Sophie Frères

Sophie Frères is a retail technology entrepreneur, educator, and social commerce pioneer. As Co-Founder & CEO of LiSA (Live & Social Commerce Assistant), she has built one of the leading shoppertainment SaaS platforms redefining how Western brands approach live and social commerce. Under her leadership, LiSA has earned the trust of global brands including Marks & Spencer, L'Oreal, QVC, and AVON USA, delivering immersive shopping experiences that achieve conversion rates of up to 35%.

Sophie's retail roots run deep. She spent nearly a decade at METRO Group as an Innovation Manager, developing expertise at the intersection of retail operations and emerging technology across FMCG and big-box formats. She later co-founded Barbara Freres DIGITAL GmbH, leading the digital expansion of a 38-year-old luxury childrenswear retailer carrying brands such as Dior and Gucci across three physical locations and a global e-commerce presence.

A recognized thought leader, Sophie lectures on social and live commerce at Columbia University and is a sought-after speaker at events including Shoptalk Europe, EuroShop, and FUTR North. She holds an MBA from WHU (Otto Beisheim School of Management) and a Certificate in Business Excellence from Columbia University.

Sophie's philosophy is human-centered: technology should make shopping more engaging, interactive, and enjoyable — not more complicated. On Retail Therapy, she brings the innovator's perspective — challenging conventional thinking about customer experience and championing the brands that are getting the future of retail right.