss & Co. is by hosting hackathons to reimagine, rethink, redefine and accelerate what’s possible. Hackathons serve as an important hallmark of our culture of innovation, highlighting our long history of invention that’s part of our DNA.
Earlier this week we wrapped our first 2022 hackathon – the fifth LS&Co hackathon overall. Participants from across functions came together for our one-day event to spark new ideas and further the company’s digital transformation. This year, we had 16 teams from 13 countries around the world share their technology-led ideas that would help propel our business, our brands and ultimately connections with our consumers.
“Every year I’m impressed by not only the thoughtful and innovative ideas our colleagues present, but also by the immense participation and eagerness from employees to make an impact,” said Kartik Kumar, vice president of global brand & commercial technology at LS&Co. “While typically thought of as IT-specific events at some companies, our hackathons are now open to all. From retail stores, marketing merchandising and design to operations, corporate functions and IT, digital inspiration can come from anywhere. We not only welcome it, but encourage it.”
In looking ahead, we’re excited to announce that we’re taking our “open to all” hackathon approach a step further by opening them to our extended ecosystem.
“As I’ve mentioned before, digital transformations must be approached from all angles,” said Harmit Singh, LS&Co. chief financial officer at LS&Co. “We believe opening our hackathon to the public later this year is an inclusive approach and embodies our core belief that good ideas can come from anywhere. Technology is constantly evolving and we’re excited to add even more voices and outside thinking as we further our innovative efforts in transforming our business with a digital-first mindset.”
You can learn more about previous winning ideas here. From chat bots and self-checkout to online video shopping modules, marketing and merchandising teams, we continue to be impressed by the level of creativity and value derived from turning the ideas generated into business reality.
Stay tuned for more details to participate in our “Open To All Hackathon” later this year.
